“I’ve just completed what was probably my favorite semester of law school – a semester at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London! I chose to go to SOAS specifically because I wanted to specialize in Middle Eastern and Islamic Law, and I wasn’t disappointed. While at SOAS, I had the chance to conduct research under the direct supervision of some of the leading scholars in the field, and I have formed lasting professional and personal relationships with professors and students from all over the world. The opportunity to focus in-depth on a niche subject matter by attending a leading international university has enriched my overall experience at law school tremendously, as has the opportunity to be a part of a different community for a semester (the level of student activism and student protesting in London was fascinating!).”
Tag Archives: Semester Abroad
Sara Zucker, Director, International Legal Studies, on a new exchange agreement with Sciences Po
“We just signed a new exchange agreement between HLS and the Sciences Po Law School in Paris, France. We have a good number of HLS professors involved in collaborative efforts with their colleagues at Sciences Po and many HLS JDs and SJDs have already expressed interest in spending a semester in Paris. It could be because of Science Po’s impressive reputation, the array of course offerings in French and English, or maybe it’s just the prospect of delicious pastry, but everyone I’ve spoken to at HLS seems excited to add Sciences Po to our roster of linkages with foreign law schools!”
Alan Kimball (JD ’11), spending a semester abroad at Queen Mary, University of London in England
“The classes have been interesting and challenging. The faculty comes from all over the world, so you see a number of different teaching styles. Of my six professors, one is American, one is Greek, one is Paraguayan, one is Spanish, and two are English. Guest lecturers for our classes have included the general counsel to the International Monetary Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The graduate programs at Queen Mary allow a great deal of independence in crafting your program of study and coursework, which isn’t for everyone. But it’s allowed me to spend almost all of my time doing work that I enjoy.”
Jan Kuntze, an exchange student from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, spending a semester at HLS
“I have really enjoyed the many international activities at HLS. Courses, such as the International Law Workshop with Prof. Bill Alford and Israel/Palestine Legal Issues with Prof. Duncan Kennedy, have allowed me to deepen my knowledge on international legal fields that I had studied before. Furthermore, they gave me the opportunity to discuss recent developments in international law with widely recognized scholars that came to class and gave presentations or led discussions. Apart from these benefits, it has been highly valuable to interact and debate with my fellow students at HLS who come from all over the world. We have created discussion groups to discuss our individual work on international environmental law and to explore common interests.”