Law School—London Law Program
Director:
Prof. Geoffrey
Bennett
Program dates:
June 23–July
25, 2008
CORRESPONDENCE
All
applications, forms, and correspondence concerning our summer law
program
should be directed to:
Notre Dame Law
School
Summer London Law Program
Admissions Office
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Tel.:
574-631-6626
Fax:
574-631-5474
E-mail: lawadmit@nd.edu
All
correspondence will be mailed to the student’s permanent address unless
another
address is specifically indicated by the student.
ON THE WEB
law.nd.edu/london/summer
BACKGROUND
Notre Dame
Law School began its Summer London Law Program for American law
students in
1970 to provide students an opportunity for deepening their
understanding of
our own legal system through comparing it with British legal
institutions;
for studying common law subjects at their place of origin;
and for learning comparative and international law at a leading center
of those
disciplines.
The Notre
Dame program is the oldest American summer law program conducted in London. In the
summer of
2007, there were 70 students enrolled. Slightly more than a third of
those
students were from Notre Dame
Law School;
a number were from Australia;
the remainder were from some 20 different law schools in the United States.
Based on past experience, it is expected that a similar number of
students from
an equally diverse group of schools, from both the United States and Australia,
will participate in the
2008 program. The curriculum emphasizes courses in the comparative and
international law fields taught largely by British faculty. Students
have found
that the opportunity to study law in such a program not only
facilitates their
obtaining a law degree but enables them to learn about and enjoy the
rich legal
and cultural heritage of Britain.
London itself offers theaters, museums, and numerous
sightseeing opportunities, as well as the Royal Courts of Justice, the
Central
Criminal Court (Old Bailey), the Inns of Court, and the Houses of
Parliament.
Places such as Oxford, Cambridge,
Bath, Canterbury,
Stratford, Windsor,
Brighton, and Winchester
are a short train journey away. An added pleasure comes from getting to
know
students from a variety of law schools located in all parts of the United States
and abroad.
FACILITIES
The Notre
Dame London Law Centre is at 1 Suffolk Street on the northwest
corner of Trafalgar Square
in
central London.
The Law Centre is next to the National Gallery and National Portrait
Gallery,
on the edge of theatreland, and only 10 minutes’ walk from Buckingham Palace
and Downing Street to the west and legal London
to the east. Public open areas such as St. James’ Park, Waterloo
Gardens, Embankment
Gardens, and the River Thames
are less
than five minutes’ walk, while King’s College, the London School of
Economics,
and the Royal Courts of Justice are nearby along the Strand.
The Law
Centre has a core collection of American law books in its library, as
well as a
small collection of comparative and international law materials. More
extensive
legal research may be done in the American and European collections of
the
Middle Temple Library.
The Law
Centre also has a number of modern high-powered computers, which are
available
to all students and which provide access to e-mail, the Internet, and
computer-assisted legal research.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Notre Dame Law School and
is fully accredited. Although other law
schools have regularly approved transfer of credits, all students
should ask
their home schools about credit prior to registration in London.
It is
expected that nine courses providing a total of 18 hours of academic
credit
will be offered in the summer of 2008. A student may enroll in courses
up to a
maximum of six hours of credit. Auditing of courses is allowed with the
permission of the particular faculty member and with the written
approval of
the director. The program runs for six weeks. Classes begin on Monday,
June 23,
and end on Friday, July 25. Examinations are scheduled between July 28
and July
30. All courses comply with the standards of the American Bar
Association and
the Association of American Law Schools.
Credits
are calculated on a semester basis. Students attending law schools
using a
quarter system can convert the credits obtained by applying a 50
percent plus
factor (i.e., two credit hours on a semester basis are equivalent to
three
credit hours on a quarter basis). It is unlikely that participation in
a
foreign summer law program may be used to accelerate graduation.
Students
interested in acceleration are referred to their home schools to review
this
point in light of the ABA Standard for Approval of Law Schools 304,
Interpretation 4.
Credit for
courses taken will be given in the same manner as for courses taken at
Notre
Dame’s home campus, and grades received will be reflected on standard
Notre
Dame transcripts. The grading system used at Notre Dame Law
School
QUALIFICATION FOR ADMISSION
Any
student in good standing at a law school who will have completed one
year of
academic work prior to June 1, 2008, is eligible for the program. A
completed
registration form will be construed as a certification that the
applicant meets
the requirements and will advise the program director of any change in
academic
status. To be officially enrolled in the Notre Dame Summer London Law
Program,
each student is required to submit to the Admissions Office a letter of
good
standing from the student’s law school.
Applications
must be received no later than April 1, 2008. Because enrollment in the
program
is limited, students should apply as soon as possible. Spaces are
available on
a first-come, first-served basis.
TUITION AND FEES
Registration
fee is $50 (nonrefundable unless rejected due to full enrollment).
The following
is a budget for the 2008 Summer London Program. This budget represents
the
expected costs for tuition, living expenses, and transportation. This
budget
also represents the maximum amount of loan assistance available for the
Summer
London Program.
Tuition
$2,565
Fees (registration, activities in London) $100
Transportation (Roundtrip airfare:
Chicago to London)
$980
Transportation: UK
$400
Room (includes breakfast) $2,350
Meals
$1,590
Books and Supplies
$260
Entertainment and Personal
$890
TOTAL
$9,135
Tuition is
nonrefundable unless failure to attend is for verified reasons of
illness,
military obligation, or if the U.S. Department of State issues a travel
warning
for England.
The Summer London Law Program has never been canceled. In the unlikely
event
that the program is canceled, a full refund of tuition will be made.
The summer
program is not in a position to provide direct financial assistance to
program
students; however, the
Notre Dame Office
of Financial Aid will process loans or other benefits to which students
might
be entitled. Questions concerning financial aid may be directed to the
Office
of Financial Aid at (574) 631-6436 or via e-mail at finaid.1@nd.edu.
Students
attending from other institutions are encouraged to work directly with
their
home institutions using consortium agreements regarding their financial
aid
opportunities. Loan assistance can usually be obtained for the full
cost of the
program, including living expenses and transportation. Students must,
however,
enroll on at least a half-time basis to receive loan assistance.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Registration
fee ($50) with application due by April 1, 2008.
Tuition
($2,565) due by May 15, 2008.
Participants
in the program who are relying on loan assistance to meet the costs
will be
exempted from the tuition payment deadline if evidence of a loan
commitment is
provided by the deadline dates.
ADMINISTRATION AND FACULTY
Prof.
Geoffrey Bennett, Notre
Dame Law School,
is the director of the Summer London Law Program.
Other
faculty members are expected to be as follows:
Prof. Malgosia Fitzmaurice
Queen Mary College, University
of London
Prof. Susan Hawker
Guildhall University, London
Prof.Matthew Humphreys
University of Kingston,
Kingston
Prof. George Letsas
University College, University
of London
Prof.Gabriel Moens
Dean of Law Murdoch
University, Perth, Western
Australia
Prof. Katherine Reece-Thomas
City University, London
Prof. Vincent Rougeau
The Law School,
University
of Notre Dame
Prof. Robert Upex
Emeritus Professor, University
of Surrey
COURSE OFFERINGS
This list
is subject to change or cancellation depending on sufficient enrollment
and
availability of faculty members; no
prerequisites unless
otherwise indicated. Changes will be posted on the Web at
law.nd.edu/london/summer.
Carriage of Goods By Sea
2 credits. Hawker (Law 74453)
This
course looks at the carriage of goods in international trade. This is
an
exciting subject; we live in a
world in which
transportation of goods is a fundamental part of both international and
domestic
business, and litigation regarding the carriage of goods is inevitable.
The
course is based on English law, with comparisons made with practice
under other
jurisdictions where appropriate. English law is frequently chosen to
govern
shipping contracts, the common law nature of English law allowing for
judicial
“creativity.” We see, therefore, the development of this area of
contract law,
which aims to meet the needs of those involved with the international
shipment
of goods. The course predominately covers contracts for the carriage of
goods
by sea and charter parties, as most goods are shipped by this mode of
transport, although carriage by air and land is introduced. The course
also
considers difficulties that arise when goods are the subject of a
multimodal
contract of carriage, and problems that arise when carriage contracts
are
negotiated by freight forwarders. The combination of the intellectual
rigors of
the law and trade realities make this a rewarding subject.
English Legal System
2 credits. Humphreys (Law
74451)
This
course examines the principal features of the English legal system and
of the
constitutional structure, institutions, law, and practice of the United Kingdom.
Topics studied are designed to draw attention to differences between
the English
and UK systems and
the
position in the United
States. Topics include the structure
and
organization of the courts; the legal
profession;
legal education; judges;
the jury; costs and
litigation;
legal aid; the UK
parliament;
sources of constitutional law and practice;
the UK government; the European
dimension;
and human rights in the UK.
European and International Labor Law
2 credits. Upex (Law 74406)
This
course has three parts. In the first part, we will look at European
Labor Law.
In doing that, we will consider the relevant treaty provisions and the
relevant
provisions of European Directives relating to Equality, Working
Conditions,
Employee Rights on Restructuring Enterprises and Worker Representation.
In the
second part, we will examine aspects of Private International Law
relating to
Labor Law, including the Brussels Regulations and the Rome Convention
on
Applicable Law. In the third part, we will consider international labor
standards and the work of the International Labor Organization.
European Union Law
2 credits. Moens (Law 74459)
This
course introduces students to the legal system of the European Union
(EU).
Emphasis will be placed on the constitutional, administrative, and
commercial
law of the EU. The topics that will be discussed in this course include
the
political and economic origins of the EU, its institutional structures
(with
emphasis on the European Court of Justice), the Union (Maastricht)
Treaty, the
Amsterdam Treaty, the interrelationship between Union Law and the laws
of the 15
member states, and the free movement of goods, workers, capital, and
services.
The course will concentrate on the transnational protection of economic
and
social rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice.
International Business Law
2 credits. Moens (Law 74465)
This
course provides an introduction to the law of international trade.
Topics
include international business contracts, choice of law and choice of
forum,
financing of exports, insurance, carriage of goods by sea, Incoterms,
the United
Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods,
extraterritorial application of antitrust laws, anti-dumping law,
subsidies and
countervailing duties, and the role of the international trade lawyer.
International Environmental Law
2 credits. Fitzmaurice (Law
74432)
The
protection of the environment is one of the main issues of the
contemporary
world. The protection of climate change, of biodiversity, and of marine
areas
is of concern to all of us. The object of this course is to introduce
the main
principles governing the cooperation of states in environmental
matters. It is
divided into two main parts: the first part
of the
course will deal with the general principles underlying international
environmental law, such as the precautionary principle, polluter pays
principle, and environment impact assessment. The second part of the
course
will deal with particular areas of environmental protection, such as
the
protection of the marine environment, international watercourses, and
global
issues, such as the protection of biodiversity.
International Human Rights Law
2 credits. Letsas (Law 74467)
This
course will examine the place of the individual in international law
and focus
on the promotion and protection of human rights at both international
and
regional levels. Particular emphasis will be given to the procedures
developed
by the United Nations, Organization of American States, and Council of
Europe,
examining their effects on both international and domestic law.
Consideration
will be given to the role of nongovernmental organizations in the
protection of
human rights.
Public International Law
3 credits. Reece-Thomas (Law
74401)
This
course examines the vital role of law in contemporary international
society;
the nature and sources of international law;
the relationship between international law and municipal law;
international personality; states and
nonstate
actors; dispute
settlement;
the use of force and peacekeeping; the United
Nations system;
jurisdiction and immunities; diplomatic law;
terrorism; human rights;
treaties and state succession; state
responsibility and
foreign investment protection; law of the sea;
and international environmental law.
HOUSING
A number
of single rooms have been reserved for Summer London participants in
Connaught
Hall, a dormitory normally used by students of the University of London.
Connaught Hall is centrally situated in Bloomsbury, close to the British Museum, and a short walk from Russell Square
underground station. From there the Piccadilly underground line goes
directly
to Leicester Square
station, a few minutes’ walk from the Suffolk Street facility.
Additional information is
available at the website:
nd.edu/~ndlaw/london/summer.
Lodging in
Connaught Hall is $2,350 per student, with each student having his or
her own
room. Each room is furnished with a bed, chair, desk, wardrobe, and
telephone;
bedding and towels are provided. There are bathroom facilities on every
floor.
Breakfast is included in the price of a room;
an evening meal is available at an additional cost of approximately $14
per
person.
Given that
the supply of rooms in Connaught Hall is limited, and that we will
assign rooms
on a first-come, first-served basis, we encourage you to submit payment
as soon
as possible after you receive your billing statement.
A room in
Connaught Hall will be assigned to you only after full payment of
$2,350 has
been received by the University Office of Student Accounts. Unlike
tuition, the
payment for housing must be received before a room will be reserved for
you.
All housing payments are nonrefundable and, regrettably, no exception
can be
made to the policy requiring full payment.
Summer
London participants residing in Connaught Hall may check in on
Saturday, June
1. Students must vacate their rooms by noon on Thursday, July 31.
INSURANCE
Participants
in the Notre Dame Summer London Law Program are required to have
medical
insurance coverage. For more information on this, please review the
website:
law.nd.edu/london/summer/index.html.
TRANSPORTATION
Students
attending the Summer Law Program are expected to make provision for
transportation to and from London.
Notre Dame cannot assume any responsibility for such transportation.
Scheduled
airlines provide a variety of reduced fare plans. Your local travel
agent
should be helpful in this regard. Since summer flights to Europe
are filled quickly, we suggest making your travel arrangements as soon
as
possible.
PASSPORTS
Passports
are required for travel to England
and are the responsibility of each student. Early application is
recommended.
Contact the State Department Office or Post Office for further
information,
especially regarding travel in other countries. A visa is not required
for the UK,
but may be
necessary for travel to other countries.
TRAVEL WARNINGS
The latest
information and warnings about travel overseas can be obtained on the
State
Department’s website at travel.state.gov/.
COURSE MATERIALS
Casebook
and textbook materials for all courses will be available for purchase
in London
bookshops and at the
Law Centre.
UPDATED INFORMATION
These
details are subject to alteration. For the most current information
about the
London Program, please consult the website at law.nd.edu. Questions
regarding
registration procedures and deadlines may be directed to the Notre Dame
Law
School Admissions Office:
lawadmit@nd.edu, or (574)
631-6626.
APPLICATION
The
application for the Summer London Program is available on the web at
law.nd.
edu/london/summer/#APPLICATION.
DIRECTOR
Prof. Geoffrey Bennett
Notre Dame London Law Centre1
Suffolk Street
London SW1Y 4HG
ENGLAND
+44-207-484-7822
+44-207-484-7854 (FAX)
E-mail:
Bennett.24@nd.edu