Paris Summer Program Course Descriptions & Schedule (Tentative)

Course Descriptions

Introduction to French and European Union Law (June 1-11)

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 14-June 26)

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 Law (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.

Additional courses may include, depending on enrollment and student interest:

Comparative Intellectual Property Law (2 credits)

Comparative Labor Law (2 credits) This course compares the US approach to labor law with that of European countries. A further description will be posted when available.

Tentative schedule of classes:

Sunday, May 30
4:00 PM Check-in to IBIS Hotel
5:30 PM Optional walking tour

Monday, May 31
Orientation
Welcome cruise on the Seine
Welcome dinner in the Latin Quarter

Tuesday, June 1
9:00AM Check out of IBIS Hotel (may store suitcase at hotel)
Classes begin - Introduction to French & European Union Law
Class 1 - 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Class 2 - 12:15 PM - 2:00 PM (14:00)
Class 3 - 2:15 PM (14:15) - 3:30 PM (15:30)
4:00 PM (16:00) Check in to dorms at Cite University
You can wear student casual clothes today (jeans, etc.).

Wednesday, June 2
Classes, followed by visit to the Conseil d'État (tentative)
Class 4 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:45 PM (14:45)
Class 5 - 3:00 PM (15:00) - 4:15 PM (16:15)
5:15 PM (17:15) - 6:15 PM (18:15)
Lecture and tour at the Conseil d'État (Supreme Court for administrative matters). We will travel together by Metro from Nanterre to Palais Royal, the site of the Court.

For our Supreme Court visit please wear business clothes. For men, this means tailored slacks or ironed khakis, leather shoes with socks, and a tie with a tie-appropriate shirt. You don't need to wear a suit, and don't need a jacket if the weather is warm. If you wear a jacket, it should be a blazer or sports coat. For women, tailored slacks are fine, as are dresses or skirts. Tops should cover the midriff. Shoes should be comfortable for walking, but dressier than athletic shoes.

Thursday, June 3
Classes, followed by visit to the Cour de Cassation
Class 6 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:45 PM (14:45)
Class 7 - 3:00 PM (15:00) - 4:15 PM (16:15)
5:30 PM (17:30) - 6:30 PM (18:30) (Lecture and tour at the Cour de Cassation (Supreme Court for civil and criminal matters). We will travel together by Metro from Nanterre to St. Michel, and walk to the Palais de Justice.

Following our visit to the Court, you may want to visit Saint Chapelle, a beautiful chapel within the palace, with spectacular stained glass windows. It is a popular venue for concerts.

Please wear comfortable walking shoes.

Friday, June 4
Classes, followed by reception and dinner with English-speaking French law students
Class 8 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:45 PM (14:45)
Class 9 - 3:00 PM (15:00) - 4:15 PM (16:15)

Field Trip & Reception: Location TBA
Following today's classes we will have a reception 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).

Sunday, June 6
Late morning train to Brussels
Check in at IBIS Hotel
Dinner at Chez Leon

Monday, June 7
Briefings at the European Commission
Late afternoon train to Paris

Tuesday, June 8
Classes, followed by visit to Baker & McKenzie (tentative)
Class 10 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:45 PM (14:45)
Class 11 - 3:00 PM (15:00) - 4:15 PM (16:15)
5:15-6:30PM: Lectures and visit with Baker & McKenzie's Paris offices.

Wednesday, June 9
Class 12 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:45 PM (14:45)
Class 13 - 3:00 PM (15:00) - 4:15 PM (16:15)
Class 14 - 4:30 PM (16:30) - 5:30 PM (17:30)

Thursday, June 10
Classes, followed by optional review session
Class 15 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:30 PM (14:30)
Class 16 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)
Optional Review Session - 4:00 PM (16:00) - 5:00 PM (17:00)

Friday, June 11
11:00 AM Exam in Introduction to French & European Union Law.

Monday, June 14
Classes (electives) followed by panel discussion of comparative law
Class 1 - 1:00 PM (13:00) - 2:30 (14:30)
Class 2 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)
Panel Discussion - 4:00 PM (16:00) - 5:00 PM (17:00) (tentative)

Tuesday, June 15
Classes followed by panel discussion of international trade law
Class 3 - 1:00 PM (13:00) - 2:30 (14:30)
Class 4 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)
Panel Discussion - 4:00 PM (16:00) - 5:00 PM (17:00) (tentative)

Wednesday, June 16
Classes followed by panel discussion of comparative criminal law
Class 5 - 1:00 PM (13:00) - 2:30 (14:30)
Class 6 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)
Panel Discussion - 4:00 PM (16:00) - 5:00 PM (17:00) (tentative)

Thursday, June 17
Class 7 - 1:00 PM (13:00) - 2:30 (14:30)
Class 8 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)

Friday, June 18
Class 9 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:30 (14:30)
Class 10 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)

Saturday, June 19 to Tuesday, June 22
Four-day weekend (including Fête de la Musique on Monday, June 21)

Wednesday, June 23
Classes followed by panel discussion of comparative racial inequality
Class 11 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:30 (14:30)
Class 12 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)
Panel Discussion - 4:00 PM (16:00) - 5:30 PM (17:30)

Thursday, June 24
Classes followed by panel discussion of comparative environmental justice
Class 13 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:30 (14:30)
Class 14 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)
Panel Discussion - 4:00 PM (16:00) - 5:30 PM (17:30)

Friday, June 25
Class 15 - 1:30 PM (13:30) - 2:30 (14:30)
Class 16 - 2:45 PM (14:45) - 3:45 PM (15:45)
Possible review sessions

Saturday, June 26
1:30 PM (13:30) Final Exam (electives) followed by closing reception

Monday, June 28 - 10:00 AM
Check out from Cite University.

Monday June 28
Begin optional Volunteer Internships

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

Information last updated on September 16, 2009.
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