On May 13 and 14, 2024, the Paris Bar School (École de formation du Barreau de Paris, EFB) hosted the pilot training of the European LITEL project on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, for young lawyers from several countries. I took part as an expert supporting the working groups. Here are the key takeaways.
Active learning rather than lectures
The project’s teaching guide sets the course: avoid lecture-only teaching and favor experiential learning, which helps participants learn how to learn and think critically. The pilot brought together around twenty young lawyers in groups, with trainers and experts, over a day and a half.
The objectives were practical: knowing the content of the Charter, reasoning and arguing about its application, analyzing a case under the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, understanding the role of national courts and knowing how to invoke the Charter before them.
Designing a case, then solving another group’s case
Each group was assigned an article of the Charter: human dignity, prohibition of torture, respect for private and family life, protection of personal data, freedom of thought and religion, the right to asylum, fair and just working conditions. It first had to design a case in which that article was potentially breached, based on at least three CJEU judgments.
The cases then went to another group, which drafted a legal opinion: the articles at stake, an analysis grounded in case law and a list of the decisions relied on. The oral debrief brought together the authors of the case and of the opinion, followed by an open debate and a questionnaire evaluating the materials.
The expert’s role
The trainers’ notes are clear: support the groups without solving the case for them. The expert helps the group check whether the Charter applies, sort relevant facts from the rest, bring out the main and secondary arguments, and keep to time. Supporting means leading each participant to their own conclusion.
Key takeaways
- 1Learn by doingParticipants learn by building the case themselves.
- 2Rely on case lawEach case is based on at least three CJEU judgments.
- 3Check applicabilityThe Charter can only be invoked within the scope of EU law.
- 4Argue in writing and orallyA written opinion, then a debrief and debate.
General information. This account of a talk reflects only my personal opinion and is not legal advice. The cases mentioned are fictional, or inspired by real cases, modified and anonymized.