discussed. On the contrary, convergence and divergence are both typical for the development of the law in Europe. Law students who wish to become European lawyers must first and foremost develop a European attitude of mutual understanding and comprehension of the various legal traditions in Europe. Only then can they truly value the development of European private law note 1. This is a modified version of a lecture I gave at the Opening Congress of the Hanse Law School Programme in Oldenburg, 17 September 2002. The Hanse Law School is a joint(Dutch and legree programme offered at the universities of Groningen(the Netherlands) Oldenburg and Bremen( Germany). The lecture will also be published as part of the conference papers 2. Professor of Civil Law and European Private Law, Maastricht University, the Netherlands 3. Cf. Pierre Legrand, Le droit compare(Que sais-je, no. 3478), Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1999. His final and far-reaching conclusion (p. 119)is: 'La comparaison des droits sera culturelle ou ne sera pas 4. Cf. Andrea Pinna, Drafting a Civil Code for Europe: Aims and Methods, 9 Tilburg Foreign Law Review(2002), 337 ff. 5. More information on the casebooks can be found on a special web site <http://www.lawkuleuven.ac.be/casebook/index.htm> 6. Pierre Larouche, lus Commune Casebooks for the Common Law of Europe: Presentation Progress, Rationale,8 European Review of Private Law,(2000)101 ff. 7. Larouche, lus Commune Casebooks, pp. 108 f. 8. Henry M. Hart, Jr, and Albert M. Sacks, The Legal Process: Basic Problems in the Making and Application of the Law(ed. William N. Eskridge, Jr, and Philip P. Frickey, based upon the 1958 Tentative Edition), Westbury, N Y: The Foundation Press, 1994 9. [2002 3 WLR 89. The case can also be found on the Internet ttp//www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldjudgmt/ldjudgmt.htm 10. White v Jones, [19952 WLR 187; see the case-notes by Eric Dirix, Sjef van Erp and Brigitta Lurger in 4 European Review of Private Law, pp. 351 ff. 11 Per Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, [2002 3 WLR 169(D)discussed. On the contrary, convergence and divergence are both typical for the development of the law in Europe. Law students who wish to become European lawyers must first and foremost develop a European attitude of mutual understanding and comprehension of the various legal traditions in Europe. Only then can they truly value the development of European private law. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes 1. This is a modified version of a lecture I gave at the Opening Congress of the Hanse Law School Programme in Oldenburg, 17 September 2002. The Hanse Law School is a joint (Dutch and German) law degree programme offered at the universities of Groningen (the Netherlands), Oldenburg and Bremen (Germany). The lecture will also be published as part of the conference papers. 2. Professor of Civil Law and European Private Law, Maastricht University, the Netherlands. 3. Cf. Pierre Legrand, Le droit comparé (Que sais-je, no. 3478), Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1999. His final and far-reaching conclusion (p. 119) is: 'La comparaison des droits sera culturelle ou ne sera pas.' 4. Cf. Andrea Pinna, 'Drafting a Civil Code for Europe: Aims and Methods', 9 Tilburg Foreign Law Review (2002), 337 ff. 5. More information on the casebooks can be found on a special web site: <http://www.law.kuleuven.ac.be/casebook/index.htm>. 6. Pierre Larouche, 'Ius Commune Casebooks for the Common Law of Europe: Presentation, Progress, Rationale', 8 European Review of Private Law, (2000) 101 ff. 7. Larouche, 'Ius Commune Casebooks', pp. 108 f. 8. Henry M. Hart, Jr., and Albert M. Sacks, The Legal Process: Basic Problems in the Making and Application of the Law (ed. William N. Eskridge, Jr., and Philip P. Frickey, based upon the 1958 Tentative Edition), Westbury, N.Y: The Foundation Press, 1994. 9. [2002] 3 WLR 89. The case can also be found on the Internet: <http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldjudgmt/ldjudgmt.htm>. 10. White v. Jones, [1995] 2 WLR 187; see the case-notes by Eric Dirix, Sjef van Erp and Brigitta Lurger in 4 European Review of Private Law, pp. 351 ff. 11. Per Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, [2002] 3 WLR 169 (D)