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TechnoratiInnsbruck Program
Institute on World Legal Problems
July 5 to August 6, 2010
Innsbruck, Austria: The Crossroads of Europe
For centuries, Innsbruck has welcomed travelers and scholars from all parts of the world. 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. Indicative of Innsbruck's international appeal, the city annually hosts numerous conferences and twice has been the site of the Olympic Winter Games.
Distinguished Visiting Jurist: András Sajó, European Court of Human Rights
András Sajó
European Court of Human Rights
Past Distinguished Jurists in the St. Mary's Innsbruck program have included seven members of the United States Supreme Court (the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito and Sandra Day O'Connor) and then-President of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Hon. Gabrielle Kirk McDonald and 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.
St. Mary's 25th Program
Summer 2010 marks the 25th 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, along with photocopying, Lexis and Westlaw, and computer terminals with word processing and Internet access.
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 is currently $884 per credit hour. The tuition rate might increase slightly on June 1, 2010, and that increase would apply to the Innsbruck program for 2010. 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 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 5. The last exams are Friday, August 6. Regular class attendance is required.
Contact Information
Innsbruck Law ProgramSt. 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@law.stmarytx.edu
Housing Information
Housing is available at the Haus Karwendel, a comfortable, modern 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, a communal kitchen, 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 and twin rooms, 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:
Peter T. McLean, Ltd.
501 S. America Street
Covington, LA 70433
Phone: (504) 241-5285 (Heather Noonan)
Fax: (985) 249-5938
E-mail: heather_noonan@yahoo.com
Students may secure accommodations on their own but are advised that the demand for seasonal housing in Innsbruck is high.
Additional Information
2010 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 2009 Institute on World Legal Problems.Size of Enrollment
An average of approximately 85 students have participated in each of the last ten programs at Innsbruck. During 2008, there were approximately 100 students, about 40 of whom came from other law schools. There will likely be a similar enrollment in the 2009 program. Although there is no definite limit on the number of students who may participate in the Institute, at some point student housing will not longer be available and the students enrolled for a class might exceed the capacity of the largest classroom available (approximately 150). Because the curriculum contains seven courses, it is probable that most classes will have an enrollment of between 20 and 45 students, although the course taught by Justice Alito is likely to have an enrollment nearly equaling the total number of students participating in the program.Foreign Students
Each year a few students from foreign countries participate in the St. Mary's program. There will probably not be more than ten foreign students in the 2009 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 Fritz Raber or 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 $884 per credit. Because St. Mary's University begins a new fiscal year on June 1, it is likely that the cost of tuition will increase by a small percentage prior to the start of the summer program. It is highly unlikely a tuition increase would exceed 10%.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.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 June 1 letter regarding other academic preparations for the courses. Academic Matters letter.First Week Highlights
Please read the information from the June 1 letter regarding the first week highlights. First Week HighlightsClass Times
Below is the class schedule for last year's program. The 2010 class times will be announced soon.| First Session | |
|---|---|
| 8:00 - 9:10 | International Business Transactions |
| 9:20 - 10:30 | Class Actions in a Global Context |
| 10:40 - 11:50 | The Supreme Court, the Constitution, and Problems of Crime and Terrorism |
| 12:00 - 1:10 | Comparative Freedom of Speech and Religion |
| Second Session | |
| 8:00 - 9:10 | International Business Transactions (continuation) |
| 9:20 - 10:30 | Introduction to International Taxation |
| 10:40 - 11:50 | International Human Rights: Global Sex Trafficking |
| 12:00 - 1:10 | Lawyering Abroad: Basic Concepts of European Legal Systems |
Courses and Faculty
The Constitution and Problems of Crime and Terrorism (1 credit, Professor David Schlueter) will address the Constitutional implications of efforts to control domestic criminal activity and international terrorism. The course will examine the balancing of individual rights against governmental and societal interests in the context of federal and state criminal trials and military commissions, with an emphasis on recent Supreme Court decisions.Professor Schlueter is the Hardy Professor of Trial Advocacy at St. Mary's, where he also teaches Constitutional Law and Evidence. He is a widely published author on Evidence and Military Law and a member of the American Law Institute.
Comparative Constitutional Law (1 credit, Associate Dean and Professor Michael Ariens) examines the structural issues in constitution building, including separation of powers, judicial review and federalism, and evaluates the nature and content of individual rights provisions and protections in various national constitutions.
Professor Ariens is the Associate Dean for Evening Legal Studies at St. Mary’s and teaches and publishes in the areas of constitutional law, evidence, legal history, and church and state.
International Business Transactions (2 credits, Professor Richard Flint) addresses international trading of goods, financing international transactions, transportation of goods in international commerce, options for foreign direct 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.
International Human Rights (1 credit, Associate Dean and Professor Victoria Mather) introduces International Human Rights Law concepts and applies those concepts to a variety of problems, including population law and policy.
Professor Mather is the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at St. Mary’s and teaches in the areas of property law and family law.
International Intellectual Property (1 Credit, Professor Doris Long) examines the dynamics of international protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other forms of intellectual property rights by examining major treaties, comparative law developments, including selected European Union developments, and present global issues.
Professor Long, a member of the faculty of John Marshall Law School, is a former Attorney Adviser with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a Fulbright Professor in China, and a Visiting Professor at Michigan. She is a frequent faculty member of the Institute.
International Problems in Stolen Art and Artifacts (1 Credit, Professor Al Leopold )surveys the problems and law of national sovereignty in cultural property, the rights of artists and purchasers, and the international conventions and others laws dealing with the return of stolen art and artifacts.
Professor Leopold teaches in the areas of property law and land titles, and is a veteran faculty member of the Institute.
Lawyering Abroad: Basic Concepts of European Legal Systems (1 credit, Professor Bernhard Koch) introduces students to core elements of European legal systems. Emphasis will be placed on major differences between common law and civil law thinking, and particular attention will be given to 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.
Administration of the Program
The Institute is conducted under the co-direction of two members of the St. Mary's faculty:
Professor Gerald S. Reamey is a co-founder of the Institute and frequently has taught in the program. A widely published specialist in criminal law and procedure, Professor Reamey has been a visiting professor at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna, and is a member of the American Law Institute.
Professor Bernard D. Reams Jr. is a specialist in health law and bioethics and writes in the field of human subject research. Formerly a faculty member at St. John’s University and Washington University in St. Louis, Professor Reams is a member of the American Law Institute.
online app
Flying to Europe This Summer
If you have not done so already, now is the time to begin planning your air travel for this summer. The following information should be helpful in that regard.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, which is 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. The discount airlines include Easyjet, Ryan Air, and Air Berlin, all of which have English language web sites.
When to Fly. The Haus Karwendel will be open for program participants on Sunday, July 5, but you are encouraged to arrive in Europe a day or two earlier so that you can overcome jet lag before classes begin. This would require leaving the United States on or before Friday, July 3, as most flights to Europe are overnight. In scheduling your return flight you need to keep the exam schedule in mind. The earliest you should schedule a return flight is the day after your last final exam.
Cost. Last summer, the going rate for economy airfares was in the neighborhood of $1200. Some students found student tickets through discounters for as little as $900, and some paid more than $1600. 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. Two good places to check for flights are Student Travel (1-800-781-4040; www.statravel.com) and Heather Noonan at Peter McLean, Ltd. (1-504-821-4554) (e-mail heather_noonan@yahoo.com). Other useful websites include: www.studentuniverse.com, http://student-travel.orbitz.com/europe.html, 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 and the McLean agency (see above) 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.
Facebook Page. If you are a Facebook member, you should join the group ”St. Mary’s Institute on World Legal Problems - Innsbruck 2009.“ It will serve as forum for exchange of information among program participants, including travel information.
2009 Travel suggestions
Questions? If you have any questions, please e-mail Professor Reams at breams@stmarytx.edu or Professor Cochran at mcochran@stmarytx.edu. You can also call 1-800-INTL-LAW or (210) 436-3544 to speak with Ms. Caroline Buckley (Innsbruck Coordinator).
