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Special Interest Areas
International Law Curriculum
The SCU international law curriculum is rich in public, private, and comparative law offerings. The School of Law faculty includes some of the best international law scholars in the field.
Center for Global Law and Policy
The Center for Global Law and Policy (CGLP) provides the direction for international and comparative law study and scholarship at SCU. CGLP administers the semester- and summer-abroad programs that enable students to study international law under world-renowned scholars, side by side with students from around the world. For more information about the CGLP, see law.scu.edu/international/center-for-global-law-and-policy.cfm.
Summer Abroad programs
These programs allow law students to spend all or a portion of a summer session studying law abroad, with opportunities to work as interns in many countries. All programs are taught in English and approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Overseas summer courses at thirteen locations are open to students in good academic standing, who have completed one year of full- or part-time study at the School of Law. Students may seek placement in Santa Clara’s internship programs after completing the overseas academic component. For more details, see law.scu.edu/international/summer-abroad.cfm.
Semester Abroad programs
The School of Law encourages students to experience a semester abroad. Students may earn up to 12 units of academic or internship credit overseas during a single semester. The School of Law currently has reciprocal agreements with several universities in Asia, Europe and South America, enabling qualifying students to take a semester of law studies abroad at one of the selected universities. For more details, see law.scu.edu/international/semester-abroad.cfm.
International Law and International High-Tech Law Certificates
The International Law Certificate and International High-Tech Law Certificate are intended for law students interested in pursuing careers in the growing practice area of international law. Businesses increasingly compete in global markets, and investment opportunities have opened in many previously closed countries. Even areas of law traditionally local or regional have taken on an international dimension. The School of Law’s course of study in international law prepares students to address these complex legal issues. For details on the International Law Certificate and International High-Tech Law Certificate see law.scu.edu/international/international-law-certificate.cfm.
Students may obtain only one of the following certificates. Students must elect whether to obtain the:
- International Law Certificate
- International High-Tech Law Certificate
- High Tech Law Certificate
- Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate
International Law Moot Court competitions
CGLP, together with the Director of External Moot Courts administers and supports students who choose to participate in one of several international moot court competitions. Competitions in which students have participated include:
- Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court
- Niagara Cup International Law Moot Court
- International Criminal Court Moot Court
- Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court
- Concours Jean-Pictet
- Gray’s Inn Moot Law Competition in London
For details on international moot court competitions, see law.scu.edu/international/international-law-moot-court.cfm.
International Law Journal
The law school publishes the Santa Clara Journal of International Law, a student-operated law journal that publishes scholarly articles related to international legal issues. Students who are especially interested in international law may apply for membership on the Journal staff. For details, see www.scu.edu/scjil/.
International Judicial Externships
Students gain valuable experience working in international courts or tribunals for a semester. Students may earn up to 12 units of credit during a single semester, earning 1 unit of academic credit for every 50 hours of fieldwork in an approved international judicial externship. For more information, see law.scu.edu/international/international-judicial-externship.cfm.
Faculty exchanges
CGLP has both formal and informal arrangements for faculty exchanges with universities in Asia, Europe, and South America. Although these arrangements do not directly affect law students, they do have a profound effect on the international perspectives offered to law students. Almost every semester, the SCU School of Law hosts at least one foreign faculty member to teach a substantive law course.
Visiting scholars
CGLP has programs for visiting judges, academics, and practitioners from around the world to come to the SCU School of Law to conduct legal research. Such visiting scholars typically audit SCU law courses, bringing a unique international perspective on the differences in the practice and study of law outside the U.S. Visiting scholars provide a tremendous resource for students interested in foreign laws.
For more information
- School of Law, Center for Global Law and Policy: law.scu.edu/international/center-for-global-law-and-policy.cfm
or 408-551-1955
- Director: Professor David Sloss
- Associate Director: Vinita Bali
- Events Planner: Galina Pappu
