The scope and range of international programs at Columbia is tremendous, encompassing every field of law and every continent in the world. The following provides a quick sketch of the diversity and richness of programs of the Law School. The Law School currently has eleven semester study abroad programs. Under these programs, Columbia JD students in their 2nd or 3rd years may spend one semester at a foreign law school earning credits toward their Juris Doctor degree:
The Columbia-Amsterdam Cooperative Program of Study sends second and third year Columbia students to the University of Amsterdam for a semester of study focusing on European and EC law. In addition to this program, students have the opportunity to spend one semester abroad under programs with the University of Paris II, University of Buenos Aires, Hebrew University, Kyushu University (Japan), and the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa).
Students participating in the Double Degree Program between Columbia and University of Paris/Sorbonne Program spend two years at each institution and graduate with both J.D. and Maîtrise degrees. Columbia has just begun a new Double Degree program with the University of London, in which students will graduate with a J.D. and LL.B. In addition, there is a program whereby students spend 2 years at Columbia followed by a year of graduate study at the University of London and graduate with a J.D. and LL.M.
The Columbia/University of Frankfurt program focuses on joint research projects, publications and symposia among the faculty of each institution. The University of Tokyo and Columbia Exchange sends three Columbia professors to teach a course on various aspects of U.S. law to Japanese law students in the fall, and in the spring brings three professors from the University of Tokyo to teach Japanese law to Columbia students. Another faculty exchange with Hebrew University was established in 1998.
The Law School also has a faculty component to its relationship with the European University Institute, in which a faculty member from each institution spends six to eight weeks visiting at the partner school. Under the BNL Professorship in European Law, made possible through the generosity of the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, leading European professors teach a subject in European public international law each fall semester.
The Law School established a committee to focus on bringing leading foreign faculty members to Columbia to teach. In the 2002-03 academic year there will be more than 10 visiting professors teaching in their fields of specialty from universities around the world.
Columbia Law School has been chosen to participate in a program at the Court of Justice of the European Communities, whereby qualified graduates will be given the opportunity to work as clerks at the Court.
For more than 60 years, The Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law has been a center for activity in foreign and comparative law. The School sponsors courses, publications and conferences on Western Europe, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and international arbitration and litigation.
Special Study Programs and Centers
Profession of Law. Among Columbia's pioneering programs is the Profession of Law Course, an intensive seminar on ethics and decision-making in the legal profession. A requirement for all third-year students, the course includes interaction with prominent alumni/ae practitioners who provide specially designed experiences and individualized evaluations in a variety of practice areas.
Social Justice Program. Columbia has established public interest law as a top priority, developing a strong curriculum by combining its tradition of excellence with public interest law courses, innovative clinics, a multi-cultural faculty, and opportunities for hands-on experience in the field. Columbia was among the first law schools in the country to require students to perform 40 hours of pro bono work before graduation.
The Center for Law and Economic Studies, whose mandate is to develop interdisciplinary research and teaching programs in order to shed new light on the "fundamental economic and legal problems of the modern industrial society," sponsors an extensive program of research, teaching, and public discussion of law and economic issues.
The Center for Law & Philosophy sponsors research, teaching, and public discussion of law and philosophical issues, and helps develop new interdisciplinary courses and seminars at Columbia University. The Center provides a forum for students, professors and the community to participate in discussion groups, workshops, lectures, and conferences focusing on how and why laws have emerged in the form they presently take.
The Julius Silver Program in Law, Science & Technology sponsors and coordinates the School's advanced courses in fields related to science and technology, including courses and seminars in technological properties, food and drug law, computers and the law, telecommunications, medical innovation, and University-wide colloquia on biotechnology.
Kernochan Center for Law, Media & the Arts was established to broaden understanding of the legal aspects and dissemination and use of works of the mind, including the arts and to encourage instruction of such topics as intellectual property, copyright, trademarks, regulation of electronic media, and problems arising from new communications technologies.
The Legislative Drafting Research Fund, the oldest clinical establishment in the Law School, employs students in its research and drafting projects, which address legislative problems of public importance and are undertaken chiefly at the request of legislative committees, executive agencies, and private law-improvement organizations.
The Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law is a center for scholarly activity in foreign and comparative law, sponsoring courses, publications, conferences, and scholarships.
The Center for Chinese Legal Studies, a focal point for Chinese-related curricular, extracurricular, and exchange activities at Columbia, every year attracts a diverse group of students and scholars who come not only for legal education, but also to foster greater understanding of legal, economic, and political systems.
The Center for Japanese Legal Studies sponsors and coordinates activities and programs designed to enhance understanding of Japanese law and legal institutions, including bringing prominent Japanese professors and practitioners to campus to teach on a regular basis.
The Center for Korean Legal Studies, a pioneering research center for Korean law in the United States, coordinates and sponsors various activities and programs that are designed to enhance the bilateral understanding of Korean and American law and legal institutions.
European Legal Studies Center is devoted to research and teaching in European law, reflecting the abiding importance of Europe in international and comparative law. In addition, the Center provides an institutional umbrella for a range of specific Europe-related programs, including visiting fellows, research and publication projects, conferences and papers. The Center also coordinates the double-degree and semester abroad programs, as well as the various internship programs with European institutions.
Human Rights Institute, is a bold new departure in legal education following Columbia's pioneering role and leadership in international human rights. The Institute is establishing new initiatives that expand and coordinate Columbia's existing human rights education and scholarship. The Institute includes a large clinical dimension and a network of cooperative relations with activists in the field. The Institute includes fellowships for graduate students and young faculty members to help train the next generation of teachers, leaders, and activists. Additionally, it brings to campus members of the activist world as visiting fellows and scholars. It will establish post-graduate fellowships for graduates of the Law School to work with intergovernmental bodies and institutions, and with non-governmental human rights and civil rights organizations.
The Human Rights Internship Program, now in its 15th year, provides opportunities for students, during their summers, to work for human rights organizations around the world during their summers.
The Samuel Rubin Program for Liberty and Equality Through Law, named after the late philanthropist Samuel Rubin, offers a series of lectures and visiting professorships to address current issues relating to political tolerance and international understanding.
Graduate Studies
For many years the School of Law has encouraged law teachers to take advantage of the graduate programs. For example, the School of Law offers J.S.D. candidates, in addition to an opportunity for research in their teaching field, the following: (1) consultation, advice, and instruction bearing on methods and problems of law teaching; (2) exposure to jurisprudence and philosophy in relation to the subject of the candidate's research; (3) the opportunity to integrate the subject matter of the candidate's research with other scholarly disciplines. Candidates for either of the graduate degrees in law, Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) or Master of Laws (LL.M.), are required to spend at least one academic year (two terms) of full-time study and research in residence at the School.
LL.M. Program
The LL.M. program is open to both American and foreign-trained lawyers. Columbia has one of the largest populations of overseas trained LL.M. graduate students in the country. More than 200 international students from more than 45 countries participate in this one year program. Students create individualized schedules, selecting courses from the entire curriculum. Unlike students at other law schools, foreign LL.M. candidates do not receive any special dispensations such as extra time on examinations, but are evaluated and graded, under Columbia's anonymous grading system, on a par with Columbia J.D. students.
Applicants from law schools abroad who have not completed at least five years of undergraduate and legal education combined must have been admitted to the bar and practiced for at least one year after completing their legal education.
In the case of American students, admission to candidacy for the LL.M. and J.S.D. degrees is restricted to graduates of ABA approved law schools. Candidates must have achieved honor status in their undergraduate legal studies as evidenced by very high academic standing, by membership on their law reviews, or outstanding work in research. Generally, preference is given to candidates who, subsequent to graduation, have acquired at least two years of significant professional experience in some area.
The Application Period is Open until March 7, 2010
If want to apply to participate in a Double Degree program in Frankfurt, London or Paris during the 2011-12 school year, a Global Alliance program or a Semester Abroad program during the 2010-11 school year now is the time to apply.
Application Instructions:
1. Login to LawNet www.law.columbia.edu/lawnet.
2. Click on “Apply for Study Abroad” under the “Student Services” tab and accept the terms of agreement.
3. You will automatically be redirected to the study abroad login page.
4. Login to study abroad page using your LawNet username and password.
5. Apply to the “General Application Outbound” program no matter your program of interest.
6. After accepting the terms of agreement on LawNet the first time you login, you can return to the study abroad application anytime during the application period by:
· Login to LawNet (www.law.columbia.edu/lawnet), “Student Services,” “Apply for Study Abroad” and you will be automatically redirected
In 1994, Columbia was the first U.S. Law School to establish a double degree program providing its participants with both a U.S. Juris Doctor and a foreign law degree, in this instance the French Maîtrise en Droit. Columbia was also the first school to create a three-year JD/LL.M. program. The Double Degree programs are the flagship of our study abroad programs - they build upon the Law School's tradition of innovation, and offer unparalleled, substantive and unique opportunities for the study of international and comparative law.
