Last Friday, I visited the Faculty of Law at the University of Málaga to see my professor, John Brebner, director of the English Law Courses organized by the University of Málaga for several years, which I attended, earning four diplomas that I treasure as some of the most useful and practically valuable qualifications I have obtained throughout my professional career. It feels like only yesterday, but the last of these diplomas dates back to 2019, titled Professional English Law. The arrival of the pandemic, with the closure of educational institutions, and an unforgivable oversight meant that by 2024, that diploma was still neither in a folder nor hanging on a wall.
I was pleased to see that the professor remains tireless in his teaching duties. John Brebner is no ordinary professor. Not only can he boast an outstanding academic and professional career, but above all, he is someone who, after many years of practice in the real world of Law and International Trade, truly enjoys teaching—and transmits that passion to his students.
This year, the English Law courses are considerably more ambitious, offering Law degree students, while they pursue their studies, parallel training that will allow them to gain in-depth knowledge of English Law, reach a C2 level in English, a C1/C2 level in a third language (French, German, or Italian), and sit the admission exams organized by the Law Society to qualify as a Solicitor and practice in England and Wales. The program would lead to the Dual Professional Qualification Lawyer/Solicitor and the AGL accreditation of Global Lawyer.
More information at this link.
In addition, practicing professionals—such as myself—can take the English Law for Professionals courses, to acquire over two years the basic knowledge and skills related to English Law and, for those who wish, specific preparation for the two parts of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1 and SQE2) during the following year.
More information at this link.
Regardless of the qualification itself or the value one chooses to assign to the diplomas (I have many, some very expensive, and they have served me no purpose), I want to highlight some of the benefits that these four years of courses have brought me:
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Being able to speak professional English correctly and obtaining a C1 certificate, despite being absolutely hopeless with languages.
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Understanding the Anglo-Saxon legal system, particularly Common Law and Equity Law.
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Interconnecting different legal systems, extracting—at least from a philosophical perspective—the best from each.
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Implementing in my daily practice the methods and codes of British lawyers. One should always take the best from each tradition. Believing oneself to be the center of the universe only diminishes us.
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And above all, fully understanding the film Witness for the Prosecution, the masterpiece by Billy Wilder, which inspired me to study Law and become a criminal lawyer, like Charles Laughton.
Beyond the knowledge these courses may encompass, it is a true privilege to have them taught by a genuine institution such as John Brebner. A role model for all. I could not help but write these lines.
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