Institute on World Legal Problems

Distinguished Visiting Jurist: Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court of the United States

In the summer of 2013, Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court of the United States will serve as the Institute on World Legal Problems' Distinguished Visiting Jurist for the first time.

Past Distinguished Jurists in the St. Mary's Innsbruck program have included seven other members of the United States Supreme Court (the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito, Sandra Day O'Connor and Antonin Scalia); then-President of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Hon. Gabrielle Kirk McDonald; Richard Goldstone, retired Justice of the South Africa Constitutional Court and Chief Proscutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda; and András Sajó of the European Court of Human Rights.

Innsbruck, Austria: The Crossroads of Europe

Nestled in the breathtakingly beautiful Austrian Alps, and long a favorite vacation spot, Innsbruck has been a vital crossroads for commerce, education, and the arts since the Middle Ages. Its prominence is due in part to the great natural beauty of the Tirol, the region of which it is the capital. But the city also enjoys the advantage of proximity to numerous diverse cultures. To the east there is Hungary; to the west Switzerland and France; to the north Germany, the Czech and Slovak Republics, and Poland; and to the south Italy. All are only a short distance by train. Innsbruck has twice has been the site of the Olympic Winter Games.

St. Mary's 28th Program

Summer 2013 will mark the 28th year of the St. Mary's program at Innsbruck. Since 1986, students from more than 130 American law schools and several European law schools have participated in the Institute, which is conducted in English.

Visits are made to the local courts and to the state seat of government, and guest lectures typically are presented by European professors. Scholars traveling in Europe and lawyers abroad on international business often are invited to share insights with the classes or deliver special lectures on important international topics. Students have the opportunity to converse with foreign scholars and Austrian lawyers on several occasions, including at the gala opening reception at Schloss Ambras (the great Habsburg castle overlooking the city). Austrian students will participate in classes, off-campus visits, and social events, along with their American colleagues.

Classes will meet Monday through midday Thursday. This schedule allows students time to travel on weekends to such destinations as Rome, Paris, the French Riviera, Venice, Vienna, Zurich, Munich, Prague, and Budapest.

The University of Innsbruck is the foreign sponsor of the Institute. Offices, study areas, and classrooms are comfortably housed in the main building of the University. Students have access to the international and comparative law collections of the University libraries. Selected American works are also available and students are provided Internet access through the University of Innsbruck.

How to Apply

• Apply online to the Innsbruck Law Program
• Download a paper application for the Innsbruck Law Program

Applying and Tuition

Students must apply separately for course enrollment and for housing. Enrollment applications are accepted on a first-come basis and must be accompanied by a $100 tuition deposit. The recommended application deadline is April 1, and tuition must be paid in full by mid-June. Visiting students must submit a letter of good standing from an ABA- or state-accredited law school.

Tuition

The tuition in Innsbruck is the same as at the home campus of St. Mary's University, which will be $998 per credit hour in Summer 2013. There are no special fees, but students must purchase the books required for their courses.
Students from St. Mary's must enroll in not less than four credits, nor more than six credits. Students from other law schools can take no more than six credits and are subject to any minimum credit-hour requirement set by their home institutions. Classes begin on Monday, July 1. The last exams are Friday, August 3. Regular class attendance is required.

Scholarships

A memorial scholarship in the name of Sarah K. Thompson is available for 2013 Innsbruck participants who regularly attend St. Mary's University School of Law. Two recipients will receive awards. Applications are due to Sr. Grace Walle, FMI by 5 p.m. on March 22, 2013. Scholarship Application.

The Flint Fund was established by Professor Richard Flint and Sr. Grace to assist St. Mary's law school students who wish to attend the Innsbruck program. Applications must be submitted to Sr. Grace prior to March 22, 2013. Please submit either a copy to her office, LF 106, or to gwalle@stmarytx.edu .

Finally, The Emiliano Infante Segrera Scholarship is offered through the generous support of Emil R. Infante, managing member of the firm of Infante, Zumpano, Hudson & Miloch, LLC. Application letters are due to Professor Gerald Reamey, LFB 226, or by placing in his faculty mailbox in the Raba Law Building on or before May 1 at 5 p.m.

Registration Changes

Course additions, substitutions, withdrawals, and audits are permitted only if such changes do not run afoul of minimum/maximum credit hour requirements.

Adding Courses

Students seeking to add a course must do so prior to the third meeting of the class. Extra books and study materials normally are not available in Innsbruck. Students should take this factor into consideration when making final course selections or requesting course changes.

Auditing Courses

Changing from graded enrollment to audit is permitted until the middle of the instruction portion of the course.

Dropping Courses

A student is permitted to withdraw from a course any time prior to the examination or equivalent deadline. The withdrawal will not appear on the student's transcript, unless the withdrawal occurs after the expiration of the refund period (see below).

Tuition Refunds

Tuition in a course is refunded according to a sliding scale based on the date of the student's withdrawal from the course:

Before the third class meeting	100%
After the third class meeting and before the fourth class meeting	67%
After the fourth class meeting and before the fifth class meeting	33%
After five class meetings	ZERO

Contact Information

Innsbruck Law Program
St. Mary's University
School of Law
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228-8603
(210) 436-3544
1-800-INTL-LAW (1-800-468-5529)
E-mail: Innsbruck@stmarytx.edu

Housing Information

Housing for students is available at the Haus Karwendel, a comfortable, dormitory-style facility located a pleasant fifteen minute walk or an efficient five minute bus ride from the University and the Old Town. Haus Karwendel offers a lounge area with TV, coin operated washers and dryers, telephones and Internet connections in all rooms, and a café open on selected evenings. A buffet breakfast is served on class days.

Haus Karwendel offers single rooms ($1850) and twin rooms ($1310 per person), both with showers. Other room configurations may be available, and accommodations at other, similar facilities may be offered if the rooms at the Haus Karwendel are filled. For details, housing prices, and to receive a housing application form, contact:

Melissa Zweibaum
Peter McLean/Ambrose Historical Tours
2612 Esplanade Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
Tel: 504-486-8100
Fax: 504-486-8060
E-mail: melissa@stephenambrosetours.com

Additional Information

2013 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The St. Mary's University summer program in international law at the University of Innsbruck has been fully accredited by the American Bar Association since its inception in 1986. As part of the accreditation process, the ABA requires law schools to make certain information available to students planning to participate in foreign programs. The following information is set forth to comply with those requirements, and supplements the information contained in the official program brochure for the 2012 Institute on World Legal Problems.Innsbruck 2012 Informational Brochure

Size of Enrollment

An average of approximately 70 students have participated in each of the last ten programs at Innsbruck. During 2012, there were approximately 40 students, seven of whom came from other law schools. There will likely be a similar enrollment in the 2013 program. Because the curriculum contains six courses, it is probable that most classes will have an enrollment of between 20 and 40 students. Although there is no definite limit on the number of students who may participate in the program, at some point adequate student housing might not be available and the students enrolled for a class might exceed the capacity of the largest classroom available (approximately 150).

Foreign Students

Each year several students from foreign countries participate in the St. Mary's program. There will probably not be more than ten foreign students in the 2012 program. They likely will be drawn from Austria, Germany and other European countries.

Enrollment Limitations

Because at least one of the classrooms that will be used by the program seats 150 persons, it is unlikely that the enrollment in any course will have to be limited. There are no course prerequisites for any of the classes. Each class is taught with the assumption that the students have completed one year of American legal education.

Course Credit

The acceptance of any credit or grade for a course taken in the Innsbruck program is subject to determination by the student's home law school. Students are urged to consult appropriate administrators at their own schools regarding the limitations on acceptance of credit earned in this program.

Accelerated Graduation

The American Bar Association requires every law school to state that "it is unlikely that participation in foreign summer programs may be used to accelerate graduation." Students interested in acceleration must explore that issue with their home institutions in light of ABA Standard 304.

Sponsoring Institution

The University of Innsbruck is the foreign sponsor for the St. Mary's University Institute on World Legal Problems, and may be contacted through: Professor Bernhard Koch, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria, Telephone (011-43-512) 507-8031, Fax (011-43-512) 507-2821.

Tuition and Other Costs

Tuition is currently $998 per credit. St. Mary's University begins a new fiscal year after the completion of the Innsbruck program. Thus, $998 per credit hour will be the cost of tuition in Summer 2013.

In addition to tuition, students must pay for transportation, housing, and living expenses. Last summer most students found that a round-trip flight from the United States to a major European city cost about $1400. Housing costs are stated in the official brochure for the St. Mary's program. Many students purchase a Eurail pass to enable them to travel by train. Depending upon the type of Eurail pass purchased, the cost might range between $500 and $800. Some persons spend considerably less for rail travel, and others more. The cost of food and meals in Innsbruck is approximately what a student might pay in the United States. Students must purchase books for their courses before departing for Europe. The cost is the same as would be incurred for similar courses taken at a law school campus in the United States. Entertainment and travel expenses vary greatly from person to person. Most students travel on weekends; weekend expenditures in the neighborhood of $200 per person would not be uncommon. Those who spend their weekends enjoying the Innsbruck area attractions, many of which are free, will spend considerably less.

Facilities

The classrooms and administrative offices for the St. Mary's University Institute on World Legal Problems are located in the main building of the University of Innsbruck. The facilities available to the program include a large faculty office, a small student library/study room with several tables and chairs, and several large and small classrooms with bench-type seating. Students may use the library and computing facilities of the University of Innsbruck, and will have internet access through the University's wifi network.

Persons with Disabilities

Many portions of the classroom building at the University of Innsbruck, and many public accommodations in Austria, are not readily accessible to persons with disabilities. Specific information about the obstacles a person with a disability would be likely to encounter can be obtained from the co-directors of the program, by phone or mail.

Cancellation

St. Mary's University has never canceled a foreign study program. The only foreseeable circumstance under which cancellation would be likely would be conditions in Europe threatening the safety of Americans abroad. Were such events to transpire, St. Mary's University would make a full refund of tuition and would assist students in registering for other foreign programs.

Student Performance

Regular class attendance is required. A student who misses more than one-third of the scheduled class meetings is automatically withdrawn from the course, and grades may be reduced for excessive absences. The grade in each course is based upon a final examination or paper. A portion of the final grade (not exceeding more than one-third of a letter-grade level) may be based on class participation, if announced by the professor during the first week of the course. The grading scale is: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, and F. Academic regulations are set forth in the Law School's Student Handbook.

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance is not provided by St. Mary's University to students or faculty in the program. Students are encouraged to obtain medical insurance if they believe that is necessary.

Academic Matters

Please read the information from the May 1 letter regarding other academic preparations for the courses. Academic Matters letter.

2013 Class Times

First Session
8:00 - 9:10	International Business Transactions, R. Flint
9:20 - 10:30	Global Issues in Corporate Law, C. Marks
10:40 - 11:50	Lawyering Abroad, B. Koch
12:00 - 1:10	Landmark Supreme Court Cases, C. Thomas/S. McAllister
Second Session
8:00 - 9:10	International Business Transactions (continuation), R. Flint
9:20 - 10:30	Introduction to International Taxation, C. Pomeroy
10:40 - 11:50	International Water Law and Human Rights, A. Hardberger

2013 Exams

First Session
Tues., July 16, 3-4 p.m.	Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Tues., July 16, 5-6 p.m.	Global Issues in Corporate Law
Take-Home	Lawyering Abroad
(continuing to second half)	International Business Transactions
Second Session
Thurs., Aug. 1, 3 - 5 p.m.	International Business Transactions (continuation)
Take-Home	Introduction to International Taxation
Take-Home	International Water Law and Human Rights

Courses and Faculty

Landmark Supreme Court Cases in a Comparative Perspective (1 credit, Justice Clarence Thomas and Professor Stephen McAllister) will consider a number of landmark Supreme Court decisions, exploring the stories behind the cases and comparing the legal doctrines and outcomes with cases raising similar issues in other countries. The course will bring an international and comparative perspective to constitutional issues.

Stephen McAllister is Professor of Law at the University of Kansas as well as Solicitor General for the state of Kansas. He clerked for Justices Byron White and Clarence Thomas at the Supreme Court of the United States and Judge Richard Posner at the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. His teaching and research interests include Constitutional Law and Supreme Court history. Professor McAllister is a member of the American Law Institute.

International Business Transactions (2 credits, Professor Richard Flint) explores national and international private law relating to the movement of goods and payment of money across national borders; licensing and franchising; direct foreign investment; and dispute resolution in international transactions.

Professor Flint teaches Oil and Gas, Bankruptcy, Contracts, and Civil Procedure at St. Mary's. He has taught general commercial law courses in Monterrey, Mexico, and Mexico City.

Global Issues in Corporate Law (1 credit, Professor Colin Marks) introduces the forms of business organization and corporate governance structures used in various countries and explores issues of limited liability and creditor protection , mismanagement by directors and controlling shareholders, and insider trading.

Professor Marks clerked for Judge Harold R. DeMoss, Jr. At the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and practiced as a commercial litigator prior to joining the faculty at St. Mary’s. His teaching and research interests include Contracts, Business Associations, and Commercial Law. Professor Marks is a member of the American Law Institute.

Lawyering Abroad: Basic Concepts of European Legal Systems (1 credit, Professor Bernhard Koch) introduces students to the core elements of European legal systems and to their structural dissimilarities with American legal systems. Emphasis will be placed on major differences between common law and civil law approaches, and examples will be drawn from the laws of Germany, France, and other countries. Particular attention will be given to the practical aspects of lawyering, such as finding the law and communicating with foreign counsel.

Professor Koch is a faculty member at the University of Innsbruck, where he specializes in private law, comparative law, and conflict of laws. He has been associated with the St. Mary's Innsbruck program since its founding.

International Water Law and Human Rights (1 credit, Professor Amy Hardberger) will explore the basics of international law related to water and the human right to water. Topics will include the exploitation, management, and conservation of domestic and trans-boundary water resources, ownership, sovereignty, and rights to water, and the ethical and environmental aspects of water.

Professor Hardberger, a registered professional geoscientist, clerked for Judge William Wayne Justice and served as an attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund prior to joining the faculty at St. Mary's. Her teaching and research interests include Land Use Planning, Water Law, and Environmental Law.

Introduction to International Taxation (1 credit, Professor Chad Pomeroy) provides a brief introduction to the U.S. Income Tax System and surveys U.S. tax laws that govern U.S. citizens doing business in foreign countries and foreign citizens doing business in the United States. This course focuses on principles of U.S. tax policy, tax treaties with foreign countries, and political forces that shape international tax policy.

Professor Pomeroy practiced law in Salt Lake City for ten years before joining the St. Mary’s faculty, specializing in real estate and corporate transactions. His teaching and research interests include Property, Business Associations, and Taxation.

Administration of the Program

The Institute is conducted under the co-direction of two members of the St. Mary's faculty:

Professor Bernard Reamsis a member of the St. Mary’s faculty. His teaching and research interests include Business Organizations, Trusts, and Health Law. He has been a guest professor at the University of Innsbruck and is a member of the American Law Institute.

Professor Mark Cochran is a member of the faculty and Director of Evening Studies at St. Mary’s. His primary teaching and research interest is Federal Taxation, and he has been a visiting professor at Vermont Law School, the University of Georgia, and the University of Texas.

online app

Flying to Europe

Now is the time to begin planning your air travel for this summer. The following information may help.

Passport. You will need a valid passport to travel to Europe. If you do not have one, you should apply immediately, as the process can take several weeks. Information is available at any post office or on the U.S. State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov/passport.

Destination Cities. Relatively few participants fly into Innsbruck, which has a small airport. Most participants fly into Munich, the closest major airport, approximately two hours from Innsbruck by train or shuttle. Zurich and Milan are each about four hours away, and Frankfurt and Vienna are each five hours away. All of these cities are close enough to be feasible air destinations. You might consider flying into one city and out of a different city, as this opens up your travel opportunities and typically doesn’t cost any more.

London is often the cheapest air destination in Europe, and several discount airlines offer service from London to Munich or Salzburg, each about two hours from Innsbruck by train. The discount fares are attractive, but, if you book with one of these carriers, you should plan on paying a surcharge if you travel with more than a minimal amount of luggage. Also, these airlines will likely fly out of a different airport from the one at which your U.S. flight arrives. Discount airlines include Easyjet, Ryan Air, TUIfly, germanwings and Air Berlin, all of which have English language web sites.

Cost. Last summer, the going rate for economy airfares was in the neighborhood of $1,400. Some students found student tickets through discounters for as little as $900, and some paid more than $1,600. Obviously, you need to shop around to get the best available fare. You should be aware that advertised fares often are not available for stays exceeding thirty days.

Shopping for Airfares. Check for flights at Student Travel (1-800-781-4040; www.statravel.com), www.studentuniverse.com, www.orbitz.com, and www.travelocity.com. To secure the best fare, you will need to monitor the Internet carefully or make frequent calls to airlines and travel agents.

When to Book. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to fly on the days on which you want to travel. It is often particularly difficult to schedule flights returning from Europe to the U.S. in August. You should book your flight as soon as you find an acceptable fare, as good fares tend to disappear quickly.

Rail Travel. Student Travel can provide information on rail passes. Rick Steves Travel (www.ricksteves.com) has an excellent interactive guide to rail passes, or you can check with Rail Europe at www.raileurope.com. Many different kinds of passes are available, and you will need to make some comparisons to determine which is best for you. Sometimes it is cheaper just to buy point-to-point tickets, especially if you don’t intend to make numerous trips over long distances.

Questions? If you have any questions, please e-mail Professor Cochran at mcochran@stmarytx.edu or Professor Reams at breams@stmarytx.edu. You can also call 1-800-INTL-LAW or (210) 436-3544 to speak with Ms. Guadalupe Valdez.