Northumbria Law students gain inside view into international courts during Hague study visit

Students from Northumbria Law School have returned from a four-day study visit to The Hague, where they met senior figures at three of the world's leading international courts.

Fourteen students drawn from nine different legal systems took part in the trip, which ran from 27 to 30 April 2026 and was organised by Professor Mohamed Badar of Northumbria Law School. It gave the group a chance to test their classroom learning against the working realities of international criminal and international adjudication.

On the evening of their arrival, the students were hosted by Dr Mohamed El Zeidy, Senior Legal Advisor to the President of the Kosovo Specialist Chamber (KSC), for an interactive session on the jurisdiction of The Hague's international criminal tribunals and the challenges those institutions continue to face.

At the International Criminal Court (ICC), the group was welcomed by Professor Hirad Abtahi, Chef de Cabinet in the Office of the President, who delivered a substantive briefing on the Court's structure and subject-matter jurisdiction. The students then attended a live public hearing in The Prosecutor v. Al Hassan, witnessing ICC Trial Chamber X deliver its reparations order on 28 April. The hearing offered a rare, first-hand insight into the Court’s practice of reparative justice, victims' rights and post-conviction accountability.

The following day, the group had the exceptional honour of being addressed by Judge Dr Ekaterina Trendafilova, President of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. A distinguished Bulgarian lawyer, academic and judge, she has led the Court since January 2017, building an international reputation in criminal law and procedure, international criminal justice, humanitarian law and human rights. In an inspiring address, she urged the students to take comparative legal study seriously and to build deep knowledge across different jurisdictions as the cornerstone of a successful legal career.

The visit concluded at the International Court of Justice, where students explored the Peace Palace Visitors Centre on a 45-minute tour, gaining a rich introduction to the history of the Court and the work of the institutions based there.

Professor Mohamed Badar, who organised and supervised the trip, said: "It is extremely important for Northumbria law students to see first-hand how international justice is applied in practice, and also to understand the real challenges that accompany it. Experiences such as this widen their horizons, deepen their appreciation of comparative legal study, and allow them to engage directly with institutions and individuals who shape international law. Meeting a role model such as President Trendafilova, who encouraged students to pursue knowledge and comparative study as essential foundations for a successful legal career, made this visit particularly meaningful."

Professor Adam Jackson, Head of Northumbria Law School, said: "This visit has provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to contextualise their learning outside of the classroom and to understand the practical implications of the substantive law that they have been studying. These kinds of experiences bring legal education to life and clearly align with Northumbria Law School's ethos of seeking to combine the theory and practice of law."

Muhammad Taaha Un Nabee, a Northumbria student from Bangladesh who took part, said: "Visiting the International Criminal Court, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, and the International Court of Justice with Professor Mohamed Badar and my group was an unforgettable experience that allowed us to connect classroom learning with real international legal practice. Observing proceedings at the ICC and engaging with distinguished legal professionals, including President Ekaterina Trendafilova, gave me a deeper appreciation of the challenges and responsibilities involved in international justice. As a student from Bangladesh studying alongside friends from different legal systems, the visit also highlighted the importance of comparative legal understanding and international cooperation in addressing global challenges."

Northumbria Law School is the largest law school in the North East and is known across the UK and beyond for its hands-on, future-focused approach to legal education. Based in a £70 million city-centre facility with a mock courtroom and specialist law library, students learn across the full breadth of the discipline — from the foundations of law to emerging fields including cyber law and space law. The School's award-winning Student Law Office also gives students the opportunity to practise law before they graduate, providing free legal advice to real people, businesses and community groups across the region.

Find out more about studying at Northumbria Law School at www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/our-schools/northumbria-school-of-law.