International Study Abroad Programs
International study abroad programs provide invaluable opportunities for law students to explore international law and gain a comparative perspective on U.S. laws. This experience enhances their ability to communicate across cultures and appreciate diverse legal systems. Engaging with various legal frameworks through firsthand experiences enables students to tackle transnational legal issues and understand the complexities of today’s global legal landscape. In this interconnected world, a global perspective is essential for navigating different legal systems and engaging with businesses, governments, and international institutions.
Notre Dame Law School fosters this global competency through its Global Lawyering Initiative, offering several robust international learning experiences tailored to students’ specific career interests. With unmatched global reach, ND Law connects students to numerous opportunities worldwide, including the highly regarded Notre Dame London Law Programme and both exchange and summer programs with our many partner schools. Through these initiatives, Notre Dame Law School is committed to educating a different kind of lawyer for the world.
Educating a different kind of lawyer for the world
London Law Programme
Established in 1968, Notre Dame Law School’s London Law Programme is the oldest study-abroad program offered by an American law school and the only year-long program approved by the American Bar Association. The Programme allows students to fulfill their degree requirements while taking courses focused on transnational issues, pursuing externships, and immersing themselves in London, the heart of the Common Law legal system.
Exclusively for Notre Dame students, the Programme is taught by world renowned faculty from the Notre Dame Law School and British universities at the University of Notre Dame London Centre. This unique structure sets it apart from traditional group study-abroad programs, providing an unmatched and exceptional experience for our students. 2L and 3L students can study in London for one semester or a full year. Since its establishment, more than 1,500 students have participated in the London Law Programme.
Curriculum
The London Programme allows students to satisfy requirements of the Law School while pursuing one of three unique pathways. Each course offers a comparative and international focus contextualized by the unique legal market and history of London.
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL, TAX, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW
Courses include: International Trade Law, International Tax Law, International Commercial Law, Comparative Copyright Law, Digital and AI Intellectual Property
INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS AND CORPORATE LAW
Courses include: Banking Regulation and Banking Law, Transnational Mergers and Acquisitions, Foreign Investment Law, Transnational Corporate Finance, Private Equity Law, Global Financial Regulation
HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
Courses include: Public International Law, United Nations Human Rights Supervision, International Human Rights: Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the UN, International Refugee Law, International Religious Liberty, EU Law
In addition the Programme offers core/comparative courses which include Business Associations, Jurisprudence, Comparative Federalism, and English Legal History
Faculty
London Law Programme faculty are renowned international legal scholars from the United Kingdom, across Europe, and Notre Dame Law School’s main campus. They are leading experts in various international and comparative legal areas, and are hand-picked to teach in the London Law Programme based on their expertise in their respective fields.
Program Director Professor Michael Addo leads the London Law Programme with a passion and deep commitment to educating lawyers with a global perspective. An international lawyer specializing in human rights and international business law, Professor Addo is a member of the Ghana Bar and has collaborated on various projects with the United Nations.
MICHAEL ADDO London Law Director
“As director of the London Law Programme, I warmly welcome your interest and believe that a semester or year in London will significantly enhance your learning experience, expanding your ambitions and horizons. This unique program complements your studies in South Bend with rich academic depth and cultural enrichment. With a balanced curriculum taught by experienced scholars and practitioners, along with diverse externship opportunities, I encourage you to embrace this transformative experience in London’s vibrant legal community.”
CARSON SCHOEN
Class of 2025
London, Full year 2023-24
“I have always wanted to work internationally, so I jumped at the opportunity to study in the Notre Dame London Law Programme. I met some of my closest friends while I was on a rowing team in London and had so many academic and travel adventures. The opportunity to meet U.S. lawyers abroad is unmatched.”
Externships
Students in the London Law Programme can enhance their studies through externships, gaining valuable real-world experience. All students are eligible to apply, with opportunities in areas like human rights, intellectual property, commercial law, family law, technology, and poverty assistance.
Current hosts for the Externship Programme include Finnegan, Cleveland Scott York, Justice, Innocence Project London, LawinSport, the US Embassy, and several British barristers.
Housing
While students can arrange their own housing, many opt to live in Conway Hall, Notre Dame’s residential hall. It’s just a five-minute walk to the River Thames and a 20-minute walk to Fischer Hall, the university’s academic building where Law School classes are held.
Immersive Experiences
Through weekend trips, extracurricular programming, volunteer opportunities, and out-of-class experiences, students have the chance to immerse themselves in the culture and explore various sites throughout London and beyond.
ARLINDA SHEHU
Class of 2024
London, Full year 2023-24
“Studying law in our London campus was the highlight of my time at ND Law. From the international, cross border perspective, to the fantastic, world-class faculty, to the small class experience while in a big city, the London Law Programme was a unique experience that perfectly complemented our foundational studies in South Bend.”
How to Apply
For further information on the programme and the application process, please see https://law.nd.edu/london/ or contact the London Law Programme Manager Mary Denyer at mdenyer@nd.edu.
LONDON LAW APPLY NOW
Exchange Programs
Through long-standing partnerships with preeminent law schools around the globe, Notre Dame Law School offers J.D. students the opportunity to study abroad beyond London through one of our many exchange programs. These programs allow students to deepen their understanding of specific legal areas and familiarize themselves with transnational issues through comparative legal study, leveraging the Law School’s strong global connections.
Beijing, China
These two distinct exchange programs in Beijing are with Tsinghua School of Law and Peking University School of Law (PKU). The Tsinghua program allows students to pursue an LL.M. in Chinese Law, providing insight into the history, structure, and cultural context of the Chinese legal system, which is significant in areas such as trade, international finance, intellectual property, and dispute resolution. These programs are complemented by summer internship opportunities at leading Chinese law firms.
Tel Aviv, Israel
Students can study law at Tel Aviv University’s Buchmann School of Law for a full academic year or a semester. This opportunity allows Notre Dame law students to attend one of Israel’s most prominent law schools and engage in legal workshops, clinics, and public interest programs within the unique cultural and legal context of Israel.
Lucerne, Switzerland
Students at the Law School may study at the University of Lucerne for a full academic year or for a semester. While immersed in Switzerland’s legal tradition, students take courses in human rights, international economic law, arbitration, and international litigation. Notre Dame’s Program on Law and Market Behavior co-hosts the annual Law and Economics Conference at Lucerne.
Milan, Italy
Students may study law at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, the country’s financial capital. Renowned for its strength in business and economics, Bocconi’s law program allows students to deepen their understanding of business law from an international and comparative perspective while exploring uniquely Italian views on constitutional law and fundamental rights. With a strong emphasis on public and private law, Bocconi also offers a diverse range of interdisciplinary courses.
Santiago, Chile
Building on their commitment to global engagement and shared Catholic mission, Notre Dame and the Pontificia Universidad Católica (PUC) have founded a strong partnership which provides for student and faculty exchanges, research collaboration, internships, and dual degree programs. This exchange program allows Spanish-speaking J.D. degree-seeking students from Notre Dame to study at PUC Law School. In light of Chile’s current Constitutional Convention and joint research projects on constitutional law between PUC and Notre Dame Law School, exchange student places are particularly prioritized for students with an interest in constitutional law.
Dublin, Ireland
Established in 1740, Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest and most internationally recognized law school.
The Law School’s exchange program with Trinity College Dublin allows students to study in Dublin for a semester or a full academic year. Participants study alongside LLB students and can opt to pursue an LL.M. at Trinity. First-year law students interested in opportunities in Dublin should also consider the Dublin Honor Scholars Program.
As the leading English-speaking common law jurisdiction in the European Union, Dublin has become a key business hub for technology companies, the oil-and-gas industry, and other sectors. Studying law in Dublin enables students to gain valuable insights into EU law and understand how lawyers in Dublin are shaping transnational legal, economic, and social issues.
Hamburg and Berlin, Germany
The Law School’s partnership with Bucerius Law School in Hamburg allows students to spend the fall semester there, exploring the unique history of the German legal system and studying German and EU laws relevant to commercial and transnational legal practices. As Germany’s third-largest port city and a hub for multinational commerce, Hamburg provides an ideal environment for gaining hands-on experience in international law.
Students can also study at the Humboldt University Faculty of Law in Berlin, known for its focus on business and international law. Students may spend a semester at Humboldt (study for a full academic year is not available). Proficiency in German is not required but strongly recommended. A limited number of classes are taught in English.
Nairobi, Kenya
Students can study law at Strathmore Law School in Nairobi, Kenya. Known for its vibrant environment and reputation for training future leaders in African law practice, Strathmore emphasizes a global and experiential approach to legal education.
The school offers centers of expertise in various fields, including oil and gas law, policy and innovation, and finance. Students at Strathmore also have access to short courses and tailored visits to courts and other legal institutions in Kenya.
Paris, France
Study law at Paris-Panthéon-Assas University in Paris, France. Paris-Panthéon-Assas University is renowned for its excellence in private law, criminal science, public law, Roman law, and legal history.
Located in the historic 6th arrondissement, studying at Paris-Panthéon-Assas University provides an unparalleled opportunity for law students to explore comparative law in the heart of the French legal academy. Second-year students participating in this program for a full academic year can also pursue an LL.M., choosing from multiple tracks, with a majority of classes taught in English.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Founded in 2002, FGV Rio Law is one of Brazil’s top Law Schools. Students who choose to study at FGV Rio will experience one of Brazil’s most iconic cities, Rio de Janeiro. FGV Rio boasts four research centers that integrate learning and scholarship in pursuit of meaningful social impacts. These centers are devoted to Technology & Society; Law and Economics; Global Law; and Justice & Society.
Students may study for one semester or a full academic year. Although courses vary each year, the areas of study generally include business regulation, digital governance, strategic management, and antitrust law. While some courses are offered in English, Portuguese is the primary language of instruction.
São Paulo, Brazil
The Law School’s partnership with Insper allows J.D. students to study in São Paulo, the business capital of Brazil. Insper has been recognized as one of the top twenty business schools in the world by The Financial Times, making it a premier campus for law students interested in pursuing business law. Insper programs of study include Corporate and Business Law, Financial and Capital Markets Law, and Labor Law. Courses are offered in both Portuguese and English. Students may study for one semester or a full academic year.
Cape Town, South Africa
Ranked the top university in South Africa and in the top 3% of universities worldwide, the University of Cape Town is a diverse, global, and democratically-minded institution recognized for its educational opportunities and research impact, both in South Africa and abroad. The Law School’s partnership with University of Cape Town allows J.D. students to study in the areas of Business/ Commercial Law, Private Law, and Public Law. English is one of the primary languages of instruction. Students may study for one semester or a full academic year.
Summer Scholars Program
Each summer, a select number of rising second and third-year students are chosen through a competitive application process to pursue one of our three Summer Scholars Programs in Dublin, Hamburg, and at The Hague.
SUMMER SCHOLARS PROGRAM MORE INFORMATION
Dublin Honors Scholars
In the Dublin Honors Scholars Program, rising 2L students work in summer internships for some of the leading Irish law firms focused on technology, the oil-and-gas industry, and other sectors. Students whose internships are shorter than the recommended six to eight weeks also have the opportunity to work as a research assistant for a law professor at nearby Trinity College. Participating students receive a stipend of $10,000 for the duration of the program and up to $1,000 reimbursement for travel costs. Applications will open in December and be due in January for the Dublin Scholars Programs.
Hamburg Honor Scholars
The Hamburg Honor Scholars Program has an academic track and an internship track and is open to 2L and 3L students. For the academic track, students will enroll tuition-free in a prestigious summer program in Hamburg, Germany hosted by Bucerius Law School. Each student will choose among three pathways according to their legal interests: International Business Law, Legal Technology and Operations, and Licensing Transactions in Intellectual Property. Students selected for the academic track of the Hamburg Honor Scholars Program receive tuition waivers, a $5,000 stipend for living expenses, and reimbursement up to $1,000 for travel costs.
For the internship track, students will complete an internship with the EMEA legal and compliance offices of ADM, an American multinational food processing and commodities trading corporation in Hamburg, Germany. Students selected to intern at ADM will receive an $8,000 stipend and reimbursement up to $2,100 for travel costs. Students are welcome to apply for both the academic and internship tracks but may only participate in one.
Applications will open in December and be due in January for the Hamburg Scholars Programs.
Hague Honor Scholars
One rising 2L or 3L student is selected to the Hague Honor Scholars Program, which provides first-hand experience to international law and court systems.
The program is supervised by Rodney Dixon KC, who has offices in London and The Hague. The participating student will assist in cases before several international courts, including the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, among other entities. The cases span the entire spectrum of litigation. The selected student will receive a $10,000 stipend and reimbursement up to $1,000 for travel costs.
Applications will open in December and be due in January for the Hague Honor Scholars Program.
CONNOR McCUMBER
Dublin Law Program
Fall semester 2024
“I studied in the Dublin Law Program as a thirdyear law student focusing on human rights law. It was a great opportunity to compare European and American perspectives on human rights law and meet and work with other professionals working in similar fields as myself in their own countries to see how we all approach similar problems.”
How to Apply
Students interested in studying abroad in one of the exchange programs should contact the Office of International & Graduate Programs (globalaw@nd.edu) as soon as possible. Each winter, the office invites current 1Ls and 2Ls to express their interest in an exchange program, sharing how studying abroad aligns with their academic and career goals. Accepted students are nominated to the partner institution and must complete a formal application. After nomination, students may need to submit a second application from the host institution.
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS APPLY NOW
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS MORE INFORMATION
The deadline to express interest for the following academic year will be in February.
