Summer Legal Studies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
May 17 - May 31, 2008
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law has added Brazil to its Latin American Summer Session locations along with Mexico and Costa Rica. This addition makes Loyola the premier law school in
the United States in terms of summer sessions in Latin America. It is a reflection of Loyola Law School and Louisiana’s close legal ties to Latin America as a former sister colony of Spain. Spanish law has had a significant impact, greater than in any other American state, on the law of Louisiana. Louisiana's Civil Code was the first in the Western Hemisphere (1808) and was used as a source by many Latin American countries in drafting their codes. As a result, the Civil Code of Louisiana is very similar to the codes of the respective Latin American countries.
As a law school in the only Civil Code jurisdiction in the United States, with both a Civil Code and Common Law curriculum, Loyola is uniquely qualified to introduce American law students to the Civil Law tradition of Latin America. Our program is associated with one of the leading Brazilian law schools, the State University of Rio de Janeiro Law School.
One of the major advantages of this program is that is allows student to attend a foreign summer session in a beautiful location, and still be able to work for the entire summer.
Program Features
Ocean view rooms on Copacabana
Beach- Full Brazilian breakfast at no cost
- Welcome Party Saturday, May 17
- Tour of Rio on Sunday, May 18 (morning)
- Rio’s best crafts market on Sunday, May 18 (afternoon)
- Excursion to Petropolis on Saturday, May 24 (Emperor’s Summer Palace)
- Tour of Lapa entertainment
district (first week)
Copacabana Beach
- Tour of downtown Rio, including tram ride through the historic Santa Teresa neighborhood (second week) or attendance at a soccer match at the world famous Maracana soccer stadium, the world's largest.
The Emperor's Botanical Gardens in Rio
Academic Component of the Program
Two separate two-credit courses and one one-credit course are offered during the session. Because of American Bar Association regulations regarding classroom hours, students may enroll for up to three credits. Students should understand that scheduled class hours will have to be changed on occasion to accommodate visits to local institutions.
Latin American Legal Systems (2 hours credit) (Monday to Friday, 2:00 – 4:30 p.m)
Professor Keith Vetter
This course focuses on all elements of the legal system, the substantive private law, the judicial method, the judiciary, the legal profession, legal education, governmental structure, and public law. Naturally, it will be taught from a comparative perspective. Classroom instruction will be enhanced by trips to one of Brazil’s leading law firms, the State University of Rio de Janeiro Law School (where select classes will be held), and courts in the Brazilian judicial system. Program visits allow the opportunity for interaction with Brazilian attorneys, law students, and judges at the same time related topics are discussed in class. We feel that there is no more effective way to study Latin America’s legal system than to be able to experience the courts, law offices, and law schools while reading and discussing these topics in class, as we do in this course.
Comparative Criminal Law and Administration of Criminal Justice (2 hours credit) (Monday to Friday, 2:00 – 4:30 p.m)
Judge and Adjunct Professor Calvin Johnson
This course will compare the systems of Criminal law and Administration of Criminal Justice of Brazil and the United States. It will be taught by Adjunct Professor and former Chief Judge of the New Orleans Criminal District Courts, Judge Calvin Johnson. Judge Johnson hosted a delegation of State Supreme Justices and criminal court Judges from Brazil during their one week visit to Loyola and New Orleans where they observed for a complete day a criminal trial in his courtroom. Professor Eduadrdo Japiassu of the State University of Rio de Janeiro Law School will lecture on the Brazilian system.
International Arbitration (1 credit hour) (Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 12:15
p.m.)
Professor John Rooney
The course will cover the regulation and use of international arbitration from the perspectives of International, United States and Brazilian law. We will discuss the application of the principle instruments of public international law in the area (The Washington Convention, the United States Model Bilateral Investment Treaty, the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards and the Inter-American Convention on International Commercial Arbitration) and the Federal Arbitration Act and Brazil's national arbitration law.
The first week of the course will cover the public international law sources, and discuss the regulation of investor-state arbitrations. The discussion of investor-state arbitrations will include arbitral forums (such as ICSID) and sources of cause of action under public international law.
The second week will be devoted to international commercial arbitration. We will cover national regulation of international commercial arbitration, looking at the United States, Brazil and the UNCITRAL Model International Commercial Arbitration Law, with emphasis on the enforceability of the agreement to arbitrate, interim measures of protection, rules for the conduct of international arbitrations (International Chamber of Commerce, London Court of International Arbitration, Inter-American Commission on International Commercial Arbitration, and UNICTRAL International Arbitration Rules);development and use of evidence in the international arbitration; and the recognition and enforcement of the international arbitral award.
Faculty
Professor Keith Vetter is the Ted and Louana Frois Distinguished Professor of International Law Studies at Loyola College of Law. He teaches Comparative Law and Latin American Legal Systems at Loyola, has written numerous articles and books and has lectured on comparative law topics at law schools in Japan, Yugoslavia, Slovenia, France, Holland, England ( Oxford), Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil. He has taught at the Institut de Droit Compare, Faculte de Droit, Universite-Jean Moulin, Lyon, France, the Vytatus Magus University Law School in Kaunas, Lithuania and the State University of Rio de Janeiro School of Law, and was the first director of Loyola’s Foreign Summer Sessions.
Professor John Rooney is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School and the University of Miami Law School. He has written numerous articles and has practiced extensively in Latin America as counsel to Pan American Life Insurance Company and as vice president/assistant general counsel for John Alden Life Insurance Company. Rooney is now in private practice centered almost exclusively in Latin America.
Judge and Adjunct Professor Calvin Johnson is a graduate of Loyola College of Law. Soon after graduation he accepted a position in the Public Defender's Office. Judge Johson then became a member of Loyola's clinical faculty handling criminal cases. He resigned his position in 1990 upon being elected as Judge of the Criminal District Court of New Orleans. He has served as Chief Judge of that court and has continued teaching Administration of Criminal Justice as a adjunct. He has taught in the Mexico Program and hosted a number of Brazilian judges who attended a trial in his courtroom during their one week visit to Loyola University New Orleans college of Law and New Orleans to observe the American Judicial System.
Typical View from the Hotel Rooms
Program Expenses
The rate of exchange in Brazil, compared with many other countries, is more favorable toward the dollar. As a result, Loyola offers a relatively inexpensive package. Tuition is $1,200 for the session. There is a $175 activities fee to cover tours, transportation, etc. Loyola has been able to obtain double rooms with an ocean view for approximately $42 per person at a comfortable beach-front hotel on the world famous Copacabana Beach with a free full Brazilian breakfast and a private safe in each room. For a view of the hotel, visit their website at www.othon.com.br, select Brazil under Localicao, then Rio, then Othon Classic then California Othon Classic. Students who wish to stay at a luxurious hotel can stay at the Marriott Copacabana next door. Search Marriott.com, find J.W. Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana.
Please note that if you elect to stay at the hotel, full payment is due on arrival and is non-refundable. You cannot stay at the hotel for a few days at our rate and search for housing. This policy is necessary for us to obtain this special rate. IF YOU WISH TO STAY AT THE HOTEL WHILE SEARCHING FOR HOUSING, YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN RESERVATION, PAY THE STANDARD RATE, AND DO NOT USE THE LOYOLA GROUP NAME.
Living expenses are approximately $72 a day including food and lodging while in Rio. With an additional $50 in expenses for the optional one-day excursion to Petropolis, the total living expenses should be approximately $1,000 for the session (double occupancy). The total cost of the session should be approximately $2,500-$3,000 plus airfare, depending on the number of hours scheduled. Note: estimated figures are based on the experiences of the previous session.
The Host Country and Accomodations
The site of the program is Rio de Janeiro. Rio is home to some of the largest industries, law firms, banks, and universities in Brazil. In addition it is the world famous “Cidade Maravillosa”, the marvelous city. Students stay at a comfortable hotel in the heart of Copacabana Beach near one of the main shopping districts with numerous restaurants, movies, and clubs within walking distance. Some of the classes will be held at the hotel and some will be held at the University of Rio de Janeiro College of Law.
We hope this brief description of our program will persuade you to join us this summer in Brazil. We have tried to emphasize the unique features of our program including the structuring of optional organized visits not only to legal institutions but to important cultural sites in the host country, in addition to interchanges with members of the host country legal community. In this way, we offer a full cultural experience to our participants and not just a program of legal education in a foreign country.
Registration Procedures
Students are enrolled on a first-come, first - served basis until our enrollment limit is reached. To apply, please fill out the Secure Online Application Form or the Print Application Form and return it us along with a $25 application fee (nonrefundable) and $100 (nonrefundable) registration deposit. Credit cards are accepted. Visiting students are required to have your law school certify that you are in good standing so the credit earned in this summer program will be accepted by your school. A second payment of $100 will be due January 30, 2008. The remainder of tuition is due April 1, 2008, and because of the advance financial preparations necessary to conduct programs abroad, tuition cannot be refunded after April 1, 2008.
It is unlikely that participation in foreign summer programs may be used to accelerate graduation. Students interested in acceleration should be referred to their home schools to review this issue in light of Standard 305, Interpretation 4.
In the unlikely event of insufficient enrollment or civil unrest which would make it dangerous for students in Rio, our program could be cancelled. In such a case, students registered in the program will be notified by letter or telephone and all money will be refunded.
Academic Policies
Loyola’s general academic policies apply to foreign programs. Thus, students must attend 80 percent of all classes and final examinations will be graded on the traditional A through F scale. Students must check with their law schools to determine that the credit and grade will be accepted toward graduation requirements at their institutions.
Any student currently enrolled and in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school may register for the Brazil Program. As foreign students are invited, a few students from Brazil and other foreign countries may participate.
Applicants should be aware that participation in foreign programs cannot always be used to accelerate graduation. Students interested in acceleration of graduation should consult an appropriate official at their own law school in light of ABA Accreditation Standard 305, Interpretation 4.
Another view from the Hotel Rooms
Cancellation Policies
Loyola does not anticipate the need to cancel the program. However, ABA regulations require a disclosure that certain events such as war, natural disaster, or insufficient enrollment could cause cancellation. Should this occur, all deposits and funds paid for the program would be refunded. Furthermore, Loyola would make every effort to find you a comparable program sponsored by another law school.
Also, should any changes occur in the course offerings or other significant aspects of the program, applicants who have paid a deposit for the program will be given the opportunity to obtain a full refund of all fees paid.
Disabilities
Brazil does not have the same facilities for the disabled as the United States. Please contact us to investigate the possibility of arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
For more information please contact:
Judy Corcoran
International Programs Coordinator
Loyola University College of Law
7214 St. Charles Avenue - Box 901
New Orleans, LA 70118
Tel. (504) 861-5563, Fax (504) 861-5480
E-mail address: corcoran@loyno.edu