Essex degree rewarded for building bridges across the Channel

Our LLB English and French Law degree, one of just five degrees in the UK which qualifies students for legal practice in both countries, has won a top law society prize.

The course has scooped the Franco and British Lawyers Society Academic Prize which recognises joint programmes which promote Franco-British legal understanding.

The award was bestowed by Lord Hope of Craighead at a ceremony at the House of Lords.

The financial award of £1,000 will fund prizes for Essex students chosen for their academic excellence.

Our double degree programme was created in 2002 by Dr Audrey Guinchard and has established partnerships with Université de Nanterre Paris Ouest, Université de Lyon III Jean Moulin and Université Toulouse Capitole.

Dr Yseult Marique joined the academic team in 2010 and the current co-Directors, Dr Laure Sauvé and Dr Clotilde Pégorier are supported by colleagues Dr Baptiste Allard and Dr Xavier Aurey.

Our double degree enables law students, academics, lawyers and judges from both sides of the Channel to work together and understand both the Common Law and Civil Law legal systems and the very different methods of legal reasoning on which they are based.

Professor Karen Hulme, Head of our School of Law, said: “Please join me in congratulating the team for their excellent work over the years – including Audrey, whose hard work and initiative set up the Double Degree – which is now in its fifteenth year.”