Welcome to USD's 2010 Summer Law Study Abroad Website!
1.jpg) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Barcelona |
Dublin |
Florence |
London |
Oxford |
Paris |
Russia |
Introduction
The Institute on International and Comparative Law is sponsored by the University of San Diego School of Law, in cooperation with the Centre d'Etudes Juridiques, Politiques et Economiques of the Institut Catholique de Paris, the Faculté de Droit de l'Université de Paris I Panthèon-Sorbonne, the Faculty of Law of University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and the Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales. USD is solely responsible for the academic content of the programs.
The Institute was conceived in the summer of 1970. It has conducted summer law study programs in Paris since 1973 on international and comparative law, being the first U.S. law school program on the European continent. It has operated programs in Oxford since 1977 on Anglo-American law, and in London since 1979 on law relating to international business. In 1979, American University started a program in Russia and Poland on socialist law and east-west trade, which joined the Institute in 1981. In 1983, the Institute began a program in Dublin on international human rights. In 1996, the Institute initiated a program in Barcelona on European law and a program in Florence on law related to creative endeavors.
The programs provide students with intensive training by total immersion, introduce American students to foreign law and institutions and Commonwealth and civil law students to American viewpoints and problem-solving methods, bring together experts from different schools and different countries for a summer of interchange, encourage joint research on International and Comparative Law topics, and sensitize students to cultural differences that influence effective international dealing.
The value of comparing approaches to similar problems in different legal systems is increasingly evident. One can deal more effectively with foreign lawyers and understand one's own legal system and its alternatives. Locating classes abroad increases the benefits by exposing students to a different cultural milieu, guest faculty viewpoints, and foreign legal institutions and history through tours and simulated legal proceedings.
A major feature of the Institute is the diversity of students. Participation of students from more than half-a-dozen countries is not unusual for any year's Institute, and the student body normally contains law students, lawyers, professors, and judges. Foreign students, lawyers, professors, and judges normally compose around 20% of the Institute's enrollment. USD's J.D. candidates account for another 30%. Enrollment of males and females is normally equal. However, enrollment in one particular program, especially a small program, can vary considerably from these norms in ways that are neither predictable nor consistent from year to year.
Academics
Each course is conducted in English, generally by a full-time law professor, and meets the requirements of both the Association of American Law Schools and American Bar Association. Each program has been approved by the Accreditation Committee of the ABA Section on Legal Education. Except as noted law courses have no prerequisites. Foreign officials, faculty and lawyers supplement the courses. Each course meets every day Monday through Friday. Class attendance is mandatory.
A student may enroll in up to 6 semester credits of classes in Dublin, London, Oxford or Paris. Students should consider that one credit per week of the program requires as much work as a full-time course load during the academic year. 4 credits is the limit for Barcelona or Florence (5 for classes only in Russia), but those students may also attend the program in Dublin, London, Oxford, or Paris, and many do so. In addition, Russia students who qualify, can elect the clinic there for an additional 4 credits, and International Negotiations for 2 credits. So a student attending two programs may enroll for 10 credits (11 credits if the May-June program in Russia is elected).
The programs visit courts and other legal institutions. There are Spanish, Italian, French, and Russian non-credit language classes offered in Barcelona, Florence, Paris, and Moscow respectively.
International Business
An interested student can combine courses in Barcelona, Florence or Moscow with courses in London, Oxford or Paris or clinics in London, Paris or Russia.
Tutorials
In Oxford, students can study by the English tutorial method of writing essays and discussing them with a tutor. See Oxford classes for more information.
Internships
Opportunities for clinical internships, for credit, are available in Barcelona, London, Paris and Russia. Please refer to each of these locations class links for more Clinic/Internship information.