General Information

Admission Requirements

Eligible to the Summer Program are law graduates, who are professionally active in the practice of law, industry, commerce, government, international organizations or related activities. Law students in an advanced phase of their studies may be admitted too.

 

You are requested to fill out the online application form ibefore June 1 ("early-birds" before May 1) prior to the start of the program.

 

On this website, you can find an online application form here.

 

English

Proficiency in English is required of all participants. Classes will be conducted in English, and participants will be called upon in class to discuss materials they have studied. In describing in your application your schooling and proficiency in the English language, you are requested to be as specific as possible and to give a frank evaluation of your ability to study and discuss American legal materials in English. Your objectivity in this regard will avoid subsequent disappointment. Submission of a TOEFL-test result is one of the ways in which you can indicate your proficiency in English.

 

Classes

Each participant is required to take courses in Constitutional Law, Litigation and Statutes & Regulations, and three elective courses. Ten hours of classroom discussion are scheduled for each course. Participants are required to attend all classes in the courses for which they have registered. Adequate preparation is expected of each participant. Upon completion of the Program, a certificate of attendance will be issued to all participants who have met these requirements.

 

Attendance

Attendance of classes is compulsory. Failure to attend classes will result in withdrawal of the right to receive the certificate, at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

Study materials

In most courses, participants will be provided with casebooks as used in American Law School. In some courses, mimeographed materials will be distributed. Study materials will be distributed upon registration.

 

Preliminary reading

Before attending the Program, participants are advised to read:

1. A. Farnsworth, An Introduction to the legal System of the United States, (Oceana Publications, New York),

2. G. Fletcher and S. Sheppard, American Law in a Global Context: The Basics (Oxford University Press).

 

Expenses

Fee

The fee for 2010 is € 3800 (€ 2950 for students), covering tuition, accommodation, study materials for the courses and all administrative expenses, including those of the extra curricular activities, lunches and farewell diner. For applications sent in before May 1, an "early-bird" discount applies of € 250.

 

Meals

On days on which classes are given, all participants are expected to attend the lunches organized by the Program. The restaurant location will be announced in the program materials. Breakfast and evening meals will not be provided. As a rule, friends or relatives cannot be admitted to the lunches.

 

Administrative matters

Arrival and registration

It is imperative that all participants arrive on the date indicated in your acceptance letter, for the purpose of allocation of housing. On the first Monday participants are requested to be present for a mandatory introduction session for the participants, the Director of the Summer Program, faculty members and staff.

 

Extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities will be announced in the program documentation.

 

Director of the Columbia Summer Program

Professor Morrison may be consulted on all matters concerning the instructional part of the Program via e-mail: emorri@law.columbia.edu or during the Program after lectures.

 

Office of the Program

During the course, an information desk will be available. Here, participants can consult a member of the organizing staff, on all matters pertaining to the course.