By Mike Stetz, The National Jurist
Winter study abroad programs come with a number of benefits.
For one, they’re normally cheaper than summer programs, so the sticker shock isn’t as shocking.
They’re also shorter, meaning you won’t have time to get homesick. (And you can pack light, too.)
They allow you to have your summers free, which many students use to gain legal work experience.
Plus, you still get that all-important worldly experience, which will open your eyes to a new culture, a new legal system . . . and new foods!
“Many of our students have never been overseas,” said Stella Elias, a professor at The University of Iowa College of Law, who oversees its winter London Law Program. “It’s a very rewarding experience.”
This year’s program runs from Dec. 28 through Jan. 10 and packs in a host of activities, including visits to Parliament, the U.K. Supreme Court and University of Oxford. Two courses are offered for two credits each: British Legal System and Comparative Corporate Governance.
Elias, who teaches the British Legal System course, is from England and graduated from Oxford. Talk about an experienced tour guide . . .
The two-week program replaces a previous, semester-long program that was also based in the U.K. The length of the program was said to be the culprit. In its last year, just six students participated.
Students felt it was in their better interest to stay in the U.S. and get work experience, Elias said.
“They didn’t want to be away that long,” she said.
The new program, which is open to all second- and third-year law students in the nation, kicked off in 2016 and attracted 28 students. This year, the number will be 60.
“It’s been really terrific,” Elias said, of the growing interest. “It’s a good price point.”
The cost is $3,200.