Southwestern Law School, in collaboration with the University of British Columbia (UBC) Law Faculty and the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy¹, will host a four-week Summer Law Program in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from May 27 to June 27, 2012. The program is in its 20th year and draws upon the long and collegial relationship between Southwestern, the University of British Columbia (UBC), and the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR), which is also housed on the UBC campus. The program offers a variety of academic and social experiences through:
- courses taught by prominent U.S. and Canadian law professors
- a part-time externship program
- field excursions to local courts and other legal agencies
Southwestern's long-standing ties to Canada are a part of the school's international law program, which includes a comprehensive international law curriculum, faculty who are leading international scholars, the Southwestern Journal of International Law, LL.M. programs, and international student exchange programs. Last year 27 students participated in the program including 15 from Southwestern, 7 from other U.S. law schools and 5 students from Canadian law schools. The program size facilitates close interaction between faculty and students.
¹The International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy is part of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program. It undertakes work for the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice through and with the Program Secretariat located at the UN Office in Vienna. The Centre is intended to be a world center for criminal law and justice policy reform, learning and information dissemination. It is a joint initiative of the Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, Simon Fraser University, and the University of British Columbia.
Course/Final Exam Schedule
Students may register for either two courses (4 units) or three courses (6 units). All courses are 2 units. There are no prerequisites.
- International Criminal Law
11:00 a.m. - 12:10 p.m., Mon - Fri
Final Exam: Monday, June 25
- Comparative Constitutional Law
1:30 p.m. - 2:40 p.m., Mon - Fri
Final Exam: Tuesday, June 26 - International Environmental Law
9:30 a.m. - 10:40 a.m., Mon - Fri
Final Exam: Tuesday, June 26
Calendar
| Check-in |
May 26 |
| Summer program begins with Orientation & welcome dinner |
May 27 |
| Classes begin | May 28 |
| Classes end | June 22 |
| Final Exams |
June 25 - 26 |
| Summer Program concludes with a farewell dinner |
June 26 |
| Check-out | June 27 |
| Externship Program concludes |
June 27 |
Activities
Students will have the opportunity to participate in excursions to local courts and legal agencies. In past years, students have visited the B.C. Law Courts, private law firms, the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, and the Crown Counsel's office, among other places.
Ample time is available for students to take advantage of the numerous cultural and sight-seeing opportunities in Vancouver, including theater, museums, restaurants, clubs, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Granville Island.
Required Fees
| Registration Deposit (not refundable if accepted, but applied toward tuition) |
$500 |
| Tuition (includes registration deposit) |
Four units $3,100; Six units $4,650 |
| Materials Fee | $75 per course |
Other/Optional Fees
| Housing price ranges | $875-$1,375* |
| *Costs listed have been updated from the brochure to reflect the rates for Summer 2011 |
|
Deadlines
| Registration Fee |
April 2* |
| Letter of good standing and law school transcript |
April 2 |
| Housing Form |
April 2 |
| Confirmation notice and enrollment agreement |
May 1 |
| Payment in full or or financial aid confirmation |
May 1 |
| * or until maximum enrollment is reached. Early application is strongly encouraged as acceptance will be on a rolling basis. Admission to the program will be at the Program Director's discretion based on the timeliness and completeness of the application, and academic qualifications. A telephone interview may be required at the Director's discretion. If there is space available, late registration may be permitted until May 1. All course materials will be mailed in early May. | |
Admission and Course Credit
Southwestern is approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. The ABA has approved the Summer Law Program in Vancouver. Applicants must be students in good standing at an ABA-approved or state-accredited American law school or accredited Canadian law school. International students not from Canadian or U.S. law schools should contact the Program Director if they wish to participate. Prior to the start of the summer program, students must have completed their first year of law study and must submit a transcript and a letter of good standing from their law school.
Students may register for two or three courses, for a maximum total of six semester units of credit. Any class change must be made in writing to the Southwestern Study Abroad Office. Each professor will administer a written final exam and assign grades. Grades will conform to Southwestern's grading policies. Southwestern utilizes an alpha grading system in which the actual grade earned is represented by an alphabetical letter. Grades are assigned from A+ to F. No unit credit will be granted if the grade received is an F. Additional information can be found in the Southwestern Southwestern Student Handbook, which will be sent to all accepted applicants and also is available upon written request. Students are advised to consult their home school policies concerning receiving credit for course work.
Southwestern will send a transcript to the student's home institution in August following completion of the program and final payment of all tuition and fees. Students should consult with their home institutions regarding the transfer of credit and financial aid. Acceptance of transfer credit is subject to determination by the student's home school. For financial aid purposes, four units is considered half-time and six units is full-time. Students should be aware that participation in a summer program is unlikely to accelerate their graduation date; students interested in acceleration should consult their home school.
Travel and Living Accommodations
Students will be responsible for their own travel arrangements to Vancouver. Students are required to have a passport to enter Canada. At this time, neither student authorizations nor visas are required by the Office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for U.S. students entering into Canada for foreign study programs of six months or less. Students are responsible, however, for meeting any visa or student authorization requirements, should they change. On-campus housing at St. Andrews Hall on the University of British Columbia campus may be arranged through the program for an additional fee. Please note that housing requests are made on a first-come, first-served basis. See housing form for further information.
Tuition Refund Policy
Students who withdraw from the program or request a class change must notify the Southwestern Study Abroad Office in writing as early as possible, as set forth by the program enrollment agreement sent with tuition payment information. Students who withdraw before the first day of the summer program may receive a 100% credit of charged tuition, with the exception of the $500 non-refundable registration deposit. Thereafter, refund for tuition is pro-rated on a daily basis. After 60% of the program is completed, there is no refund. Program housing fees will not be refunded after May 1.
Cancellation Policy
Southwestern reserves the right to change or cancel the Summer Law Program in Vancouver at any time prior to May 1. Southwestern also reserves the right to cancel the Externship Program or any course due to insufficient enrollment. Cancellation of the program or any course at a later date will only occur if necessary for reasons beyond the control of Southwestern. Should a program cancellation occur, the program director will use his best efforts to make arrangements for each student to attend a similar program, if the student so desires, and all money advanced by the student will be refunded within twenty (20) days after the date of cancellation.
Liability & Insurance
Southwestern will not be responsible for personal injuries to students, medical conditions, or for loss or damage to personal property within or in transit to Canada. Southwestern requires that students obtain health insurance that covers or reimburses for health care abroad, and requires the plan to cover medical evacuation and repatriation.
Contact
Anne Wilson
Study Abroad Program
Southwestern Law School
3050 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: (213) 738-5707 Fax: (213) 383-1688
Email: studyabroad@swlaw.edu
Select photos courtesy Tourism British Columbia.
