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willkommen in
berlin
The Study Abroad Program in Madrid is now in its 7th
year. How long have you been thinking about creating
an additional summer program like the one in Berlin?
Many possibilities have been discussed throughout
the years, including the creation of a summer program in
Cork, Ireland, since we have an existing relationship with
University College Cork. The more we began to explore
the idea, the less we thought Cork the right choice for us
right now. Maybe Cork will be our next location. For us, the
relatively small number of summer programs in Germany
was attractive. I knew that if we were ever going to do a
program in Germany, the city would have to be Berlin.
It’s truly a vibrant metropolis that blends the structural
characteristics of Berlin’s 45 years of repressive, communist
rule in its east with the thoroughly free market west. Though
modernizing and repairing deteriorated infrastructure
proved a costly challenge to unified Germany, it resulted in
a livable, safe city with outstanding public transportation.
Berlin has become not only the revitalized capital of
Germany, but also the center of German arts. English is
widely spoken — an added benefit.
You could say the idea really took form about a year
and a half ago and came to fruition in the spring of 2006.
The School of Law has a longstanding relationship with
Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, and we asked our
Ruhr colleagues if they’d like to take part in this program
with us. They thought it was a great idea. It surprised me
that the professors from Ruhr University were able to come
to Berlin to teach. What a great opportunity this has been
for us to build on an existing relationship.
How is the Program set up?
The Summer Law Program in Berlin offers five
weeks of coursework, and students may earn up to six
credit hours in course offerings that are international and
comparative in nature with a strong emphasis on business
and economic law.
Why the focus on international and comparative
business law?
We already have a program that is more general
in Madrid. Our principal contact at Ruhr is Professor Dr.
Roman Seer, who is the chair in taxation and a former
visiting professor at the School of Law. My specialty areas
include U.S. Taxation, Investment and Business Law and
International Transactions and we now have concentration
programs in Business Transactional Law and Tax, so I
thought it would make sense to place emphasis on this
aspect of legal study. The ABA requires that any study
abroad program be international and comparative in
nature, and with an emphasis on business, students
benefit from a more specific focus.
Who are some of the faculty chosen to teach courses
in Berlin? Why were they selected?
Ruhr University Professor Dr. Andrea Lohse and
Professor Dr. Adelheid Puttler will offer European Economic
Law, and Ruhr University Professor Dr. Rolf Wank, who
was a visiting professor at the School of Law in the fall
of 2005, will teach Comparative Employment Law in
the European Union and the United States. Saint Louis
University School of Law Professors Jesse Goldner and
Alan Weinberger will offer Comparative Health Law and
Comparative Property Law, respectively. Classroom
instruction is in English and the Program includes site visits
to various legal institutions based in Berlin. Our German
professors were chosen for their interest in teaching
American students, their willingness to teach in English and
the areas of law in which they specialize.
What is the benefit of studying in a city like Berlin as
opposed to other international locations?
Berlin is an exciting world city in transition. It’s a
city that keeps remaking its personality. It offers superb
cultural benefits and wonderful museums. What is known
as “Museum Island” is within walking distance of the
Guesthouse, where the Program is held, and students
have access to four major specialized museums, all of
which have just been renovated. The Guesthouse is
located in the majestic, historical heart of Berlin. We’ve
chosen our location for this reason, as well as its proximity
to restaurants, nightclubs, shops and galleries.
Can students attend the Berlin and Madrid Programs
during the same summer?
We arranged the dates of both programs with the
idea that students could choose which program they
wanted to attend — we don’t encourage dual enrollment.
The varying dates allow for flexibility in students’
schedules. If they aren’t able to attend the Madrid
Program in May due to scheduling conflicts, for example,
the Berlin Program is offered in July, which may serve as
a better option.
photos courtesy of Emily Barbara,
Kent Bartholomew and Ruhr University
additional
study abroad
opportunities
There are several programs of study,
in four other countries, available to
students throughout the year. They include:
MADRID PROgRAM
The Summer Law Program in Madrid is held on Saint
Louis University’s Madrid campus, located in the
northwest area of Madrid. Students spend five weeks
earning up to six credit hours of comparative law with
foreign and American professors who have extensive
experience in the fields of foreign and American criminal
law, civil law, health care law and global human rights.
Classroom instruction is in English and the program
includes site visits to various Spanish courts.
THE BRuSSELS SEMINAR
Offered through the University of Georgia, The
Brussels Seminar provides students with intensive
exposure to the law and institutions of the European
Community (EC) within the European Union (EU)
through lectures and briefings at the European
Parliament and the meeting of EU officials, professors
from universities of EU countries and members of the
practicing Bar.
STuDy IN ORLéANS, FRANCE
Students at the School of Law have the opportunity
to study law for one semester with the Faculte de
Droit d’Economie et de Gestion at Orléans in France.
Classes are taught entirely in French; therefore,
students wishing to study there must speak, read and
write French fluently. Recent graduates of the School
may also have the chance to study in Orléans. Those
who complete a prescribed program of thirty credit
hours at the Université d’Orléans may become eligible
to sit for the French bar examination upon completion
of an apprenticeship in France. This is an unusual and
highly rewarding opportunity to become qualified to
practice law in a second country.
STuDy IN PARIS, FRANCE
The School of Law has a cooperative agreement
with the Université de Paris-Dauphine, which makes
it possible for students to study for one semester in
France. Like the Université d’Orléans, this program
is open only to students and recent graduates of the
School. The Université de Paris-Dauphine specializes
exclusively in the areas of business and commercial law.
Classes are taught entirely in French. Recent graduates
of the School may also have the opportunity to study
at Paris-Dauphine. After receiving the J.D. degree,
graduates will be entitled to apply again during the
following year to complete the Master’s degree, which
makes one eligible to sit for the French Bar examination
upon completion of an apprenticeship in France.
STuDy IN BOCHuM, gERMANy
In cooperation with the School of Law, the Ruhr
University in Bochum, Germany, offers research
fellowships to School of Law students and new law
faculty. Each fellowship covers a period of up to three
months at the Ruhr University. To take advantage of
the fellowship, prospective fellows must have sufficient
command of the German language.
STuDy IN CORK, IRELAND
School of Law students may arrange to study for one
semester at University College Cork in Ireland through a
cooperative agreement between the School of Law and
the Faculty of Law of University College Cork. Founded
in 1845, Cork’s Faculty of Law includes full-time
faculty members who have expertise in the traditional
substantive subjects in Irish and European Union law, as
well as several specialty areas including health law.
Lisa Thompson-Gibson, assistant director of the
Center for International and Comparative Law,
contributed to this story.
0 Saint Louis Brief Fall 2006 Fall 2006 Saint Louis Brief