GGU/UPX Paris Summer Comparative Law Program 2008

COMMENTS FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS

If you have any questions.... by Jessica Nelson, Tue, 1/22/2008 12:13 PM PST
I went on the Paris trip last summer and thought it was a great experience! If anyone has any questions (about anything!) feel free to email me at jnelson1802@hotmail.com.

Paris Program by Andrea Doyle, Sun, 9/23/2007 8:58 AM PDT
I attended this Paris program this summer and I had an amazing time! The program is so well planned and organized. The comparative law program was extremely engaging and interactive. The professors are brilliant and helpful.

The dorms in Paris (Cite Universitaire) are gorgeous and extremely comfortable. This program exceeds other programs as far as that is concerned because many other law school programs do not provide housing. Furthermore, the professors ensured that the students were comfortable and enjoying our time while learning. They were accessible and made everything run so smoothly.

I attended a study abroad in undergrad and the two programs do not compare, the GGU program was planned so much better, had much more interesting classes, and the housing and day trip arrangements were excellent.

I would recommend this program to any student.

Paris 2006 by Donny Johnson, Sat, 2/10/2007 10:56 AM PST

I had a wonderful time in the Paris exchange program. When I began the program I knew almost nothing about EU law and French law and after it was over I felt enlightened. My favorite part of the program was the 'field trips' to the French Supreme Courts (they have three) and the trip the the EU headquarters in Belgium.

The workload is manageable and I never felt overwhelmed. I still had time to visit every museum that I was interested in and see every concert that I desired.

What to bring:

• Two electric converters to convert European 50Hz to American 60Hz. You will probably burn one while you are there. So the spare will come in handy. I found them online for less than $10 each.
• A few towels. The dorm rooms do not come equipped with towels. Don't forget to pack a few. For some reason good towels cost a lot in Paris, or maybe I was shopping in the wrong place.
• Your laptop and a LAN wire. The computer connection in the dorm works great. You should have full access to email and internet.

What to buy when you get there:

• Hair dryer, iron or anything with a heating coil. Anything with a heating coil will burn your converters. So leave it a home and buy a European hair dryer, and iron when you arrive.
• A fan. Your room will get hot within a week or two after you arrive. Buy a huge fan with a European electrical plug.
• Ice trays and plastic water bottles. If you are fortunate enough to get a room with a freezer you will want to freeze some water bottles. The Metro ride gets hot, especially when you are dressed to impress. A couple of frozen water bottles in your inside pockets eases the pain from the hot day.

Have fun.

A Summer in Paris--A Highlight of the Law School Experience by Lynn Damiano, Mon, 12/04/2006 11:12 AM PST

I strongly recommend attending this amazing program in Paris. I was initially reluctant to go on a study abroad program during law school because of the pressure to gain legal work experience during the summers, but it turned out one of my best decisions. At first, the prospect of spending a month in Paris was my main motivation for choosing the program, since I knew I wouldn't have much time for travel once I am working. However, not only was my time in Paris even more thrilling than I had imagined, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I learned about French and European law. In addition, studying comparative law has given me a new perspective and better understanding of the American legal system.

The first two weeks of the program are rigorous, as the professors seek to provide an overview of the French and EU legal systems in a short time frame. However, this part of the program is integral to getting the most out of the second part, where students choose a specific area of comparative law. The background from the introductory course creates a context for discussions of your selected from the unique perspectives of European and American law. I took Comparative Criminal Justice course and was fascinated by how differently other countries approach the concepts of crime, punishment, and truth-seeking.

Even when the course is at its most demanding with long reading assignments, numerous class meetings, and field trips, I always found time to enjoy Paris. There were several three-day weekends that allow for getaways to other European cities, or for additional exploration of the Paris. Because the program provides metro passes for the entire month, the entire city is really at your fingertips. I saw a lot of the city just by getting off the metro somewhere central and walking around, stopping at cafes when I needed a rest.

Overall, the program was an amazing experience, one that was not only more memorable, but was also more educational and stimulating than any summer internship I would have had here. I would recommend this program without hesitation.

Paris Program 2005 Review by Houri Andalibian, Mon, 10/23/2006 8:03 PM PDT

I LOVED my experience when I went on the Paris Program in summer of 2005. It was the first year the program had gone underway so there were still some wrinkles to be ironed out, but overall I found the entire experience extremely rewarding.

I think the key to making it such a great experience was that I made it a big point to experience Paris on my own terms. The program had a lot of extra opportunities "built in" to it (i.e.: trip to Brussels, cour de cassasion, etc.) but I went out of my way to leave the dorm as much as possible and really see Paris. Also, after the program was over (it's a short program), I stayed in Paris another month. This game me a chance to tour the Loire Valley on bike as well as spend entire days just walking around the city and meeting locals. I also speak French fairly well and that helps, of course. If you don't speak any French, you don't need too (most people speak English), but learning the basics will give you an exponential benefit for your overall experience.

The key is not to just wait around for good and exciting things to happen to you. Dean Oppenheimer and the other organizers have really done a great job, but you really should *own* your experience. Make it your own and it will be unforgettable.

GGU Paris Program by Prachi Potdar, Thu, 9/21/2006 2:44 PM PDT

Joining GGU for the Paris Program this past summer was a great educational experience and one that I took much away from.

Here are some of the highlights of joining the program:

• Get to meet new French and American students and professors and build lasting relationships
• Chance to live like a Parisian and experience French art, food, and culture for an entire month
• Special access to courts and law firms to complement your study of French and European law
• Great opportunity to take beautiful pictures
• Good excuse to spend money visiting another country while furthering your education
• At the end of the program you still have time to travel or make other plans with your summer

The time, energy, and cost you put into this program will definitely be worth it in the end!

Summer Paris Program by Alexis Ortega, Wed, 9/13/2006 3:37 PM PDT||

Deciding to participate in the Paris Program was one of the best decisions that I have made. The classes that I took, the history and law I was exposed to were all strong influences in my decision to pursue work abroad. I am currently at Loyola University getting my LLM in international legal practice and will be spending my second semester in Bologna Italy. Spending the summer in Paris exposed me to a legal world that I didn't even know existed. If you have any interest in International Law or perhaps practicing internationally, this program is an amazing experience and can lead you to future international experiences and adventures. I highly recommend this program!!

The Paris Summer Program was excellent and very well-run by Carl Basile, Sun, 9/10/2006 9:23 PM PDT

I had a great time participating in the Golden Gate University/University of Paris Nanterre Summer Program. I learned a tremendous amount about both French and EU Law, and had a great time in Paris as well. The classes were all taught in a very interesting manner, with an American and a French professor engaging in a panel discussion-like forum. We also visited a lot of high-ranking courts, like the Conseil d'Etat and the Conseil Constitutional in Paris, and even the EU Headquarters in Brussels. I would strongly recommend for anyone considering studying in Europe during the summer to participate in this program. I made some great friends, and was able to enjoy Paris too. You will work hard in this program (after all, it is 4 credits in 4 weeks), but the experience will be phenomenal and you will be glad that you participated.

The Paris Summer Program was an amazing experience by Carol Mawn, Sat, 9/09/2006 11:54 AM PDT

The Paris Summer Program was an amazing experience--I would say even life changing. First of all, just to spend a good portion of the summer in Paris was wonderful. It is a great city--the food, museums, monuments, history, cafe life and travel hub of Europe. The Program itself was exciting. It offered a solid introduction to French and European Union law and French/U.S. comparative law team-taught by French and U.S. professors. The "field trips" to the various courts really brought French and European Union law alive. The chic coctail parties offered by the French law firms gave us a good idea of what it would be like to work for a French law firm. And for me, the Program really was life-changing. The friendships and contacts I made during the 2005 Summer Program offered me the opportunity to then go on to an internship at the French Supreme Court and a judicial externship in the US. Those experiences have proven invaluable for me and have opened so many exciting doors. I loved the Paris Summer Program--I had so much fun, the law was exciting and it offered me so many rich opportunities for the future. I feel so fortunate that I was able to be a part of something so wonderful.