Exploring the History of the American Legal System by Sydney

Exploring the History of the American Legal System by Sydney - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

I plan to spend my time before and during my undergraduate studies preparing to enter law school. Therefore, I would make the most of a gap year by expanding my knowledge on the history of law. For me, the best use of additional time before college would include traveling to all of the sites of events that inspired the American legal system as we know it today.

In the United States and around the world, our legal system exists to further our pursuit of total democracy. The idea of laws being created with the consent of the people was first invented in Athens. Therefore, my research into the history of law would begin there. To better understand how democracy was conducted in Athens, I would explore the Pnyx, where the first official democratic meetings took place. Seeing where democracy began will help me understand why our judicial branch was created and its importance to our government as a whole.

The second stop on my journey to explore the history of law would be a visit to the library at the University of Bologna. This is thought to be the oldest university in the world and the first ever law school. In the 11th century, during the Investiture Controversy, it served as the only place where scholars were free to research past legal systems so that they could draw their own conclusions on how governments should be run. I find this incredibly inspiring, and I know that a visit to this historic library would show me the importance of understanding the ethics behind our laws.

The interaction between competing laws and interests from different nations is becoming increasingly important as we enter a more globalized world. For this reason, I want to spend some time understanding how the United Nations handles these issues at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. I am curious how an institution like the UN, which maintains a level of peace between nations, is able to settle legal disputes without causing much political uproar. Getting to know the history of the UN, its actions, and the International Court of Justice will help me decide if I should pursue a career in international law. A goal of working for the United Nations might help mold the decisions that I make while choosing a college major and courses.

To make the most of my gap year by gaining a deeper understanding of the history of law, I should make one final stop at the US Supreme Court building. There is no better place to understand the importance of our legal system than the site where legal superheroes like Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg argued cases and served as justices. The experience of coming here would be an incredible end to time spent gaining knowledge that will make me a better lawyer one day.

After I visit the sites that inspired the legal system we have in the United States today, I will be prepared to pursue an undergraduate degree with the intention of later going to law school. A gap year should be used to mold yourself into the person you want to be when you enter higher education. The knowledge and experiences that I would gain from an experience like this would be invaluable to my future career and my overall understanding of the institution that guards American democracy.