2012 application form.pdf

Paris Summer Program Course Descriptions & Schedule (Tentative)
Course Descriptions

Introduction to French and European Union Law (June 1-15)

For participants from the United States and Canada
(2 credits)

This introduction to French and European Law has two main goals. The first goal is to provide a solid foundation for understanding both the French legal system, which relies on statute law and codes as its primary source of law, and the unique European legal system, which relies on treaty law as its primary source of law and on regulations and directives. All subjects addressed during this course will address the interaction between French and European law.

The second goal of this course is to make a close study of key legal terminology in order to avoid some of the most common misunderstandings that arise among French and American lawyers. In particular, we will explore some of the fundamental differences that lurk behind deceptively similar terms, such as contrat in French and contract in English.

While building a solid foundation for understanding French and European law, this course will also cover a wide variety of particular topics. At the outset, we will examine closely the specialized French court system, paying attention to the three French Superior Courts and to the difference between the French Conseil Constitutionnel and the U.S. Supreme Court, and look at how they are integrated into the larger European system (including the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice and the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights). Next, we will look at the two most basic areas of civil law, namely contrat and responsabilité délictuelle, which are the functional equivalents of (though by no means identical to) contract and tort in Anglo-American law. In both cases, we will look at the profound effects that European law has on French law and courts, such as in the fields of product liability and consumer protection law. We will emphasize the need for students to understand the European legal system as a complex continuum in which domestic laws and courts interact directly with international laws and courts. We will illustrate the operation of this system through a case study.

The study of European law per se will start by introducing the current institutions and placing them into the larger perspective of ongoing institutional reform and the recent enlargement that brought 10 new countries into the European Union. We will study the free circulation of goods and services, which are two keystones of the internal market, and will take a close look at the European legal framework governing lawyers. Finally, we will look at another aspect of public law, namely the role and treatment of constitutional, fundamental, and human rights in the French and European legal systems.

During the two-week course, students will have opportunities to visit French courts; interact with a number of French, European, and American lawyers; and take a field trip to Brussels, where they will hear lectures by members of the European Commission or its staff.

Specialized Comparative Law Courses (June 16-June 29)

Each participant must choose one course. These courses will be limited to 25 students each. Some students may not receive their first choice.

Comparative Criminal Justice (2 credits) This course compares the US approach to criminal justice with that of European countries through readings and lively discussions. Specifically, we will consider the rights of one charged with an offense during investigation and interrogation, the right to counsel, search and seizure law, plea bargaining, the roles of judges, lawyers and victims, and trial rules and proceedings. There is no pre-requisite for this course.

Comparative Equality & Fundamental Rights (2 credits) This course examines issues of equality (civil rights), including hate speech (France, Germany, US); same-sex marriage (France, Denmark, US); sexual harassment (France, US); affirmative action (France, India, US); discrimination remedies (France, Britain, US); religious apparel in public schools (France, Turkey, US); and reparations (Germany, US). There is no pre-requisite for this course.

Comparative Corporate Law (2 credits) Using a comparative and functional approach, the course examines the various regulatory and governance strategies employed in different legal systems to address three recurring problems of corporation law: mediating the tensions between owners and managers, between majority owners and minority owners, and between the corporation and society. The primary comparison will be between US and French/EU law. There is no prerequisite for this course.

Comparative Environmental Law This course, co-taught by American and French environmental law professors, will explore important comparative elements of environmental law, including issues regarding climate change. There are no prerequisites for this course.

2011 Preliminary Schedule

(subject to alteration)

ORIENTATION

Wednesday, June 1
4:00 PM: Check in to CIUP housing
5:30 PM: Optional Walking Tours (meet in front of main CIUP building across from Metro)

Thursday, June 2
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Orientation at CIUP (TBD)
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Welcome cruise on the Seine
7:15 PM - 8:45 PM: Dinner in the Latin Quarter at Chez Clement

CLASSES

Friday, June 3
11:30 PM Departure at CIUP for travel to UPO Nanterre (Meet the Program Assistants in front of main CIUP building.)

The first two weeks of classes are in Room 352 of Building F on the Nanterre Campus
Class 1: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Class 2: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Class 3: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
7:00 PM (19:00): Reception and dinner with French law students at CIUP (Cambodge)
Following today's classes we will have a reception at Cite U. with a group of English-speaking French law students. At the conclusion of the reception you'll be asked to break into groups of 3-4 US and 3-4 French students to go off to dinner together. (We'll supply you with 20 Euros each to cover the cost of dinner).

Monday, June 6
Classes, followed by first court visit
Class 4: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Class 5: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Lecture and tour at Conseil d'État: 5:15 PM - 6:30 PM
For our court visit please wear business clothes.

Tuesday, June 7
Classes, followed by second court visit
Class 6: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Class 7: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Lecture and tour at Palais de Justice: 5:15 - 6:30 PM
For our court visit please wear business clothes.

Wednesday, June 8
Classes, followed by third court visit
Class 8: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Class 9: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Lecture and tour at Conseil Constitutionnel: 5:15 - 6:30 PM
For our court visit please wear business clothes.

Thursday, June 9
Morning classes, followed by travel to Brussels
Class 10: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Class 11: 10:15 AM - 11:30 PM
Afternoon trains to Brussels (to be assigned)
Tickets and directions for travel to Brussels to be distributed in class
Check in at Hotel Ibis Centre Brussels Midi
7:00 PM: Dinner at Chez Leon (meet in hotel lobby at 6:45PM or at restaurant at 7:00 PM)

Friday, June 10
Breakfast at hotel (store luggage at hotel)
8:15 AM: Depart hotel for the Commission
9:00 AM: Morning Briefings at the European Commission
Lunch at European Commission
Afternoon Briefings at the European Commission
Late afternoon/evening trains back to Paris (option for Sunday afternoon return if selected by April 1, 2011). Please note: students who wish to remain in Brussels Friday and Saturday night will be responsible for their own lodging and all expenses on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

CLASSES

Monday, June 13
Classes will be held at CIUP (Building and Room TBA) Class 12: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Class 13: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Class 14: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Tuesday, June 14
Classes, followed by optional review session
Class 15: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 16: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Review Session (Optional): 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday, June 15
Final Exam (Introduction to French & European Union Law): 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

ELECTIVES

Thursday, June 16
12:00 - 1:00 All Faculty Lunch in Room 208
Elective courses are in Rooms 208, 209, 217 and 218; check sign for your specific room.
Class 1: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 2: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Visit and lecture at CRFPA (French bar school) in Versailles

Friday, June 17
Class 3: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 4: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
4:00 PM - 5:20 PM: Panel I - Comparative Lawyering: Work in a Foreign Setting
5:20 PM: Reception with panelists and guests

Monday, June 20
No classes

Tuesday, June 21
Class 5: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 6: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Class 7: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Fete de la Musique

Wednesday, June 22
Class 8: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 9: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
4:00 PM - 5:20 PM: Panel II - Comparative Lawyering: Lawyers and Public Service
5:20 PM: Reception with panelists and guests

Thursday, June 23
Class 10: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 11: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
4:00 PM - 5:20 PM: Panel III - Comparative Perspectives: Gender-based Violence
5:20 PM: Reception with panelists and guests

Friday, June 24
Class 12: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 13: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Class 14: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Monday, June 27
Class 15: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 16: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
4:00 PM - 5:20 PM: Panel IV - Comparative Perspectives: Judicial Selection & Independence
5:20 PM: Reception with panelists and guests

Tuesday, June 28
Class 17: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Class 18: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Review sessions (optional): 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday, June 29
All students should arrive at 1:00 PM to get materials for final exam
Final Exams (electives): 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Closing Reception: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Thursday June 30
Students check out from CIUP by noon.

Monday, July 4
Optional French Internships begin (and continue until July 29)


US, Canadian and other common law students should contact Professor Christiansen at 415-369-5338 or echristiansen@ggu.edu

French and other civil law students should contact Professor Deysine at anne.deysine@u-paris10.fr

Approved by the American Bar Association.