International Programs

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law’s emphasis on comparative and international law has generated curricular innovation and numerous programs offering students and faculty opportunities to study and develop expertise in this growing field. Loyola regularly offers the following programs:

  • Foreign Summer Legal Studies Programs
  • Study Abroad Semester Exchange Program

In addition to these programs, the College of Law regularly sponsors:

  • Distinguished foreign scholars to offer special seminars on current issues of international law;
  • The VIS International Arbitration Moot competition in Vienna, Austria involving Loyola faculty and a team of Loyola students; and
  • Regular visits of law faculty between Loyola and many foreign institutions.

The above programs offer many opportunities for the study of international and comparative law, including frequent scholarly events, such as public addresses and faculty colloquia, and many faculty publications in international and comparative law journals. 

Foreign Summer Legal Studies Programs

Loyola’s foreign summer legal studies programs are an important component of Loyola College of Law’s international focus. Loyola regularly sponsors programs in three foreign countries: Austria (in cooperation with the University of Vienna Law School); Spetses, Greece; and Panama City, Panama. 

These sessions offer a broad selection of comparative and international law courses, with particular emphasis on those relevant to the host countries’ legal systems and cultures. Many students from throughout the United States and other countries participate in these programs every summer. Loyola’s foreign summer legal studies programs are open to students in good standing from any ABA accredited law school; Loyola students must hold a cumulative GPA of 2.20 in order to study abroad. Foreign law students and Loyola LL.M. students may also join the programs.

Vienna, Austria

The University of Vienna Law School is the site of Loyola’s oldest foreign summer program. The Vienna Program offers multiple comparative law courses taught by University of Vienna and Loyola College of Law faculty. Side trips to Prague and Venice enhance the weekends during the program.

For more information on the Vienna program, please visit our website

Spetses, Greece

Positioned strategically between East and West, near the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and being a member of the European Union since 1981, Greece is ideally situated as a microcosm of current legal issues. Spetses is the ideal place to observe the gap between rich, represented by wealthy Greek weekenders, and working class, exemplified by the year-round residents who are struggling with financial austerity measures.

This program offers multiple seminars examining legal, economic, and social issues in both an academic and experiential way.  

Participants have the opportunity to participate in a series of legal visits (including the mayoral office of Spetses), cultural tours, and festivals in Spetses and beyond. Additionally, students will have the option to participate in a service learning experience at Monastery of Aghioi Pandes. 

For more information on the Spetses program, please visit our website

Panama City, Panama

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law is pleased to present this dynamic and experiential two-week program in Panama City, Panama. This program is ideal for students who wish to study abroad and still have almost the entire summer for work. Panama is a particularly appropriate jurisdiction for a summer law program. Panama’s strategic geographic position, its dynamic financial sector, and the presence of the Panama Canal have combined to foster the development of a sophisticated legal sector.

Panama shares some of the same unique characteristics as New Orleans – such as a rich Spanish colonial heritage, storied maritime history, and flourishing economy. These characteristics make Panama City an excellent choice as a venue for the examination of comparative and international issues associated with maritime law and arbitration law. In addition to being the first U.S. law summer abroad program in Panama, the Panama City program will continue Loyola’s tradition of offering quality Spanish language programs to our students.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in legal visits to the Supreme Court of Panama and the Panama Canal Authority. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in a service learning experience at the Ciudad del Saber (City of Knowledge). 

For more information on the Panama City program, please visit our website

Study Abroad Semester Exchange Program

Loyola College of Law recognizes the importance of global legal educaton in the 21st century.  We are committed to preparing our law students for today’s globalized and changing world.  Loyola College of Law has created a study abroad semester exchange programs with its partner university in China -- Xiamen University School of Law in the southern coastal city of Xiamen.  Beginning in 2017, two Loyola College of Law students per year are eligible to particicpate in the semester exchange program.  The semester exchange program allows our students to gain a global perspective of the legal profession and to enjoy the rich ccultural, personal, and networking experiences that foreign travel brings.

For more information on the Xiamen Semester Exchange Program, please visit our website

International Moot Court Team

Since 1995, Loyola’s Commercial Law Arbitration students have been invited to compete in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition at the University of Vienna School of Law in Austria. The invitational competition features teams from approximately 135 universities and 42 countries. 

Certificate in Comparative and International Law

As described further in this bulletin, Loyola law students may also pursue special certification in the area of international law.

Visiting Faculty

Loyola College of Law has enabled our students to benefit from having visiting professors from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Additional faculty exchanges have placed Loyola faculty around the world in places including Australia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Greece, Poland, South Korea, Lithuania, Brazil, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Speakers from Egypt, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica and South Africa have also graced the portals of the law school. In addition, Loyola faculty members have published books, articles, and papers with presses and learned journals in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Italy, and Malaysia.

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