National Jurist - January 2009 - (Page 47)

Elizabeth Kiessling 2L, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, Calif. Austria I spent July 2008 studying in Salzburg, Austria, at the University of Salzburg. The program is part of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law Summer Abroad program, which has been in existence since 1975. I studied comparative law in my “Fundamental Human Rights in Europe and the United States” course, which was taught jointly by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and Professor Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, who teaches European Law at King’s College in London. The experience was absolutely once in a lifetime. I spent my mornings in class, learning of and comparing the differences in the approach to human rights between the United States and Europe. I knew we had different approaches to law, but I didn’t realize the extent of some of these differences (approach to the death penalty, hate speech, etc.) — or the existence of so many similarities. Both professors were w wonderful. I was intimidated by Justice K Kennedy at first, but he made us all feel a ease with his humor and humbleness. at I was amazing to read a case for class and It t then discuss it with the justice who had a actually written the majority opinion! P Professor Douglas-Scott is an expert on E European human rights and was it was f fascinating to study European cases and l law. Additionally, it was beneficial to have a mix of American and international students in the class, as we were able to compare our legal systems and debate certain contested issues. Two of the biggest topics were the 2008 presidential election and the recently defeated Lisbon Treaty. The American students were particularly interested in the creation and defeat of the Lisbon Treaty, and the students from non-American schools had strong opinions on the upcoming election. One of the main reasons I decided to study abroad was the opportunity to explore an area of the world with which I was unfamiliar. After class ended, my classmates and I spent the rest of the day and the weekends sightseeing. Salzburg is a gorgeous town and has a lot to offer travelers, from the home of Mozart to the imposing Salzburg Fortress to the salt mines that give the town its name to the churches and hills that can be seen in “The Sound of Music.” NORTHERN EUROPE For programs in Austria, see page 55 > STUDY IN THIS SUMMER JUNE 20, 2009-JULY 25, 2009 International Summer Program in Beijing with courses taught by professors from the University of Minnesota and Renmin University, Beijing. BEIJING Through a ﬁve-week study program, the University of Minnesota Law School offers a unique opportunity to learn Chinese law. The program focuses on comparative law, allowing law students to study the Chinese economic and legal system ﬁrsthand. Optional Mandarin Chinese courses are also available. Students will visit important legal institutions in Beijing, such as the Supreme People’s Court, the Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning, and the National People’s Congress. More information about the China program is available on our website at www.law.umn.edu, or contact Paul Zhang at zhan0756@umn.edu. Preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s world January 2009 THE NATIONAL JURIST 47 http://www.law.umn.edu http://www.law.umn.edu

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Jurist - January 2009

National Jurist - January 2009 Contents Hot Button: Affirmative Action Entertainment: A Road Trip Through Law School News: American Justice, Kaplan Survey, Part-time Ranking The Firm Report: Diversity Law School Online No label No label Fordham Student Honored for Public Interest Work Former Law Student's Life Lives on After Her Death Most Influential People in Legal Education Most Innovative Law Schools Your Guide to Studying Abroad Career Hotline Texas Tech Law Grads Explore Dispute Resolution Evaluating First-Year Exams Disturbing the Peace

National Jurist - January 2009

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