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"Summer programs are a very good idea for law students," said Anne T. Johnson, Assistant Dean for Administration at Hamline University School of Law. "The experience contextualizes American law, and takes a student out of the relatively isolated environment of law school to study law from a different perspective."
Johnson said summer abroad allows students to interact with law students from other US law schools, and often other countries. She said some of the reasons students cite for choosing summer abroad include: getting a break from the vigor of law school; immersing oneself in a foreign culture for an extended period of time to achieve that true international experience; love of travel; and to better understand how the law works in other countries as well as their own.
"It may also be their last chance to do something like this," said Johnson.
Whether it is a summer in Brazil or Russia, summer abroad programs offer law students the opportunity to experience a new country as well as another cultural perspective on law.
"Summer abroad programs are a fabulous idea both from a learning prospective and as an economical way to spend time in foreign countries," said Stacy Leeds, Professor of Law at The University of Kansas School of Law. "Students will spend four to six weeks learning about new cultures and get the benefit of a small class size."
"Every US lawyer should have some exposure to comparative law, and this is a good way to get that exposure," said David Oppenheimer, Professor of Law, Golden Gate University School of Law, who co-directs the summer abroad program in Paris, France.
Leeds agrees and said the courses offered are broad in subject matter and would benefit all students. The University of Kansas School of Law and the University of Nebraska College of Law sponsor a summer study abroad program in Limerick, Ireland.
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"Although many of the courses will have a comparative approach, students will have the opportunity to gain substantive knowledge in areas that can be applied domestically," said Leeds. "Further, all the credits for international programs count toward the general course of study at the home university."
But how does a summer abroad experience look to employers?
For a student pursuing a career path in international law, it will obviously have an impact. However, as Johnson points out, it all depends on the person and the employer.
"A person who gained insights and maturity from the summer study abroad experience may be able to demonstrate such in an interview to his/her benefit," said Johnson. "Similarly, a potential employer who studied abroad or who appreciates the effect that such an experience can have on a student may be more inclined to hire someone with the experience."
Webb Hecker, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, University of Kansas School of Law said he believes study abroad experience is rarely a major factor in employment decisions. He said students should consider their summer abroad as a "broadening experience."
The University of Kansas School of Law is part of a consortium of law schools that sponsor a spring semester program in London, which is directed by Associate Dean Hecker. The program includes an internship and is open to students who have completed their first year of law school.
Often the timing of when to take on a summer abroad program is an issue for law students. Most suggest students embark on their international summer experience after the 1st year of law school. Hecker advises students take part in summer abroad programs after their first year of law school rather than their second year for two reasons.
"Summer law firm jobs after the second year are a very fertile source of offers of permanent employment," said Hecker. "In fact, most large firms confine their hiring to people who worked for them in the summer. While the same thing may be said of summer jobs after the first year, there are fewer such jobs and they are a year further removed from graduation."
Hecker said students should generally not choose study abroad over an offer of summer legal employment unless there is a very good reason to do so. Oppenheimer agrees and said since first year students have fewer summer job options, it is the best time to study abroad. "Also, the earlier in law school a student is exposed to comparative law, the better," Oppenheimer added.
Johnson said it depends on the individual and situation. She said while it is true that many first year students do summer study abroad because there are fewer employment options available to them after their first year, there are advantages to study abroad after the second year. "The additional year in law school can enhance the summer study abroad because the students have more knowledge of law in general, and may know more about what they are specifically interested in and therefore get more out of the program," Johnson said.
Carmen Cox of Capital University Law School went to Passau, Germany as a 2L and said the time she spent there helped uncover a side of herself that she was not sure still existed since she started law school - being sure of herself. She said it was a great thing to rediscover and that she enjoyed the trip immensely.
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"A friend gave me some great advice before I left, "do it while you're young, after law school who knows when you'll have the chance to go to Europe for a month (or anywhere for that matter)"! Don't think you have to do what everyone else does all summer. The fact you did something different may just get you the interview in the fall," wrote Cox in an essay about her summer abroad experience posted on the website of Capital University Law School.
