Every year Multilaw – an organization for lawyers with more than 6.500 members across the world, of which Advokatgruppen is the only Danish member – organizes a week-long course for younger lawyers. The aim is for the participants to get an increased understanding of the legal system in other countries, just as it gives ample opportunity to exchange experiences and get to know one another better.
I had the privilege of representing Advokatgruppen at this year’s academy which took place in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. My excitement was considerable both as I had never before visited this part of the world just as I, on my return, was less than a week away from getting married.
25 participants from 17 countries took part in the academy. The countries were USA, Brazil, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Greece, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and Uzbekistan. During the week it became apparent that different countries could have a very different view as to how the law should be interpreted and practiced the world over, as well as differences in how lawyers work with the law surfaced.
Every day we spent 8 intensive hours on lectures, discussions and negotiations among others built around a fictitious trademark dispute. This presented the opportunity to talk about differences as to how the case would end out in the various countries as different countries have different demands as to when an agreement can be considered final. Choice of law and choice of venue therefore can be of the utmost importance when an international case is presented to the court.
There was also time set aside in the program for the less serious. One afternoon we left by bus for an elephant camp nearby. On the way I had my first experience eating with chopsticks which wasn’t made any better by the fact that we were sitting in a moving bus going down a mountainside. At the elephant camp we watched a show in which the elephants among other things played football and painted rather remarkable paintings. We also had time for a half hour ride on the back of the elephants in the hills surrounding the camp.
In Chiang Mai we visited a Buddhist temple and spent a few hours at the famous Night Bazaar. This presented a golden opportunity to test negotiations in practice as the price of all items for sale was up for negotiation. The price was usually lowered by 20-40 % and in a single place I managed a 70 % discount.
Each night we were presented with first rate Thai food although I quickly learned not to trust the Asian participants when they promised me that a certain dish wasn’t very spicy. My face turned crimson more than once after I had tried a new dish.
The culture of Thailand was quite alien to me. To see Buddhist monks in orange cloth, loose dogs and entire families on one motorbike was just some of the things that caught my attention. Other participants could report of elephants being transported on the back of trucks with their trunks hanging down over the front view mirror. Every single Thai I came in contact with was extremely hospitable and it is definitely a people that I look forward to visit again.
So what did I gain from Multilaw Academy 2010? 25 new friends for a start. People I can always contact about legal matters regarding their countries, as well as travel advice if I go to visit their region. Increased knowledge of different legal systems and cultures, particularly Thailand and the Thai people. It was a week in Thailand from which I can take the events and people I met forward with me through the rest of my life.
(August 2010)
