The BLC started in 1992 as a joint venture between the Law Faculties of the University of Cambridge and the University of Warsaw. Our primary objective at the time was to provide a corps of Polish lawyers with sufficient knowledge of English law to meet the needs of English and Polish law firms. Since then the BLC’s popularity and prestige have increased considerably. It is now recognised by leading employers and academic institutions throughout Central and Eastern Europe as ideal preparation for working in a law firm, as an entrepreneur or as an academic.

Our students over the years have included professional lawyers, judges, students, social scientists, translators and many more. We have seen BLC graduates progress to illustrious careers in EU institutions, national ministries, leading law firms and renowned universities (both national and international). They highly value the knowledge and skills they gained during BLC studies, and some have even returned to provide BLC guest lectures.

The BLC provides students a flavour of what it is like to study at a leading English University, whilst also avoiding the need to relocate and pay fees at an English level. It also provides a flavour of life in a law office whilst enabling you to develop your skills set in a safe, academic environment.

The BLC Network

The British Law Centre has been active at most major universities in Central and Eastern Europe. Aside from its base at Warsaw University, BLCs have conducted legal training at a number of other Polish Universities (Białystok, Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Lublin, Poznan, Torun and Wrocław), and in other CEE countries (including Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Russia). 

The entire BLC network is under the academic supervision of a specially-created UK educational charity Juris Angliae Scientia (JAS). The BLC’s educational program was initially supervised by Professor W.R. Cornish, FBA,CMG (University of Cambridge). The current Academic Director is Professor Richard Fentiman (Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge), who has visited Warsaw every year since 1992 to give lectures. Lord Robert Carnwath of Notting Hill (UK Supreme Court judge) is the Chairman of the JAS Members, which include academic staff from Cambridge University’s Faculty of Law and leading international lawyers.

In addition to teaching law and legal skills, the BLC also organises the Central and Eastern Europe Moot Court Competition. The CEEMC enjoys the patronage of the European Court of Justice and the Centre for European Legal Studies at the University of Cambridge. The CEEMC’s judicial bench regularly includes two Advocates General from the CJEU (AG Sharpston and AG Bobek), Judge Alexander Kornezov of the EU General Court and a wide range of other EU law experts.