A Student’s Experience

by Damon J. Boiles III ’07

When I began law school, my goal was to practice international law.  When I had the opportunity to move to England and study international commercial and business law, the decision was easy. 

Professor Charles D. (Bo) Cole, former director of international programs, has made it possible for Cumberland School of Law students to participate in summer study programs in England, Brazil and Canada for many years.  In 2006, his efforts in England resulted in a number of scholarships for graduating students to pursue a 12-month Legum Magister (LL.M.) at Norwich Law School at the University of East Anglia.  I eagerly applied for a scholarship that fall, and I was honored to be the first recipient of the Sir Edward Coke full tuition Scholarship.  My wife,Weezie, and I immediately began arranging our affairs for our year abroad. 

Upon arriving in Norwich, we realized what an amazing experience it was going to be to live such a wonderful city.  Norwich is two hours northeast of London.  Most of the people in the city were English, either residents or tourists from surrounding towns and villages. 

Rachel Flaxman, assistant to the dean at Norwich Law School and my initial contact at the university, advised us where to look for accommodation.  We found a fully furnished and reasonably priced two bedroom “terraced house” (townhouse) just inside the road that ran around the city center on the same side as the university.  Happily, we were able to pass it along to John Nelson ’08, one of the next LL.M. students from Cumberland School of Law who also was married and thus unable to take advantage of cheap, university housing. 

With two weeks before school orientation, Weezie and I became better acquainted with our surroundings.  Norwich is manageable on foot if you live in the city center, but we decided to buy bicycles to make it easier to commute to the university.  The bikes allowed us to visit more of the city, and once classes started, I rode my bike every day to the university through rain, wind and snow. 

Norwich has the largest Monday-to-Saturday open market in the country, boasting a 900-year history and more than 190 stalls in the city center.  We walked to the market nearly every day to visit local butcher and fresh produce stands.  Norwich also is home to an imposing castle and a cathedral with the second highest spire in England. 

There are numerous historical sites in the area, as well as beautiful scenery, but I had to limit my tourism activities when school began.  Orientation was the last week of September, and I was eager to begin my studies.  I enrolled in International Commercial Arbitration, International Banking, International Sales and Carriage Law, Payments and Finance in International Trade, and International Oil and Gas Law.  The curriculum seemed a strong foundation for the practice of international commercial and business law.  Upon finishing the year, I felt confident in my exposure and was eager to learn more.  I enjoyed all of my classes, and each of my professors was excellent. 

The adjunct professor who taught Arbitration also practiced in Egypt and had represented the Egyptian government in a number of arbitrations.  A member of the banking team at Mills & Reeve Solicitors taught International Banking.  Professor Alastair Mullis, former dean of Norwich Law School, taught the remaining three courses.  He is an accomplished legal author who regularly lectures throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. 

As a graduate of an American law school, I was well prepared for the LL.M. program at an English law school.  My education gave me an advantage because law is an undergraduate degree in England and most other countries represented in the program.  Furthermore, for many of the LL.M. students, English was not their first language.  However, all the students in the program were highly educated and extremely intelligent.  The program was challenging and rewarding, and I would do it again. 

My favorite part of the program was meeting people from throughout the world, and learning about their countries and cultures.  During class discussion, I learned about different legal systems and business environments, and how they are affected by religious and cultural beliefs of their respective countries.  Outside class, I came to know the people from my program and learned more about their cultures and their personal beliefs.As I became close with a number of my colleagues, I participated in frank discussions, often challenging negative perceptions and stereotypes of Americans. 

I built valuable friendships with colleagues from nearly 20 different countries.  My wife and I made great efforts to be good ambassadors for both Cumberland School of Law and America.  We hosted friends and colleagues from the university for dinner parties and other events.  Many of our friends lived in dormitories, and we enjoyed supplying an enjoyable social setting for people to get to know one another.  We already have visited many of these lifelong friends at their homes when we traveled in Europe on weekends and during school holidays. 

I highly recommend this program; it was an amazing time, and the cultural and educational experience will assist me in the pursuit of a career in international commercial and business law. 

Damon Boiles ’07 is Cumberland School of Law’s first graduate from the international exchange LL.M. program at Norwich Law School at the University of East Anglia. 

WINTER 2009 • THE CUMBERLAND LAWYER