LAW/LSJ in Rome 2012

Exploration Seminar
August 22 - September 21, 2012

ACADEMICS
student question

Above: LSJ student Abdelraziq Adam questions Foreign Minister Franco Frattini regarding Italy’s
human rights record and immigration policies. Frattini visited with the LSJ in Rome Program in 2010.

The Law/LSJ in Rome Exploration Seminar includes an academic program where students earn 10 credits in one month of study. The academic program features two four-week seminar courses and a required basic Italian language class. Seminars require reading, short papers, attendance and participation in discussion, a group project, and a final exam.

As part of the seminars, students work on a group project and make a final group project presentation. The groups are assigned to work on topics related to the seminar courses. Student groups will travel in Rome to visit with and interview academic experts, attorneys, government officials, activists, and service providers who work for NGOs. In past years, group project topics topics have included: Immigrant Rights, Criminal Justice, The Legal Profession, The Death Penalty, Privacy and Privacy Rights, and Legal Education. Students also attend lectures from outside experts at the Rome Center. Students will also meet with academic experts during the overnight trip to Bologna.

2010 Law/LSJ in Rome Visit at Roma Tre University Law School

Students should expect to be spending time on academic work while in Rome, including reading, writing papers, group project work, and studying for the final exam. Students also have some free time to explore Rome, and there are some free weekends if students want to travel to visit other nearby sites and cities.

The experience of being in Rome to meet with local experts and visit organizations and offices is an essential part of the program. The program is targeted for students who are interested in the rigorous and intellectually exciting academic program.

Courses

LSJ 495-A European Law and Society: The Rights of the Individual. This seminar explores the legal foundations for rights protections in Europe and the political and institutional developments that have shaped European rights. Students learn about constitutionalism in the European Union and how this affects the rights of citizens and residents in domestic legal systems. Topics include freedom of religion, the right to privacy, and the rights of workers. In-class discussions will be complemented by visits to such historical sites in Rome as the Campidoglio where the European Union’s original Treaty was signed in 1957.

Click here for the 2011 Syllabus. (Subject to Change in 2012)

LSJ 495-B Comparative Legal Culture. This seminar is a provocative comparative study of legal practices in the United States, Europe, and Italy. Topics covered include: legal institutions, courthouse architecture and rituals, the legal profession, civil litigation, immigration and immigration reform, criminal justice, juvenile justice, and the death penalty.

Click here for the 2011 Syllabus. (Subject to Change in 2012)

Italian Language Course. The program includes an introductory Italian Language class that teaches basic speaking and listening skills to help students maneuver through Italy in service-oriented situations. Language learning will take place both inside and outside the classroom. Rome and its vendors will be our participating and interactive audience!

Experts and Organizations

In past years, students have met with the many officials, experts, and organizations in Italy. Below are just a few of the people students have met and worked with in past years.