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Introduction

As noted on the Center for Transnational Legal Studies (CTLS) web page, lawyers in the increasingly globalized economy of the 21st century will need to understand law transnationally, across different legal systems and cultures. As the world shrinks, the importance of transnational and international law grows. Lawyers graduating today are likely to confront legal problems and opportunities that will take them beyond the borders of their home countries.  By facilitating study abroad, the Law Center seeks to broaden its students’ opportunities to prepare for these challenges.

Georgetown Law encourages students who wish to study abroad for a semester to do so in London at the Center for Transnational Legal Studies, a Georgetown-led partnership of law schools from over 20 countries, or at one of the many other programs sponsored by the Office of Transnational Programs.  Studying abroad on a Georgetown-supported program presents a number of administrative, financial, and other advantages. 

Ad Hoc Semester Abroad

The Law Center also permits students to apply to study abroad for a semester or summer on an “ad hoc” basis by enrolling directly in an overseas law program approved by the Office of Transnational Programs.  Such ad hoc programs are generally not permitted in countries where the Law Center has already established a study abroad program.  Ad hoc study abroad is permitted during either semester, but students who do so during their final semester must assume the risk that scheduling conflicts or unforeseen administrative delays at the host school will prevent them participating in Commencement, graduating on time, and/or being able to meet certain bar registration deadlines.  For further information, please contact the Office of Transnational Programs at transnational@law.georgetown.edu.

Other special procedures, rules and credit limits apply as described below.  Note:  All academic policies outlined on the study abroad main page remain in effect for ad hoc programs, unless specifically noted here.

Application Procedures, Approval Criteria, and Credit Transfer

Students who participate in ad hoc study abroad programs are generally not eligible to receive financial assistance.  For details, please consult with the Financial Aid office.

Students who wish to study abroad for a semester on an ad hoc basis must submit an application and supporting documentation to the Office of Transnational Programs (OTP) via OTP's online application system.  To apply, click here and select "apply now" to create an account.  If you have already created an account for another study abroad program, click here to login and start a new application.

• Application Deadline:  February 27, 2012

• Selection Criteria:  Previously Demonstrated Interest.  Students must show through their application that their proposed ad hoc program of study will substantially advance a previously demonstrated academic or professional interest in a manner that would not be possible by enrolling in a Georgetown-sponsored study abroad program.  (This is a higher standard than that applied to other study abroad applications.)

• Additonal Requirement:  Ad Hoc Addendum.  As part of the online application, students must complete an “Ad Hoc Addendum.”  This form requires the student to undertake substantial research into the foreign law program with regard to contact information, academic calendar, standard course load, grading methods, examination policies, and other issues.

Based on the information in the student's application, the Law Center will evaluate the specific overseas law program in which the student proposes to participate.  Such evaluation will consider topics that include the faculty and curriculum available to the Georgetown Law student and the administrative infrastructure available to support their studies.  Please note that the Law Center’s past approval of a particular ad hoc program does not guarantee that similar requests in the future will be approved.

Transferring Credits from an Ad Hoc Study Abroad Program

The Office of Transnational Programs will review a proposed ad hoc study abroad program to determine how many credits may be transferred back.  As a general matter, in conformance with the ABA’s Criteria for Student Study at a Foreign Institution, the Law Center will transfer back 12 credits for work judged to be a standard course load at the foreign law school. 

The Law Center will not, under any circumstances, accept more than 12 credits from any non-Georgetown overseas program or combination of programs.  This limit applies to students who enroll in both a non-Georgetown summer study abroad program and an ad hoc study abroad program.  Thus, for example, a student who has earned 4 credits at a non-Georgetown summer study abroad program may transfer in only 8 more credits from an ad hoc semester abroad program.

A student who is accepted into and participates in an ad hoc program will be expected upon his or her return to submit a report of five pages or more that includes, among other items: a discussion of whether the student's goals for participating were achieved; a description and evaluation of each course taken; a description and evaluation of other important academic, cultural, and social experiences; experiences in obtaining housing; and a discussion of any other matters that the student thinks important. 

Additional Requirements

• Clear account balance prior to departure.

• No credit for overseas clinical work, externships, language or other non-law classes. 

• Upper-class writing assignment must be completed at the Law Center.

• Must pay an ad hoc administrative fee of $500.

 

Ad Hoc Summer Study Abroad:  Application Procedures, Approval Criteria, and Credit Transfer

The Law Center will accept up to 4 credits taken at a non-Georgetown Law Summer Abroad program with the permission of the Office of Transnational Programs.  The Law Center will accept no more than a total of 12 credits from non-Georgetown sponsored study abroad programs. For example, if a student takes 4 credits at a non-Georgetown summer study abroad program, the student could expect to transfer in only 8 credits from any non-Georgetown sponsored semester abroad program.

Students may take up to 14 credits of study abroad credit when a Georgetown-sponsored program is involved.  For example, a student may earn up to 4 credits in a non-Georgetown summer abroad program, and then participate in a Georgetown-sponsored semester abroad program and earn only 10 credits from that semester abroad experience.  

Students may apply to study at one of two types of summer programs:

1. Students may apply to study at a foreign institution directly during the summer.

2. Students may apply to study abroad through an ABA-approved program offered by an ABA-approved U.S. law school. 

In both cases students must apply via OTP's online application system.  To apply, click here and select "apply now" to create an account.  If you have already created an account for another study abroad program, click here to login and start a new application.

Students should expect to receive a decision from the Office of Transnational Programs by April 20.  Students who submit completed applications early may receive a decision earlier than this date.