International and Comparative Law

AUWCL Brings Together Law Students and Legal Practitioners from Around the World in Relaunch of Summer Abroad Programs
 

Geneva: International Law Commission (ILC)

Dean Emeritus Professor Claudio Grossman and Professor Victoria Ernest led a cohort of nine students to take part in the 74th Session of International Law Commission (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland. Participating students served as legal research assistants to Commissioner Grossman during the ILC Session at the United Nations in Geneva. Throughout their time in Geneva, students had the opportunity to collaborate with law students from the University of Chile and meet and network with ILC Commissioners and other law students from around the world. Students also attended Professor Grossman’s lecture on “Immunity of State Officials against Foreign Criminal Prosecution” at the International Law Seminar. Other program activities included visits to the International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the World Organization Against Torture. 

London: International Business

Led by Professor David Snyder, the London course delved into the different components of a transnational business law practice. Participants engaged in interactive discussions with London-based lawyers to learn firsthand about international corporate law, international commercial transactions and finance, and international commercial and investment arbitration. Through site visits to transnational law firms and English legal associations, such as the Middle Temple and the Garden Court Chambers, participants had a unique opportunity to gain a practical understanding of international business law and building a business law career abroad. 

Brussels: EU Law

Led by Professor Fernanda Nicola, the course in Brussels examined EU law and regulation with a focus on data privacy. Participants engaged with leading EU legal experts and policymakers to discuss current issues facing the EU, including the GDPR and regulation of digital markets. Through site visits to the European Commission, European Parliament, Meta, and private firms, participants engaged directly with some of the most prominent regulators, academics and legal practitioners in Brussels. 

Geneva: International Trade

Now in its 10th year, Professor Padideh Ala’i led the course on international trade in Geneva. During this unique course, participants had the incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in the work of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by going to the WTO each day to engage with the institution’s leading lawyers and professionals. Participants examined the substantive areas of international economic relations governed by WTO Agreements and explored the workings of various WTO divisions. The course concluded with a fascinating WTO Ambassador’s Roundtable moderated by Santiago Wills, Director of the WTO’s General Council and Trade Negotiations Committee Division. Esteemed panelists included: 

• Ambassador Maria Pagan, US 
• Ambassador George Mina, Australia 
• Ambassador Hung Seng Tan, Singapore
• Legal Advisor Davide Grespan, EU Permanent Mission

Geneva: international Intellectual Property (IP)

Led by Professor Christine Farley, the course on international Intellectual Property (IP) in Geneva examined current issues in international IP protection. Through a partnership agreement between the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and AUWCL, participants had the incredible opportunity to attend WIPO headquarters each day of the program to gain firsthand experience and practical insights into the global landscape of IP. Through lively lectures and interactive discussion, participants engaged in comparative study of international treaties on intellectual property, with a particular emphasis on treaties administered by WIPO and contemporary debates around the role of intellectual property in development.

Geneva: International Humanitarian Law

Led by Professor Diego Rodriguez Pinzon, the course on international human rights in Geneva explored humanitarian law issues and the practical challenges of implementing and enforcing these crucial laws within the United Nations (UN) mechanisms. Through site visits to esteemed institutions, such as the International Court of Justice, the UN, and the Association for the Prevention of Torture, participants gained firsthand insights from the very heart of the global human rights movement. In one particularly impactful highlight of the course, participants had the opportunity to witness the presentation of the report by The Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants to the Human Rights Council—an inspiring moment that reaffirmed the power of advocacy in seeking justice for the vulnerable. 

The Hague: International Criminal Law

Professor Susana SáCouto directed the 17th Annual Summer Law Program in The Hague, which was held in collaboration with the T.M.C. Asser Institute. Students had the opportunity not only to hear directly from practitioners in the areas of international criminal law and terrorism, but also to visit critical institutions in these areas of law, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), the UN International Residual Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT), the special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC), the Dutch Court of Appeal (DCA), Eurojust, and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).