Last week, Jessica Allen joined a delegation of 15 young barristers and solicitors who were selected to take part in the Anglo-Dutch Exchange, jointly organised each year by the Young Bar Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Young Bars of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. Delegates are hosted in each country on a biannual basis.
This year the exchange took place in the Netherlands and involved court visits to the Supreme Court, the Commercial Court, and the International Criminal Court among others. The group was also hosted by a number of law firms including Pels Rijcken, the law firm of the State Advocate. The exchange provided delegates with a unique opportunity to share experiences and learnings about their different legal systems.
Jessica commented: “I was so pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the 2024 Anglo-Dutch Exchange, supported by a bursary from the Bar Council. Our Dutch hosts had organised an engaging and jam-packed programme of legal and social events in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and the Hague. I was particularly inspired by the innovative approaches to architecture, planning, and sustainable transport infrastructure adopted in each of these cities. To other young barristers who are debating whether to apply next time, I say – do it!”
