The legal world continues to be more international with more attorneys doing international mergers and acquisitions, arbitrations, and global compliance. Even attorneys whose focus is on domestic issues will face international immigration, child custody, sales, and property issues.

Through study abroad, students will hone their resumes, see first-hand how law is practiced abroad, develop comparative law strengths, increase their intercultural competence, and build their global networks. Study Abroad also supports Institutional Learning Outcomes #3 and #6 in that study abroad helps students “effectively navigate cultural and other differences in their communication” and “demonstrate cultural humility, including respecting diversity and pluralism and being culturally self-aware.”

Travel and learn about the law from diverse international perspectives through the Kline School of Law’s semester-long exchange programs.

Aberdeen, Scotland

Study European Union Law, Comparative Law, Energy Law, the Law of Multinational Corporations and dozens of other courses at the University of Aberdeen. One of the four “ancient” universities of Scotland, the University of Aberdeen has offered courses in law since 1495, and its highly ranked School of Law enrolls more than 300 graduate students.

Aberdeen is Scotland’s third-largest city, which has served as home to Celts, Vikings and even Romans before its charter in 1179. Located on the North Sea, with a moderate ocean climate, it is now a cosmopolitan modern city that boasts great shopping, outdoor parks and recreation, as well as theater, arts and a strong football (soccer) club.

Deadline for Applications: Fall semester, February 1; Spring semester, September 1.

Rennes, France

Take courses in varied legal topics at the Université de Rennes I, one of the 12 main universities in France. Courses are taught in English, through the university’s International School, which attracts more than 3,600 students from around the world.

The capital of Brittany in Northwest France, Rennes is a dynamic city where researchers, faculty and students make up about one third of the population. Majestic 18th century buildings overlook spacious public squares, and La Vilaine River runs across the city, which is a two-hour trip from Paris and one hour from historic destinations such as Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo.

Kline School of Law faculty lead some of the courses through an exchange program Université de Rennes has established thanks to funding from the Erasmus+ program. The exchange program allows students from Rennes study at the Kline School of Law, enhancing opportunities for engagement among international peers and enriching the law school community.

Eligibility to Study Abroad

In addition to the requirements of the University’s Study Abroad Office, Kline law students must (1) have a 2.5 minimum GPA at the time of application and the time of acceptance; (2) may not enroll in the final semester of law school; (3) have permission from Professor Clare Coleman. For more information on course topics, the exchange programs and how to apply, contact Professor Aimée Kahan.

All students must meet with Professor Kahan before traveling abroad to review their proposed plan of study.

Study Abroad Information & Application

Study Trip to Scandinavia

The Scandinavian Study Trip offers a rare opportunity for 2L and 3L law students to explore the justice systems of Norway and Sweden, renowned worldwide for their emphasis on humanity and rehabilitation. Running in May and led by Professors Lauren Katz-Smith and Jordan Hyatt, this unique 11-day program provides unparalleled access to adult prisons in Norway and youth detention facilities in Sweden, allowing students to gain first-hand insight into the philosophies and practices shaping Nordic justice. Beyond correctional settings, the course includes site visits to research institutes, training academies, universities, and NGOs, while examining the broader social and political contexts that inform these systems. The program will be especially valuable for students interested in criminal justice reform, comparative justice, juvenile justice, human rights, social justice, and public policy. Participants will also immerse themselves in Scandinavian culture, with opportunities to experience daily life, food, and traditions in Oslo and Stockholm. Students will also visit “Little Scandinavia” outside Philadelphia, a reimagined U.S. correctional unit developed through the Scandinavian Prison Project, an international collaboration between Drexel University, the University of Oslo, and correctional agencies in Pennsylvania, Sweden, and Norway.

The program fee is $1,950, which covers hotels, transportation, meals, and group activities. Students will also be enrolled in a 2-credit spring seminar on comparative justice, designed to connect their experiences abroad with classroom learning and career goals.

Apply by October 1

Space is limited. For questions, please contact Professors Lauren Katz-Smith or Jordan Hyatt.

Additional Study Opportunities

Gain firsthand perspectives on the law and legal practice by traveling far from campus during spring break and other times of year when faculty lead delegations. Here are just a few examples of trips that Kline students and faculty have completed in the past:

• Students traveled to Texas during the 2019 spring break to work with Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, an El Paso-based organization that provides humanitarian assistance in the form of deportation defense and representation of detained asylum seekers. The students spent much of their time in detention centers, preparing detained migrants for “credible fear” interviews that represent a pivotal moment in their efforts to secure asylum.
• In May 2018, Professor Karl Okamoto concluded his semester-long Transactional Lawyering class with a trip to Beijing, China. There, American and Chinese students took part in a Transactional Lawyering Boot Camp at the prestigious Renmin University Law School and visited leading Beijing law firms to gain insights about practice in transactional law in China.
• Students spent 2011 spring break investigating human rights violations in and around the transitional housing settlement located in Cite Soleil in the aftermath of the massive earthquake that had hit Haiti in 2010. Led by Associate Dean Susan Brooks, the students interviewed residents and reviewed the work of international organizations, contributing to a human rights report.