2025 European Visits: Highlights from Strasbourg
As an LLM candidate in European Law in Germany, the Strasbourg visit felt like stepping into the living architecture of human rights law. Watching Jesus Pinhal v. Portugal proceeding unfold in the Grand Chamber, and hearing from those shaping the Court’s future, transformed abstract principles into urgent, human realities. It reaffirmed that my journey isn’t solely about advocacy, but about contributing meaningfully to that ongoing negotiation.
Fahad Karim
A group of Lincoln’s Inn Student members travelled to Strasbourg in September to gain first-hand insight into the work of Europe’s leading human rights institutions.
The three-day visit offered a unique opportunity to see the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Council of Europe in action, and to meet legal professionals shaping human rights law across the continent.
On arrival, students had the chance to explore Strasbourg’s historic centre, including its cathedral and the picturesque district of Petite-France, before sharing a traditional Alsatian dinner together.
The visit to Strasbourg – the cradle of European multilateralism – could not have been more timely as international institutions and the very notion of multilateralism itself are under threat from the rising tide of populism on both sides of the Atlantic. I emerged with a renewed appreciation for the importance of a functioning, rules-based multilateral system, grounded in international law, as a bulwark against the worst abuses of states intent on undermining their citizens’ fundamental rights; and the role that we, as fledging barristers, must play as advocates for strengthening global governance and the rule of law.
Alysen Miller
The following morning began with a visit to the ECHR, where students attended a Grand Chamber hearing – Jesus Pinhal v. Portugal. With only around ten cases heard annually in the Grand Chamber, it was a rare opportunity to observe human rights law at its highest level.
After the hearing, students met Rachael Kondak, Head of the Private Office of the President of the ECHR and a member of Lincoln’s Inn, who spoke about her career and the Court’s work. They also heard from Lydia Kim, a lawyer in the UK Division, who shared insights into her department’s caseload and her path to Strasbourg.
The final day featured a visit to the Council of Europe, where students toured the Chamber and learned more about the institution’s role as Europe’s leading human rights organisation. They also met David Milner, Head of the Human Rights Intergovernmental Co-operation Division and a fellow member of the Inn, before joining Michael Ottolenghi, Legal Adviser in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Ocean and Overseas Territories Team, for lunch at the UK Permanent Representative’s residence.
Lincoln’s Inn’s trip to Strasbourg brought my career aspirations to life in a material way, through expanding my network (both horizontally and vertically) and allowing me to observe how advocates conduct international human rights cases, which has left me feeling inspired, energised, and steadfast in my devotion to continue working towards building my own unique career at the Human Rights Bar.
Lynnie Ngũgĩ
