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International Law at KU
Alumni Notes
News from KU Law graduates with ties to the International and Comparative Law Program international law coursework at KU, family background and a desire to specialize, Runge chose to pursue a Masters of Law (LL.M.) in International Law. After acceptance into a number of programs, he enrolled at the University of San Diego School of Law. The degree program at San Diego requires the completion of 24 credit hours and may be finished in one to four years at full- or part-time pace. The program requires two foundational courses, Public International Law and International Business Transactions. Runge received credit for the Public International Law requirement based on his completion of professor John Head’s course while at KU. Runge’s chosen elective courses include International Human Rights, International Trade and Investment, EU Commercial Law, NAFTA, EU Law, International Civil Litigation, International Arbitration and Business Transactions in the People’s Republic of China. Beyond these electives, San Diego offers a wide range of international law courses in comparative law, trade, business and public law. Runge will complete the degree requirements in August 2011 and hopes to work in Washington D.C., ideally in the field of international trade, or in the Netherlands, as he is in the process of obtaining dual U.S.-Dutch nationality.
James Smith,
J.D.’02, built on his KU Law degree – including especially his interest in international law – by pursuing an LL.M. degree at the University of Denver College of Law. He writes: “There are two immediate controversies underway right now involving climate change in environmental and natural resources law. One is the threat-
Tristan Tafolla
ened listing of the polar bear under the ESA [Endangered Species Act] with climate change listed as a contributory cause, thereby implying authority to order corrective action. (The ESA is particularly threatening to industry in that it is a harsh environmental mechanism that disallows any economic or political factors to offset protection of a listed species.) Another is the construction of a westward transportation route to a port on the Columbia River for Wyoming’s vast coal fields with an eye on export to China. The question is: Does the mandatory environmental assessment need to consider climate change consequences that would emanate not from the U.S. directly in the transportation of this coal but rather from the burning of it in China itself?” Smith has gained first-hand experience in the transborder character of many environmental protection issues. He explains: “So far, I’ve been able to meet via skype with DU graduate attorneys working on mining law in Argentina, ... attend a luncheon seminar with an expert of EU environmental policy, ... have a Colorado Supreme Court justice lecture for a day on water allocation
practices in the Americas with a focus on Anasazi and Incan systems, and attend a lecture by a Russian law professor on Russian environmental law.” Tristan Tafolla searched intently for a job that would allow him to use his background in international legal studies that he built up at KU Law, and he received offers of admission to two LL.M. programs in national security law, an internship offer at the Pentagon (in the Office of Military Commissions), and an offer of employment at the U.S. Department of State. In April 2011, he began his work at the State Department, with responsibilities ranging from conducting criminal investigations on passport and visa fraud and international acts of terrorism on U.S. property abroad to coordinating with foreign law enforcement bodies when posted overseas. His title of special agent in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security will put him in direct contact with such issues as extradition status of fugitives with foreign governments and trafficking, narcotics and terrorism issues.