THE  DETAILS

DATES

Southern University Law Center’s 2012 Summer Abroad program will run from dormitory check-in on Sunday, 24 June 2012, to dormitory check-out on Saturday, 4 August 2012.  Classes begin on Monday, 25 June 2012.  Final examinations end on Friday, 3 August 2012.

LOCATION

The Summer Abroad is being held at University College London, a part of the University of London system.  The university is graciously allowing Southern University Law Center to use its classroom and residence hall facilities.  Southern University and its faculty, however, control all courses taught in its Summer Abroad program.  Neither University College London nor the University of London has any involvement in the curriculum, teaching, grading, or granting of course credit.

SIZE OF PROGRAM

This is the eighth year Southern University Law Center is offering a Summer Abroad program.  It is anticipated that about 50 students will participate.  Forty-five students attended in 2011.  The program is offered to students at any American law school.

ELIGIBILITY

The program is limited to students in American law schools who have successfully completed one year of legal studies.  Study for one year in a night or part-time program is acceptable.  Students of law schools other than Southern University Law Center’s must submit a letter of good standing from their dean or registrar.  Proof of the successful completion of one year of law studies may be demonstrated by a representation to that effect in the letter, or by a transcript.  In-state students should be prepared to demonstrate Louisiana residence.

COURSES

Students will take two three-hour courses.  In the 8:30 a.m. session, students may choose between European Law and International Criminal Law.  In the 10:30 session, students may choose between Private International Law, the international version of Conflict of Laws, and Comparative Constitutional Law, the international version of Constitutional Law II or Civil Liberties.  There are no prerequisites for any of the courses.

European Law 808 is recommended for those who plan to work for a large law firm.  The course covers the constitutional and institutional law of the European Union, including the history and background, treaty structure, and the basic institutions including the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice, and the Court of First Instance.  Human rights in Europe are included.  The course explores the difference between regulations, directives, and decisions, and their legal effect.  The relationship between the European Union and its member countries is explored, along with mechanisms available for enforcing European regulations, directives and decisions.  The European internal market is examined.  Free movement of workers and their families is discussed, along with free movement of capital and the right to establish businesses.  The course covers free movement of services among member countries with respect to professional licenses, including the practice of law.  Intellectual property is covered.  The course concludes with future directions the EU might take and a brief comparison with the North American Free Trade Agreement.

International Criminal Law 805 is recommended for those with an interest in criminal law.  The course will examine selected issues and current problems involving the criminal-law aspects of international law and the international aspects of criminal law.  The course looks at the origin and purposes of international criminal law and examines the duty to prosecute those who commit international crimes and the application of domestic and international law to the question of jurisdiction over international criminal activities.  The course will further review the substantive international law as contained in multilateral treaties concerning terrorism, war crimes and crimes against humanity.  Lastly, the course will focus on the Yugoslavia and Rwanda war crimes tribunals and the permanent International Criminal Court.

Private International Law 806 will focus on the international aspects of conflicts of law, including the examination of British and other foreign decisions in an international context.  Domicile revisited; jurisdiction of courts; comparison of in personam and in rem jurisdiction; effect of foreign judgments, both sister-state and foreign country; comity; full faith and credit; issue preclusion and collateral estoppel; forum non conveniens; choice of law in tort, contract, and family law.  The course will conclude with a review of the conflicts rules of the European Union.

Comparative Constitutional Law 807 teaches American constitutional law on individual liberties by comparison with the law of other nations, especially Great Britain.  The student will receive a deeper understanding of the origins of the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution by learning how each of these rights evolved historically from British law.  Particular areas of focus include libel and defamation, where the British system allows greater latitude to plaintiffs, and hate speech, which receives substantial limitation in the United Kingdom.  Because most of the students have only a general knowledge of United States Constitutional Civil Liberties, the course will comprehensively cover the materials covered in SULC’s Constitutional Law II and will satisfy that course requirement in SULC’s curriculum.  Because the course comprehensively covers the individual liberties area of U.S. Constitutional Law, the course will serve to prepare law students for the constitutional law portion of the bar examination.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

Syllabi for each of the classes are available on line.  Clickable links to each of the syllabi may be found on the Summer Abroad home page.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

Syllabi for each of the classes are available on line.  Clickable links to each of the syllabi may be found on the Summer Abroad home page.

VISIT TO INTERNATIONAL COURTS AT THE HAGUE

It is anticipated there will be an optional trip to Amsterdam and The Hague to visit the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.  All students, regardless of their course selections, will be eligible to make the optional trip.

REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND GRADING METHODS

Your attention is called to the current Southern University Law Center’s catalog.  Please note the following:

"A written examination given in each course upon completion will determine the final grade received in each course.  The grading scale used is:

96-100		A		4.0 quality points
90-95		A-		3.7 quality points
87-89		B+		3.2 quality points
83-86		B		3.0 quality points
80-82		B-		2.7 quality points
77-79		C+		2.2 quality points
73-76		C		2.0 quality point
70-72		C-		1.7 quality points
67-69		D+		1.2 quality points
63-66		D		1.0 quality point
60-62		D-		0.7 quality points
Below 60		F		0.0 quality points

"Although the lowest passing grade is 'D', it is regarded as a deficiency, and while the course need not be repeated, it must be offset by quality points earned in other courses.  The grade of 'F' indicates failure in the course, and the course, if required for graduation, must be repeated satisfactorily in a subsequent semester.  In computing quality points, all courses undertaken are considered, including those that the student has failed, even though the course has been repeated."

Please see the full catalog for review-and-appeal procedures, the significance of incomplete grades, withdrawal, and computation of grade-point average.

CREDIT FOR COURSES

Acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the program is subject to determination by the student’s home school.

FACULTY

Maurice Franks, professor of law and director of the Summer Abroad program, will teach Private International Law.  He holds his Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Memphis.  Courses taught during the regular academic year at Southern University include Conflict of Laws, International Law, Evidence, and Family Law.  Professor Franks's biography and full résumé are available on line.

Shenequa Grey, assistant professor of law at Southern University, will teach International Criminal Law.  Professor Grey holds her bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, her Juris Doctor degree from Southern University Law Center, and her Master of Laws degree from Temple University.  Courses taught during the regular academic year include Criminal Procedure, Trial Advocacy, Agency & Partnership, and Torts I.  Professor Grey's full résumé is available on line. 

Stanley Halpin, Kendall Vick Foundation Endowed Professor of Public Law, will teach Comparative Constitutional Law.  His holds his Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University and his Ph.D. from George Washington University.  Courses taught during the regular academic year include Constitutional Law and International Human Rights.  Professor Halpin's full résumé is available on line. 

Dominique (Nikki) Franks, adjunct professor of law at Southern University, will teach European Law.  Professor Franks has for the last 6½ years been a lecturer in law at North West Kent College in London.  A member of the moot court team while in law school, she holds her Bachelor of Laws degree with honors from the University of Greenwich and her Master of Laws degree in European and International Law from London Metropolitan University.  Professor Franks is fluent in French and has lived in London for the past thirteen years.  Professor Franks's biography and full résumé are available on line.

CONTACTS

The names, addresses, telephone numbers and fax numbers of contact persons are available on this web site.

COST

Total cost of the program for both in-state and out-of-state students is $6,750 plus books, meal costs, transportation and incidentals.

Tuition is $3,714 and is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students, plus a $250 activity fee.  There is a $25 non-refundable application fee to be paid with the application, which is due on or before 20 April 2012.  A non-refundable deposit of $350 is due six weeks after acceptance or 3 May 2012, whichever is earlier.  The deposit will be applied towards tuition.  The balance of tuition and all expenses other than tuition must be paid by 1 June 2012.  If a student's financial aid funds will not arrive by that date, the student must coordinate with SULC's registrar, Mrs. Elaine Simmons.

Tuition does not include books, air fare, residence hall rent, bus or tube fare (including fare to and from destinations in Legal London), or meals.  A non-conservative estimate for air fare is $1,200. 

Students will have private dormitory rooms with wash basin.  The dormitory has communal hall baths and communal kitchens.  The price of housing is about $66 per day, for a total housing cost of $2,786.

Food has not been included in the $6,750 figure, as students would have to eat even if they stayed in the United States.  A conservative estimate for food is $1,500.  (Food in London, like food in New York, costs more than it does in Baton Rouge!)  No allowance has been made for entertainment, souvenir shopping, or weekend trips to France, Ireland, Italy or elsewhere.  Exchange rates fluctuate and prices of air transportation and food are estimates only.  Exchange rates are not guaranteed.

Classes will meet each morning for four days a week, which will leave every single afternoon free for studying and getting to know London.  There will be four 3½-day weekends and one 4½-day weekend, leaving ample time to see England or visit Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany or Greece.

TRAVEL

Those not planning on arriving early or departing late to travel on their own in Europe should depart the United States for London on 23 June 2012 (for arrival in London on 24 June), and should depart London on 4 August 2012 for return to the United States that same day.

Students are free to and must make their own travel arrangements, whether on line or directly with the airline of their choice or through a travel agency of their preference.  No search for fares is complete without a thorough Internet search as well as a call to STA Travel for possible student-discount fares.  STA Travel's office at Louisiana State University is located at 143 LSU Union.  Their Baton Rouge telephone is (225) 578-0840.  Nationally, they may be reached at (800) 781-4040.  STA has offices at other major campuses and can also be reached on line at http://www.statravel.com. 

Obtain tickets early for the best fares.

Please be aware that some fares are non-cancelable, and that terms for refund or reuse of tickets vary.  This may be important in the event the Summer Abroad program is canceled for any reason.

Please visit the must-read information page for passport, customs and airport security advisories.

DISABLED ACCESS

Two Acts of Parliament provide rights for the disabled comparable to, or better than, rights for the disabled in the United States:  The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) Act 1999.  University College London is in full compliance with British legislation requiring handicapped access.  It is not anticipated that there will be any difficulties with access.

ACCELERATION OF GRADUATION

It is unlikely that participation in any foreign summer program may be used to accelerate graduation.  Students interested in acceleration should consult their home schools to review this issue in light of ABA Standard 305, Interpretation 4.

REFUND POLICY

Summer Abroad students who withdraw from the program are entitled to refunds as follows:

1.		Before classes begin		90 per cent of tuition
2.		First day of class through fourth day		75 per cent of tuition
3.		Fifth day of class through sixth day		50 per cent of tuition
4.		Seventh day of class to end of term		No refund

There will be no refund of housing.  Students dropping just one of the classes will not receive any refund.  Application fee and seat deposit are non-refundable.

CANCELLATION OF PROGRAM

The program may be canceled when in the opinion of the administration there is substantial likelihood of any of the following:

Terrorism or Act of God, including war, natural disaster or epidemic;
Low student enrollment;
Denial of ABA accreditation.

Full discretion whether to cancel rests with the administration of Southern University Law Center.  In the event of a cancellation by the administration for any reason, students will be referred to similar programs elsewhere, and all monies paid by the student to the university will be refunded within twenty (20) days.  If cancelled prior to the commencement of summer classes on the Southern University Law Center campus, students will be told that they are welcome to attend Summer Session at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge.

Prospective students are provided with clickable links to State Department travel advisories and CIA country reports both pertaining to the site country (the United Kingdom) and pertaining to Ireland, France and the Netherlands.  The State Department and CIA web sites will be monitored closely.  If a warning is issued specific to England before the start of the program, all students with deposits will be contacted by telephone as soon as possible and advised of their right to a refund.  If a warning is issued for England during the program, students will be informed immediately of their right to withdraw and receive a tuition refund and pro-rata housing refund.  If a warning is issued for Ireland, Northern Ireland, France or the Netherlands, students will simply be notified as a courtesy and advised not to make trips to Ireland, Northern Ireland, France or the Netherlands.  As no portion of the required curriculum is in Ireland, Northern Ireland, France or the Netherlands, withdrawal will not be permitted on the basis of travel advisories involving only Ireland, Northern Ireland, France or the Netherlands.