International Initiatives

The Office of International Programs welcomes engagement with students, academics, sponsoring organizations, and partners in international higher education.

We are regularly exploring new vistas for international study, developing and cultivating institutional partnerships, and pursuing curricular and programmatic innovations that expose the exchange of ideas around a shared affinity for the rule of law. 

Throughout the year, the College of Law offers students the opportunity to enroll in short-term courses abroad. Below is a sample of recent offerings:

LAW 798/893 International Tax Law (Spring Break)

Travel to Switzerland over spring break to gain exposure to the foundational principles of international tax law and develop an understanding of (i) an overview of the Civil Law system and identification of the differences between the Civil Law and Common Law systems of jurisprudence; (ii) International tax law, tax competition, and the practice of international tax law in Civil Law and Common Law jurisdictions; (iii) concepts of business and tax advising relative to transfer pricing, Base Erosion & Profiting Shifting (BEPS), measuring risk and intangibles, and related topics; and (iv) common reporting standards under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); the application of various tax regimes; information reporting standards, monitoring, enforcement and related issues.

LAW 799 European and International Human Rights Law (Spring Break)

Travel to Strasbourg, France, over spring break to examine European human rights law from both a practical and a theoretical perspective. The course is designed to provide students with an informed and critical perspective on the European Convention on Human Rights’ system of articulating and implementing human rights and the ECHR system’s interactions with the broader network of international human rights bodies. Topics will include the historic origins of European human rights law; the European Court of Human Rights and its procedures; connections between civil, political, social, and economic rights in the EU; the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (including members of the Council of Europe); the interaction between the national level and regional level within the system of human rights and the margin of appreciation; controversies and transnational strategies associated with implementation and enforcement of human rights law generally.

Our Master of Law’s program offers conditional admission to applicants who would benefit from additional English language instruction at Syracuse University’s English Language Institute (ELI). Applicants are also encouraged to enroll in the intense “English for Lawyers” summer session at ELI. This six-week program focuses on legal reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while offering an introduction into the U.S. legal system.

Held each Spring semester, the College of Law holds a series of lectures that draws on the expertise and experience of our international LL.M. students and visiting scholars to discuss and present on topics of their choosing. Members of the College and University communities are invited to attend and learn from a variety of perspectives in international and comparative law. Previous lectures have presented on topics such as:

  • Islamic Business Law
  • Corporate Culture in Asia
  • The Anatomy of Mafia Organizations, An Italian Perspective
  • Arbitration Practices in Madagascar
  • Counterterrorism in the Caucasus: The Experience of the Azerbaijani Republic
  • Human Rights & Islamic Beliefs
  • Access to Inclusive Education in Malawi
  • Current Challenges in the Judiciary of Brazil
  • Violence Against Women with Disabilities in Kenya
  • The Plight of Syrian Refugees with Disabilities

The College of Law enjoys a broad range of institutional relations with foreign universities, sponsoring organizations, governments, and other entities. A sample of our partners is below:

  • Fulbright
  • Kosovo American Education Fund
  • LASPAU
  • Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission
  • Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (China)
  • Tashkent State University of Law (Uzbekistan)
  • University of Ghent (Belgium)
  • Université d’Ottawa (Canada)
  • Jindal Global University (India)
  • Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland)
  • University of Bialystok (Poland)
  • Saudi Bar Association (Saudi Arabia)
  • Al-Yamamah University (Saudi Arabia)
  • Association of Lawyers of Sao Paulo (Brazi)
  • Ministerio Publico do Estado Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
  • Ministerio Publico do Estado Minas Gerais (Brazil)
  • Ministerio Publico da Uniao (Brazil)
  • Public Ministry of Labor and Employment (Brazil)
  • Kyung Hee University (South Korea)
  • Kangwon National School of Law (South Korea)
  • Ewha Women’s University School of Law (South Korea)
  • Fuzhou University (China)
  • Office of the Judiciary of Thailand’s International Affairs Bureau (Thailand)
  • University of Rome (Italy)
  • University of Florence (Italy)
  • University of Rijeka (Croatia)
  • Université de Strasbourg (France)
  • Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (Lebanon)
  • Technological Institute of Mexico – ITAM (Mexico)
  • University of Baha California Faculty of Law (Mexico)

If you are interested in exploring a partnership for your institution, please contact Assistant Dean of International Programs Andrew Horsfall at ashorsfa@syr.edu.