Law, Sociology and Criminology students were given the incredible opportunity to attend a PACE University Summer School in New York. Students Phoebe and Macy both went on the trip, and told us about their experience and what they got up to.
What is the PACE summer school?
Phoebe: The Law and Social Justice Summer School is an 8-day programme at PACE University in New York, where I had the opportunity to take part in lectures, interactive sessions, debates, and extracurricular trips. The summer school focused on topics such as the US Legal System, Human Rights, Social Justice, Immigration, Environmental Law and its impacts, Law and Identity and many more.
How did you get this opportunity?
Macy: I got this opportunity through a competitive application process. The summer school was presented to me via a general email sent to all level 5 students. I had to apply by submitting an online application giving a maximum of 500 words on the reasons on why I wanted to take part in the summer school and what this experience would mean to me.
Phoebe: The application process for this opportunity included us writing a personal statement about ourselves, our interests academically and socially, why we thought we were a good fit for the summer school, and what we thought the summer school could provide for us in terms of my academic future. I also participated in an online interview as part of this process, where I had to opportunity to expand on what I wrote in my application.
Tell us more about the trip and what you got up to
Phoebe: Overall, I spent 10 days in New York, with 6 days dedicated to the summer school programme and 4 days to explore the city. During the programme days, we attended PACE University’s Law School in White Plains, where we took part in interactive seminars, debates and discussions on the US legal system, social justice, and the role of law in society. Some sessions also took place at their Manhattan campus, giving us the opportunity to experience city campus life before exploring Manhattan afterwards.
We explored the intersections of social justice and the US legal system, which provided an intense but transformative experience. I had the pleasure of being taught by some of PACE University’s incredible lecturers, many who work or have worked in the legal profession. This made the experience all the more interesting, as we were taught about their personal experiences within the US legal system and social justice. At the end of the programme, we had to create a presentation in pairs that focused on our favourite moments from the summer school. We then had to present the presentations to the other students, and the faculty that joined us for the programme, as a way to fully encompass and finish the programme.
As part of the programme, we visited several significant institutions and landmarks, including the United Nations Headquarters, the Bronx Criminal Court, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Outside of the programme, we explored many of New York City’s most iconic locations, including Central Park, Grand Central Terminal, the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, Roosevelt Island, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and many more.
Experiencing these places alongside an amazing group of people, which I formed lasting friendships with, made the trip even more memorable. Although every experience was unique, the highlight of the summer school was visiting the United Nations Headquarters. Standing inside the building where representatives from across the world meet to discuss international law, global cooperation, and humanitarian issues was both inspiring and empowering. It reinforced my passion for law, social justice, and human rights, while encouraging me to think more seriously about pursuing a career in these fields. The visit strengthened my belief that, through hard work and making the most of every opportunity, I can achieve my ambitions and make a meaningful difference in the future.
Macy: The most notable thing from my time on this trip was overall experiencing the American culture as it is significantly different from the UK. Another thing is that it made me reflect on my future career aspirations in the legal world; it has further encouraged me to pursue a career in the criminal law field and allowed me to understand the importance of having a just and fair legal system.
What did you learn from the summer school?
Phoebe: One of the most memorable sessions for me provided an in-depth introduction to the US legal system, which differs significantly from the legal system in England and Wales. We learned about the US Constitution, the dual-court structure consisting of federal and state courts, the legislative process, and the distinct responsibilities of each level of the judiciary.
Being taught by experienced US legal professionals was a privilege, as it offered an authentic perspective to what we were being taught. We also learned how human rights within the US intersect with wider issues such as immigration, environmental justice, civil rights, and identity. These discussions demonstrated that the law is not isolated from society, and that it plays a central role in shaping and addressing complex social challenges.
Macy: I learnt a lot! Engaging and attending the classes designed for us British students meant the information was very insightful about the US. I learned about the unique legal system which the US has ranging from issues with deportation centres and civil rights, to both legal justice and social justice limitations. Aside from the studies being in a huge city full of opportunity allowed me to develop my independence.
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What was the favourite moment from your trip?
Phoebe: Visiting the United Nations Headquarters was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip and is the experience that stayed with me the most. Standing inside the General Assembly, where representatives from countries around the world come together to discuss some of the most significant global challenges, was incredibly inspiring. It was fascinating to see where such important decisions and debates take place, and exploring the rest of the Headquarters gave me a much greater appreciation for the work that the United Nations carries out.
Macy: My favourite moment from the trip was attending the Bronx Criminal Court. This opportunity meant I gained insight into how criminal cases work within the US. Hearing from the legal professionals in the courtroom talk to us about their own individual pathway and experiences in law has really inspired me to pursue a career within criminal law. I aim to be able to do the same role as them in the future which is providing everyone with an access to legal justice regardless of their background.
Would you recommend the trip?
Phoebe: This trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I will always be grateful to have been selected for it. Being accepted onto the Law and Social Justice Summer School was a shock for me, as I have always questioned my capability to achieve highly. This summer school has completely changed that for me. I have learned to be confident in myself and my abilities, and to be vocal and assertive in my beliefs and opinions. But most importantly, I realised that opportunities like this should never be met with doubt or hesitation, but should be embraced wholeheartedly.
During the summer school, I also built lasting friendships with the other students that took part in the programme. We took part in the sessions together, had discussions and debates on the various topics we studied, got to experience the amazing opportunities that both Pace University and Birmingham City University organised for us, and we explored New York City together and created amazing, shared memories that will last a lifetime.
Macy: I would highly recommend this trip. This is because it has allowed me to have the opportunity of experiencing the American culture which is a common goal for many people in the world. The lectures given by the PACE academic staff were a privilege as it meant we were gaining first hand insight and personal knowledge on the US as a whole. Also, the trip being partially funded by both universities made the trip super affordable and accessible for us, so it was an honour to be part of it and I am extremely grateful.
