Program Cost and Description

CAMBRIDGE SUMMER LAW INSTITUTE

EUROPEAN TRADE & HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

Summer 2022

 

Instructors: Dean Klint Alexander & Professor Noah Novogrodsky

Class Meetings: July 24-Aug 6, 2022

e-mail contact: klint.alexander@uwyo.edu or nnovogro@uwyo.edu

 

I.          WHY CAMBRIDGE?

Cambridge England is home to one of the world’s great universities – the University of Cambridge.  Nestled in the heart of the United Kingdom near London, Cambridge offers an unparalleled learning experience in a Harry Potter-style environment that will inspire and motivate you.  The City straddles the historic Cam River and is home to medieval and modern buildings, pubs, theaters, museums, restaurants, shops, book stores, and coffee houses.  The Cambridge community is made up of multilingual faculty and students from all over the world who partake in academic and social life in a collegial environment.  Cambridge is well-known for its great minds and contributions in the sciences (Newton, Darwin and Hawking) and international law (Coke, Lauterpacht and Crawford) and is the ideal venue for study and discussion of topical issues in European and international law.

II.        PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the Cambridge Summer Law Institute (CSLI) is to provide students with the opportunity to study law at one of the pre-eminent institutions for international legal studies and bring Cambridge minds and ideas to students in an ideal learning atmosphere.  For two weeks, students will explore international legal developments in the European Union (EU) up close (e.g., the Brexit Crisis) and study the impact of these developments on law and policy under the tutelage of leading experts in the field.  The program will take place at one of the historic residential colleges in Cambridge, where students reside, dine and participate in lectures.  The program will include short train rides into London to visit the U.K. Parliament and the renowned Inns of Court to observe first-hand the life of Barristers and the practice of law at the Royal Courts of Justice.  A unique aspect of the CSLI program is the opportunity it provides for interaction with English judges, lawyers and students in the pubs and dining halls during this tumultuous time in British history.  

CSLI is organized by the University of Wyoming College of Law.  CSLI’s courses are taught by international law experts and alumni of the University of Cambridge.  

III.      REGISTRATION

Students will need to complete all application materials in the Cowboys Abroad portal (https://uwyo-sa.terradotta.com/) by February 28, 2022.

VI.       2022 COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course has two basic objectives: (1) to broaden the student’s knowledge of European Law and institutions, and the roles that trade and human rights play in the European Project, and (2) to examine basic institutions and processes influencing the devolution of power and the effects of that devolution on core principles of mutual recognition and cooperation.

This course will seek to address the challenges posed by the recent pandemic, Brexit, the Polish Constitutional crisis, and immigration among other issues from a public law and international law perspective.  Its aim is to provide a forum for discussion and the exchange of ideas among students and scholars about the future of the EU Project.  Participants in the course will have an opportunity to experience the affects of international political events in Europe firsthand and observe how these events affect the lives of millions. 

The course is open to law students from the United States with an interest in international human rights law and EU law and policy.  The majority of the literature in the course assumes an introductory level knowledge of public international law.  Students with a limited background in these subjects may need to supplement the required readings with outside material.

The course is approved by the American Bar Association and will allow students to earn up to three semester hours of law school credit.

 V.      2022 COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Participation

Your participation is important to the success of the class.  Therefore, we expect you to be present for each class.  Because classroom discussions are a key component of the course, we will ask for volunteers and/or call on students at random to answer questions.  We reserve the right to raise or lower your grade based on class participation and attendance. 

It is important that students stay informed about daily international news events to do well in the course. To keep apprised of current issues in EU affairs and international law, you should read a good daily newspaper such as The Financial Times and/or The Economist (a weekly news magazine).  This information will assist you in classroom discussions and in your overall understanding of the course.

 Grading

There will be no final examination.  Grades will be determined as follows: (1) 75% for the written paper; 25% for class participation, including attendance, contributions to class discussions, and a class presentation on an EU law or human rights law issue.

Standards for Papers: The Paper should represent a rigorous effort by the student.  It should go beyond simply reporting what the law is and should include some critical analysis of the legal issues and/or public policy implications of subject matter relevant to the course.  The paper should be thoroughly researched, well written, and fully documented.  It must be an original work for this course only.

Each paper must be at least fifteen pages in length, exclusive of title page, table of contents, footnotes, and appendices.  Each paper must (1) be computer-produced on a letter quality printer; (2) be double-spaced; (3) use 12 point font and reasonable margins; (4) use proper English and correct spelling and punctuation; and (5) conform to the most recent edition of a Uniform System of Citation (e.g., the Bluebook).

**The paper is due a week after the conclusion of the class.  NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS TIME.  Please email your final paper to Professor Novogrodsky.

Class Presentations:  Students will be responsible for making a 20 minute presentation on a human rights or an EU law topic related to the daily subject.  Students should prepare an outline or PowerPoint of their topic and distribute it to the class and any other relevant materials to the class at the beginning of the class session at which they are making their presentation.

1. Honor Code

The Honor Code governs all work in this course.  If you have any questions, please ask one of the professors.

VI.       REQUIRED READINGS

Due to the fact that this is a two-week intensive course, a binder of reading materials will be circulated to each student several weeks before the start of the course.  You are expected to read most of the material prior to July 25, 2022 in preparation for the course and be prepared to cover different topics in class each day.  Emphasis during the first week of the course will be on EU Law and Institutions and the role of trade and commercial policy within the EU legal framework.  The second week of classes will focus mainly on the role that International Human Rights Law and Policy plays in the EU Project.

CLASS SCHEDULE

 WEEK 1         EU Law & Institutions and Trade/Commercial Policy in the EU Legal Framework

Class Meeting: College Seminar Room - July 25-28 (Monday-Thursday), 9:00 am – 2:30 pm (Lecture)

Class Field trip to Inns of Court and UK Parliament, London - July 29 (Friday)

WEEK 2         International Human Rights Law and the EU Project

 Class Meeting: College Seminar Room (Lecture) - Aug 1-5 (Monday-Friday), 9:00 am – 2:30 pm

Other Comments: This course does not fulfill advanced writing requirements.