You're a Nerd, Accept It. Top 5 Nerdy Legal Travel Destinations
I know, you like to think of yourself as more of an intellectual than a nerd. You're not a computer scientist, after all! But think again. If you went to law school, there's no escaping the fact that you have nerdy tendencies. Accept it.
Now that we have that out of the way: since it's summertime, we thought we'd give you some travel ideas to sate the legal curiosity inside you. Here are our top five nerdy legal travel destinations for your summer getaway.
The Hague, Netherlands
Home of the International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands should top any list of law-related travel destinations. The highest court -- globally speaking -- and judicial arm of the United Nations, the Court settles legal disputes "in accordance with international law" and also issues advisory opinions to U.N. agencies. Just a skip away from Amsterdam other and European neighbors, visiting the ICJ is a good excuse to take a small European vacation.
Washington, District of Columbia
Our capital city, Washington, D.C. is the top domestic legal travel destination as it houses our highest court, The Supreme Court. Doesn't every attorney want to see the Supreme Court (if not actually argue there)? And while you're there, you can visit the National Archives where you can see copies of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. Law nerd heaven.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
So much U.S. history transpired in Philadelphia, it's a place you definitely should visit (if not just for the cheesesteaks alone). The First Continental Congress met there, and the Declaration of Independence was written and signed in Philadelphia. After the revolution, Philadelphia was our nation's temporary capital, and the Constitutional Convention took place here. Places to visit include Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell, Carpenter's Hall, and Betsey Ross House.
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Boston, Massachusetts
Similar to Philadelphia, many pivotal moments of early U.S. history took place in Boston, Massachusetts. A great way to take in all of the historical sites Boston has to offer is by walking The Freedom Trail. It's long but is really interesting and a great thing for nerds to do.
Various Cities, England
Why? Well, because there are several copies of the Magna Carta -- the document that started it all and is the basis for constitutional law in the United States. Surviving copies of the document can be viewed in various cities in England.
While a legal history-inspired trip may be interesting, we understand it's not for everyone. That's why we also have a post on the top 5 pop culture law-related travel destinations. To take a bit of stress out of your travel plans, we also have a guide for whether you should buy souvenirs for your co-workers while traveling over the summer.
Editor's Note, July 14, 2015: This post was first published in June 2014. It has since been updated.
Related Resources:
- Lawyers on Vacation? Yeah Right. 8 Tips to Make It Happen (FindLaw's Greedy Associate Blog
- Lawyer Gets Bitten by Travel Bug, Makes Globe Trekking Her Job (FindLaw's Greedy Associate Blog)
- 5 Tips for Staying Productive in the Summer (FindLaw's Greedy Associate Blog)
