5月24日，应大连海事大学法学院、大连海事大学涉外法治人才协同培养创新基地共同邀请,英国伯明翰大学法学院Rachel Charman老师为法学院带来了一场关于英格兰和威尔士法律体系（Legal System of England and Wales）的讲座。讲座由国际联合学院院长、法学院副教授张金蕾主持，法学院教师于诗卉及30余名硕士研究生参加了讲座。
Rachel Charman的讲座通过线上线下结合的方式进行，内容包括法律术语、历史演变、现行结构、关键人员和法院系统五个方面。她详细阐述了成文法与判例法的区别，回顾了英格兰法律体系历史发展，并介绍了其在英国议会民主制下的现行框架。此外，Rachel Charman讲解了英格兰法院系统的等级结构，从处理轻微犯罪的治安法院到作为最终上诉法院的最高法院，确保法律问题得到高效解决。
在互动问答环节，学生们就欧洲人权法院对英国法律体系的影响提出问题。Rachel Charman解释说，英国脱欧后仍然是《欧洲人权公约》的签署国，允许个人向位于卢森堡的法院上诉。1998年《人权法案》要求英国法院关注《公约》权利，并在某些情况下优先适用《公约》权利而非国家法律。这一要求进一步将欧洲人权原则融入英国法律框架。
Rachel Charman全面而生动地介绍了英格兰和威尔士的法律体系。她对复杂法律概念的深入浅出解释及其对法律体系历史与现状的深刻理解，赢得了学生们的热烈反响。这场讲座不仅提升了学生们对这一重要法律体系的理解，也凸显了在全球化时代比较法学研究的重要性。
Rachel Charman拥有丰富的学术背景和法律实践经验，她毕业于牛津大学东方学系（中文专业），并曾在台湾师范大学学习中文。她先后在伯明翰城市大学和伯明翰大学教授欧盟法 、公法 、辩护 、诉讼 、移民法和家庭法等课程。除了学术研究背景，她还是一名拥有丰富法律实践经验的律师，承担并完成了多项中国政府委托的法律英语培训项目。
On May 24, Dalian Maritime University had the privilege of hosting Rachel Charman, an esteemed legal scholar, to deliver an in-depth lecture on the Legal System of England and Wales.
Rachel Charman’s lecture covered key aspects including terminology, historical evolution, current structure, key personnel, and courts system. Rachel Charman elucidated essential legal terminology, distinguishing between statute law and case law. She provided an insightful overview of the historical development of the English legal system and its current framework within the UK’s parliamentary democracy. Additionally, she outlined the hierarchical structure of the English court system, from Magistrates’ Courts handling minor offenses to the Supreme Court as the final appellate court, ensuring legal issues are addressed efficiently and appropriately.
A notable segment of the workshop was the interactive Q&A session, where students posed questions about the impact of the European Court of Human Rights on the UK legal system. Rachel Charman explained that despite Brexit, the UK has remained a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, allowing individuals to appeal to the court in Luxembourg. The Human Rights Act 1998 obliges UK courts to take notice of Convention rights, and in some circumstances to apply them in preference to national law. This further integrates European human rights principles into the British legal framework.
Rachel Charman’s lecture provided a thorough and engaging overview of the Legal System of England and Wales. Her knack for explaining intricate legal concepts and her deep understanding of the system's historical and modern aspects resonated with the students. This lecture not only improved their comprehension of a vital legal system but also emphasized the significance of comparative legal studies in our globalized world.
Rachel Charman, with a rich academic background and legal practice experience, graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in Oriental Studies (Chinese) and furthered her studies at Taiwan Normal University. In addition to her academic qualifications, she is also a qualified solicitor and has significant experience in legal practice and education. Currently, she serves as a lecturer at the University of Birmingham and operates her own training company, Rachel Charman English and Law.
（作者：林欣）
