Students of the School of Law at MIT World Peace University, in collaboration with the Department of Internationalization and in association with Bloomsbury Institute, London, successfully concluded its 14-day International Academic Immersion Programme in London, UK, from 9th to 20th June 2025.

This certified immersion programme was meticulously designed to offer students with hands-on exposure to the UK legal system and its professional environment. The curriculum seamlessly blended formal legal instruction, experiential training, and cultural exploration.

Participants engaged in guided visits to leading legal institutions, attended sessions led by seasoned UK legal professionals, and took part in structured learning activities such as legal simulations and networking events. Informal interactions with legal practitioners from the Indian diaspora further enriched their professional and cultural perspectives.

Day-by-Day Programme Highlights

Day 1 – Orientation & Escape Hunt (9 June 2025)

• Welcome at Bloomsbury Institute by coordinators John, Georgiana, and Barra Fitzgibbon.
• Ice-breaking activities for early interaction and group cohesion.
• Activities like Escape Hunt (Oxford Street) and team-based puzzle-solving challenge for collaboration, communication, and time-bound reasoning.

Day 2 – Employability Workshops (10 June 2025)

• Workshop by Marcus Ashley on legal entrepreneurship, adapting to evolving legal roles, and building a future-ready legal mindset.
• Workshop by John Fairhurst on legal career pathways in the UK, including: Qualification routes for solicitors and barristers
  Role of the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Exam) and Bar Training
  Realistic understanding of work visas, sponsorships, and the UK job market
• The sessions balanced motivation with pragmatic career insights, helping students evaluate options for international progression.

Day 3 – Civil Litigation & Contract Law Simulation (11 June 2025)

Conducted by Phillipa Seal, a qualified and experienced barrister in civil litigation. Gave a structured overview of :

• UK civil court hierarchy
• Claim initiation, pre-trial protocols, evidence handling, and dispute resolution
• Held a contract law simulation: students evaluated clauses, proposed legal arguments, and reflected on the differences between Indian and English contract enforcement.
• Interactive and hands-on, we not only learned about UK law but also how legal problem-solving is approached differently across jurisdictions.

Day 4 – Criminal Litigation & Bail Application Workshop (12 June 2025)

Led by Aidan Ferguson, an engaging criminal barrister. Offered practical understanding of :

• Structure of criminal courts: Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court
• Role of Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), jury trials, pre-trial procedures
• Sentencing principles and procedural fairness
• The highlight was a mock bail application exercise: Students worked in teams as prosecution and defence
  Presented arguments before a simulated judge
  Received constructive feedback on logic, structure, and delivery
• Session provided a rare, practical window into everyday courtroom advocacy in the UK.

Day 5 – British Library Visit & Research Exposure (13 June 2025)

Group visit to the iconic British Library near Euston Road, known for its extensive legal, historical, and governmental collections. Students explored key exhibits, including :

• Magna Carta manuscripts
• Historical legal texts and public records

Participants received official library memberships, granting access to reading rooms and digital databases — a valuable resource for future academic research or LLM planning.

This informal day served as a quiet academic break and personal exploration of legal history in one of the UK’s most important public institutions.

Visit to University of York, York (13 June 2025)

• On 13th June, Dr. Abhijeet Dhere, visited the University of York to meet the authorities for initiating talks regarding the possibilities of collaboration.
• Expert Interaction with Ms. Shama Gupta (Solicitor, UK)

Day 6 – Houses of Parliament Tour (14 June 2025)

Attended a multimedia-guided tour of the Houses of Parliament, coordinated by Bloomsbury staff. Walked through the House of Commons, House of Lords, and historic lobbies. Learned about:

• The Westminster model of parliamentary democracy
• Role of MPs and Lords
• Ceremonial traditions such as the Black Rod and State Opening
• Reflected on comparisons with the Indian parliamentary system, including codification, bicameralism, and judicial independence.

The tour sparked insightful group discussions on legislative functioning and democratic evolution.

Day 7 – Supreme Court Visit & Legal Conversation (17 June 2025)

• Explored the Supreme Court, the apex body for civil and constitutional appeals.
• Observed courtroom layouts, learned about the judicial panel structure, and major case types.
• Engaged in a spontaneous discussion with a court staff member, who shared background stories of historic rulings and the symbolic design of the courtroom.
• Reinforced understanding of how judicial authority functions without a written constitution, and how legal interpretation shapes public life in the UK.

Day 8 – Royal Courts of Justice & The Legal Walk 2025 (18 June 2025)

VIP tour of the Royal Courts of Justice, one of the grandest legal buildings in the UK. Walked through courtrooms handling appellate civil and family cases. Interacted with staff who explained :

• The flow of appellate litigation
• Public access to hearings
• Daily schedules of High Court judges

Students also joined the Annual London Legal Walk — a 10 km walk raising funds for free legal advice, charities and awareness. This spontaneous involvement gave students an authentic sense of civic legal culture in the UK.

Day 9 – Inner Temple Tour & Interaction at Maharashtra Mandal London (19 June 2025)

• Visited the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court responsible for training and admitting barristers.
• Saw historic dining halls, libraries, and Temple Church.
• Learned about the role of Benchers, dining traditions, and pupilage pathways.

In the evening, attended an event at Maharashtra Mandal London, where students interacted with Indian-origin solicitors and community leaders. Mr. Sushil Gaikwad, solicitor UK, shared his experience with the students and guided them with their queries. Students also met trustees of Maharashtra Mandal and discussed topics like :

• Pursuing LLMs in the UK
• Getting qualified as a solicitor or barrister
• Navigating cultural identity and professional expectations abroad
• A uniquely personal and insightful engagement that balanced academic knowledge with live realities.

Day 10 – Legal Media & Bloomsbury Radio Show (20 June 2025)

• Participated in a recorded radio workshop at Bloomsbury Radio, led by Barra Fitzgibbon.
• Students recorded : Mock interviews
  Reflections on their immersion journey
  Short segments on Indian and UK legal comparisons
• Focus on public legal education, articulation, and confidence on-air.
• Helped students understand the growing intersection of law, media, and advocacy.

Farewell & Certificate Ceremony (21 June 2025)

• Final gathering at Bloomsbury Institute for closing remarks and certificate distribution.
• Reflections shared by students and coordinators.
• Networking opportunity
• Marked the end of a transformative journey with a collective sense of growth, clarity, and co.The farewell concluded with foods and drinks, marking a warm end to the amazing program

The International Academic Immersion Programme enabled students to develop a robust comparative perspective on the UK and Indian legal systems, while sharpening their practical abilities through hands-on simulations and interactive workshops. These immersive experiences enhanced students’ intercultural skills, adaptability, and self-assurance, equipping them for global legal careers and future academic partnerships. This immersion has also opened avenues for potential collaboration with the University of York, Maharashtra Mandal London, Birkbeck Institute (University of London), University of Exeter, International Arbitration Centre, and the Law Society, London.