Willkommen in Berlin

The Center for International and Comparative Law is pleased to announce the addition of the Summer Law Program in Berlin. Students will be able to experience, firsthand, the German legal system by direct exposure to international and comparative law courses, site visits to legal institutions and interaction with professors and legal scholars. Saint Louis Brief sat down with Professor Henry Ordower, co-director of the Center for International and Comparative Law and director of the Summer Law Program in Berlin, who provided an overview of the Program, set to debut in July of 2007.

The Study Abroad Program in Madrid is now in its 7th year. How long have you been thinking about creating an additional summer program like the one in Berlin?

Many possibilities have been discussed throughout the years, including the creation of a summer program in Cork, Ireland, since we have an existing relationship with University College Cork. The more we began to explore the idea, the less we thought Cork the right choice for us right now. Maybe Cork will be our next location. For us, the relatively small number of summer programs in Germany was attractive. I knew that if we were ever going to do a program in Germany, the city would have to be Berlin. It’s truly a vibrant metropolis that blends the structural characteristics of Berlin’s 45 years of repressive, communist rule in its east with the thoroughly free market west. Though modernizing and repairing deteriorated infrastructure proved a costly challenge to unified Germany, it resulted in a livable, safe city with outstanding public transportation. Berlin has become not only the revitalized capital of Germany, but also the center of German arts. English is widely spoken — an added benefit.

You could say the idea really took form about a year and a half ago and came to fruition in the spring of 2006. The School of Law has a longstanding relationship with Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, and we asked our Ruhr colleagues if they’d like to take part in this program with us. They thought it was a great idea. It surprised me that the professors from Ruhr University were able to come to Berlin to teach. What a great opportunity this has been for us to build on an existing relationship.

How is the Program set up?
The Summer Law Program in Berlin offers five weeks of coursework, and students may earn up to six credit hours in course offerings that are international and comparative in nature with a strong emphasis on business and economic law.

Why the focus on international and comparative business law?
We already have a program that is more general in Madrid. Our principal contact at Ruhr is Professor Dr. Roman Seer, who is the chair in taxation and a former visiting professor at the School of Law. My specialty areas include U.S. Taxation, Investment and Business Law and International Transactions and we now have concentration programs in Business Transactional Law and Tax, so I thought it would make sense to place emphasis on this aspect of legal study. The ABA requires that any study abroad program be international and comparative in nature, and with an emphasis on business, students benefit from a more specific focus.

Who are some of the faculty chosen to teach courses in Berlin? Why were they selected?
Ruhr University Professor Dr. Andrea Lohse and Professor Dr. Adelheid Puttler will offer European Economic Law, and Ruhr University Professor Dr. Rolf Wank, who was a visiting professor at the School of Law in the fall of 2005, will teach Comparative Employment Law in the European Union and the United States. Saint Louis University School of Law Professors Jesse Goldner and Alan Weinberger will offer Comparative Health Law and Comparative Property Law, respectively. Classroom instruction is in English and the Program includes site visits to various legal institutions based in Berlin. Our German professors were chosen for their interest in teaching American students, their willingness to teach in English and the areas of law in which they specialize.

What is the benefit of studying in a city like Berlin as opposed to other international locations?
Berlin is an exciting world city in transition. It’s a city that keeps remaking its personality. It offers superb cultural benefits and wonderful museums. What is known as “Museum Island” is within walking distance of the Guesthouse, where the Program is held, and students have access to four major specialized museums, all of which have just been renovated. The Guesthouse is located in the majestic, historical heart of Berlin. We’ve chosen our location for this reason, as well as its proximity to restaurants, nightclubs, shops and galleries.

Can students attend the Berlin and Madrid Programs during the same summer?

We arranged the dates of both programs with the idea that students could choose which program they wanted to attend — we don’t encourage dual enrollment. The varying dates allow for flexibility in students’ schedules. If they aren’t able to attend the Madrid Program in May due to scheduling conflicts, for example, the Berlin Program is offered in July, which may serve as a better option.