Program Overview
July 19-Aug. 13, 2010
As the world becomes an integrated global economy, lawyers must become acquainted with international law and foreign legal systems. As the fastest growing economic region in the world, South America has become a key player in global economic and legal relations. As a result of the creation of MERCOSUR, the South American counterpart to NAFTA, South American companies are well poised to become competitive players on world markets. Thus, Argentina presents an ideal location for the Institute in International Law.
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The Summer Institute in International and Comparative Law will focus on comparative law, business law and international human rights. Argentina provides a fertile backdrop for the study of each of these. With regard to comparative law, Argentina is a leader in the application of international and regional obligations within its domestic law; comparative law is thus an integral part of the domestic law of Argentina. With respect to business law, American companies, and thus American law firms, are engaged in significant business transactions with Argentine companies. Argentina is a full member of MERCOSUR, resulting in dramatic increases in Argentine exports and imports.
About Argentina and Buenos Aires
Argentina has experienced many of the same forces shaping its demographic make up as has the United States. Colonization gravely affected the indigenous population and the country experienced a huge tide of immigration in the late 19th century. Slavery, however, did not play as prominent a role as in the United States or neighboring Brazil. Moreover, and unlike the United States, Argentina has experienced recent large scale human rights violations at the hands of the former military government. The Argentine attempts to face and redress its human rights violations, especially those of its ousted military dictatorship is unique and will serve as a fascinating backdrop for the study of international human rights.
Buenos Aires uniquely combines European charm and Latin American spirit. Located at the mouth of the Río de la Plata, Buenos Aires is a bustling metropolis shaped by its Spanish and French heritage. Buenos Aires is friendly to non-Spanish speakers and easy to traverse. The sophisticated city of Buenos Aires, with over 10 million people, is the center of Argentina's cultural, economic, legal, and social life. You'll enjoy dusk to dawn nightlife in its exuberant bars, charming street cafes, gourmet restaurants and sophisticated clubs. Your entertainment choices range from soccer to world renown opera, all easily accessible thorough a convenient, easily navigable transportation system, in a city friendly to non-Spanish speakers.
Although it is a large city, Buenos Aires is also a city of barrios, or neighborhoods, which make it a walker's delight. Most residents of Buenos Aires have lived in the same barrio all their lives, which gives each barrio a small town atmosphere in the heart of the great city. The old port area of La Boca has a carnival atmosphere with its brightly colorful painted tin houses, while San Telmo, home of the tango, is the city's Soho.
Buenos Aires is close to Montevideo and provides easy air connections to the ski resorts of the Andes. You can begin to explore Argentina at http://www.sectur.gov.ar.
Academic Program
All students will be enrolled in four separate one-credit hour courses focusing on International Law focusing on South America. Classes will generally meet during the mornings, Monday through Thursday, leaving afternoons and three-day weekends free for social events and travel. All courses will be conducted in English. This program includes the following modules:
- International Comparative Competition Law (Mark Bauer, Stetson)
- Comparative South American Constitutional Law (David Ritchie, Mercer)
- Comparative Criminal Ethics (Roberta Kemp Flowers, Stetson)
- Comparative Privacy Law (Constance Anastopoulo, Charleston)
See Courses for a more complete description of the classes offered.
Classrooms: Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina Facultad de Derecho
The Summer Institute in International and Comparative Law will be held at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina Facultad de Derecho in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital.
The Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina Facultad de Derecho is a private university in the upscale Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The law school is located in a newly constructed building with technologically advanced classrooms. The modern, spacious law library contains many legal resources, has plenty of study space, and has computer and e-mail facilities for student use. You may visit the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Web site at www.uca.edu.ar/uca/index.php/home/index/es/universidad/facilitades/buenos-aires/derecho.
Field Trips
The program cost includes local field trips to Argentine legal, political, and economic institutions. The program begins with an included bus tour of the city, where you'll see such landmarks as the Casa Rosada (the Pink House), the site of Evita's famous addresses to her country.
The program also includes several festive social events and field trips to Argentina courts, legal institutions, and governmental organizations. You will have a choice of exciting optional excursions to other parts of Argentina and other South American countries. You can spend a "gaucho" day in the fabled Argentina pampas and watch these Argentine "cowboys" at work and play. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, founded by Portuguese explorers in 1680 as a smuggling port and one of the few surviving colonial relics in the Southern part of South America, is an easy boat day's boat trip away. You can also easily visit Montevideo, Uruguay's cosmopolitan capital.
Many students on the program fly to Santiago, Chile or glamorous Rio de Janeiro. Skiing the Andes, in the Argentina winter months of July and August, is always an exciting possibility.
Program Fees and Expenses
Please see Argentina Student Budget 2010 (PDF) .
Financial Assistance
Stetson will process forms for loans or other benefits to which a Stetson participant may be entitled. Non-Stetson participants must contact their home institution regarding loans and financial assistance programs.
Stetson provides limited scholarships to Stetson students, but no other direct financial assistance for program participants is available. Scholarships may be applied for by filling out the application and returning it to the Stetson International Programs Office.
Deposit and Tuition Refund Policy
A participant's application requires an accompanying deposit of $200 for tuition and $100 for housing; these amounts are applied to a participant's tuition and housing costs, respectively. Once an applicant has been accepted, all deposits are nonrefundable.
Students are obligated to pay tuition and housing by May 26, 2010. Any attempt to withdraw from the program after that date will not discharge the student's obligation for payment of the tuition.
Cancellation Policy
Stetson reserves the right to cancel the program before May 1, 2010, for lack of adequate enrollment, or any other reason, with full refund given to the students within twenty (20 days). Stetson will also offer to place students in a similar program in the event of cancellation of the program. Stetson also reserves the right to cancel or shorten the program at any time should extraordinary circumstances arise such as a natural disaster, political emergency or force majeure. In such event, participants will receive a refund for the proportion of credit tuition and accommodations not yet utilized.
Academic Policies
The usual academic requirements of Stetson University College of Law will apply to the Institute. A final examination will be administered at the conclusion of the course. Stetson uses a 4.0 grading system. Grades transferred to any co-sponsoring institution will be entered according to its own grading system. Course instruction will be in English.
The acceptance of any grade or credits earned in this program is subject to determination by the participant's home school. Each participant carries individual responsibility for determining the transferability of grades and credits earned in this program.
It is unlikely that participation in foreign summer programs may be used to accelerate graduation. Inquiries should be made by the applicant to his/her home institution in advance of application.
Eligibility
The program is open to law students, lawyers, and business professionals interested in studying in Argentina. Law students and lawyers should have an active interest in international business law and/or public international law to make the most of this exciting academic experience. Enrollment will be limited to forty (40) students, and it is estimated that forty (40) students will enroll.
Foreign Law Students are Also Welcome to Participate
Law students from foreign law schools are also eligible and invited to enroll in the program. Historically, only a few foreign law students have registered from the program. We therefore anticipate that only a small numbers of foreign law students estimated at no more than two individuals may participate in the program. It is anticipated that these students will all be from the host country in which the program is located.
Applicants with Special Needs
Most cities in South America, including Buenos Aires, are not as handicap accessible as cities in the United States. At the Universidad de Buenos Aires access for persons with disabilities to classrooms, offices and other facilities is limited. In addition, although the rooms are accessible by an elevator, the hotel is not designed for accessibility by physically disabled persons.
Applicants with disabilities or other special needs should contact the Office of International Programs at Stetson in advance to discuss arrangements. Stetson will make every effort to accomodate the special needs of applicants.
Students Participating in 2009
Twenty-two (22) students participated in the program in Buenos Aires during the summer of 2009.
Passports and Visas
Passports are required for travel to countries outside the United States and are the responsibility of each participant. Information and forms are available at your local U.S. courthouse or at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport.
Visas are not required of U.S. citizens traveling to Argentina.
Travel
Please arrange your travel so that you arrive on Sunday, July 18, 2010, as there is a mandatory orientation that evening. Participants must make their own travel arrangements. Many airlines offer discounted airfares if bookings are made well in advance of departure.
Important exam information: The date of the exam is Friday, August 13, 2010, via e-mail access. The last day of classes is Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010. Please make sure that your travel schedule does not conflict with the final examination. No arrangements will be made for exams to be taken prior to the scheduled exam date and time because of travel conflicts.
Different Cultures and Habits
The cultures and habits of the host countries may differ significantly from those in the United States. A good example of these differences is evidenced by differing attitudes towards smoking. While many restrictions on smoking in hotels, restaurants and public places exist in the United States, few such restrictions exist in many of our host countries. Stetson University College of Law is not able to require American style restrictions on smoking in the facilities it uses in its summer abroad programs.
Liability and Insurance
Neither Stetson nor its co-sponsors will be responsible for personal injury or illness, or loss or damage to personal property in the program. Participants must obtain health insurance to provide medical coverage for travel outside the U.S. For more information, please see the Health Insurance page. As always, participants should be cautious and assume responsibility for their personal safety while traveling outside the United States.
Sponsors
The Summer Institute in International Law in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is sponsored Stetson University College of Law, Oklahoma City University School of Law, University of Tulsa College of Law, Mercer University School of Law, and Charleston School of Law. The Universidad de Buenos Aires Law School, Argentina, will provide classrooms, administrative offices and academic support.
Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy
It is the policy of Stetson University College of Law and its co-sponsors not to discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race, age, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in its educational programs, admissions, policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs. The policy is enforced by federal law under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Inquiries regarding compliance with these statutes may be directed to the Business Office or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education, Washington, D.C. The College of Law is an Equal Opportunity employer.