Study Abroad: Paris Program
Welcome!
The Summer Paris Program is a joint academic program between GGU Law and the Université Paris Nanterre. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summer 2020 Paris Program has been cancelled. We look forward to bringing you fun experiences and innovative teaching when the Paris Program returns for the summer of 2021. More information will be available in September 2020, and applications will open in October 2020. Please contact parisprogram@ggu.edu with any questions or for more information.
Please scroll through the following sections for more information.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Summer Paris Program operates in Paris for approximately four weeks in late May and early June. It is jointly administered by Golden Gate University School of Law and the Université Paris Nanterre. The first two weeks of the program are an online course that you can attend from anywhere in the world. The second two weeks includes live courses in Paris, France. All classes are held on the Nanterre campus, and jointly administered by GGU Law professors and UPN professors, attorneys, and judges.
We highly encourage students from other law schools to apply as well!
OUR UNIVERSITY PARTNER: Université Paris Nanterre
From its founding in the 1960s, Université Paris Nanterre has dedicated itself to being a new type of institution of higher education: an institution of learning and research whose defining characteristics are its vibrant campus life, educational innovation, and scientific research with a social dimension. Université Paris Nanterre is located to the west of the greater Paris area, just next to the largest business district in Europe and in a dynamic area full of major urban developments. The Nanterre campus reflects the University’s forward-looking policy with respect to sports and cultural activities, environmental commitment, and solidarity actions.
Today Université Paris Nanterre has 34,000 students in undergraduate, postgraduate and professional continuing education with more than 20% of the student body from a foreign country. There are over 1,000 research professors and researchers in all disciplines of social and human sciences, as well as in sports sciences and physical education, mathematics, computer science and engineering.
Université Paris Nanterre is a member of an Association of Higher Education and Research Institutions known as Université Paris Lumières. The University of Paris 8 and the CNRS research institute also belong to this prestigious grouping of institutions of higher learning. The INS-HEA (special educational needs and disability studies) and ENS Louis Lumière (National Film, Photography & Sound Engineering School) as well as numerous cultural institutions of both French and international renown (Louvre Museum, National Library of France, Quai Branly Museum, Centre Georges Pompidou, National Archives, INA – National Audiovisual Institute, History and Immigration Museum, etc.) are also part of this exceptional educational initiative. This association is one of the leading educational and research bodies in France in the field of social and human sciences.
Nanterre University Map( Universit Paris Ouest Nanterre - Service Communication)
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Photo Universit Paris Ouest Nanterre - Service Communication
The structure of the summer program's classes is unique. Unlike many other law schools' programs, this program does more than transport Americans to a city in Europe, where they might be taught in isolation by the same professors they would have at home. Instead, each class is team-taught in English by both a French professor and an American professor. Further, the program seeks to integrate its American students into the French classroom experience by welcoming French students into the program. In fact, we often have 20-40 French students attend, along with some students from other EU countries. Most classes meet in the afternoon, usually between 1:30 and 5 pm, leaving ample time for inter-cultural activities and sightseeing.
The program is divided into two sessions. The first is an online component – Introduction to French & EU Law – which allows flexibility to take the class anywhere. There are scheduled group sessions where information and lessons will be given by your program director, Professor Eric Christiansen, as well as other GGU Law professors and our French counterparts. You will be required to complete the course before beginning the on-site elective courses in Paris.
The second session is two weeks in Paris taking classes at the Université Paris Nanterre. In addition to the in-person courses, you’ll have the opportunity to tag along to off-campus excursions, like visiting major international law firms and at least two of the three French Supreme Courts (Civil/Criminal Court; Administrative Court; and the Constitutional Court) to attend lectures by court members.
Classes will meet four days a week for each week, leaving time for off-campus extracurriculars, conversations with peers and professors, and pre-planned trips.
COURSE OFFERINGS
The courses offered in Summer 2020 are: Introduction to French & EU Law, Comparative Human Rights Law, Comparative Corporate Law, Comparative Trial Practice, and Comparative Immigration Law & Policy. Introduction to French & EU Law is mandatory, is worth 1 unit, and is self-paced over two weeks. The remaining courses are worth 2 units each. No prerequisites exist for any course (save the mandatory Introduction). See “Course Descriptions” for more details.
COURSE |
U.S. PROFESSOR |
FRENCH PROFESSOR |
Comparative Corporate Law |
Michele Benedetto Neitz +1-415-442-6775 mnietz@ggu.edu |
|
Comparative Human Rights Law |
Eric Christiansen +1-415-369-5338 echristiansen@ggu.edu |
|
Comparative Immigration Law & Policy |
Johanna K.P. Dennis +1-415-442-6562 jdennis@ggu.edu |
|
Comparative Trial Practice |
Hina Shah +1-415-442-6649 hshah@ggu.edu |
|
Introduction to French & EU Law |
Eric Christiansen +1-415-369-5338 echristiansen@ggu.edu |
Stephanie Hennette-Vauchez stephanie.hennette-vauchez@parisnanterre.fr |
HOUSING
GGU Law will provide resources to assist you in finding affordable housing in Paris for the two weeks you plan to stay for the program. We will also help you connect with other program students for co-housing situations.
Housing costs are somewhat comparable to the local San Francisco market, so finding an apartment, Airbnb, or other short-term rental (especially with other students) is doable.
Further information and resources will be available January 2020.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
The first official evening of the program (Sunday, May 24th 2020) there will be a Seine River Cruise and Orientation Dinner to welcome you to the city of lights.
There are also planned visits to one of the three French Supreme Courts, as well as visits to other French legal institutions.
Your classes will last from 1 pm – 5 pm Monday through Thursday, so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to explore Paris with your classmates. Have the local students show you around!
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Introduction to French & EU Law
Comparative Trial Practice
Comparative Immigration Law & Policy
Comparative Human Rights Law
Comparative Corporate Law
TUITION & COSTS
2020 Paris Program Costs for students receiving credit from GGU Law:
- Total cost for the summer program: $5,400 USD
- Tuition: $5,100 USD for three units of summer semester credit
- Fees: $300 USD include books/readers in Paris and other course/program materials; local transportation to events and activities; admission fees to socio-legal sights; French civil liability coverage; receptions and orientation meals and social events
- Housing, Transportation to/from Paris, and most meals are not included
- During the week, the university maintains a restaurant with subsidized meals for dorm residents. Three set menus are available each weekday for prices between $5-8 per meal. You will need to budget for weekend meals. Plan on spending between $500-1,000.
- Airfare is expected to be between $1,000-$1,500, depending on when you purchase your ticket and route availability
- Entertainment/other/misc.: This depends on you! Please plan and budget accordingly
UPN and other French Law Students: please contact Professor Stéphanie Hennette-Vauchez at stephanie.hennette-vauchez@parisnanterre.fr.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
U.S. and Canadian Students, & Other Students from Common Law Countries / Systems:
- Students from the US must have completed at least one year of legal studies and be in good standing at an accredited law school.
- Students from Canada and other international students must have completed at least one year of graduate legal studies, or three years of undergraduate legal studies, and be in good standing at an accredited law school.
- After acceptance, each applicant must submit a letter of good standing from their home law school Registrar, along with the Deposit Form.
- The Deposit Form must be accompanied by a $250 non-refundable deposit fee, which will be applied toward the program tuition/fees.
For more information, U.S, Canadian, and common-law-country students should email the program at parisprogram@ggu.edu.
EU Students & Students from Other Civil Law Countries:
- Participating European Union students must have completed at least three years of legal studies in France or another European country.
- Students from other civil law countries/systems must have completed at least three years of legal studies and must have a strong academic record.
- Applicants must submit proof of fluency in English.
- Applicants must submit an official transcript and a letter of good standing from their school.
PROGRAM DIRECTORS
The program is jointly administered by Golden Gate University School of Law and the Université Paris Nanterre.
US Director |
Eric Christiansen | echristiansen@ggu.edu |
+1-415-369-5338 |
French Director |
Stéphanie Hennette-Vauchez | stephanie.hennette-vauchez@parisnanterre.fr |
FACULTY BIOS
Eric C. Christiansen (Comparative Human Rights Law): Professor of Law and Associate Dean for International Partnerships at GGU Law. He has extensive experience with international education and program management. Professor Christiansen successfully directed the earlier iteration of this Program from 2009 to 2013. He is a former Fulbright Senior Scholar and publishes and teaches in the area of comparative constitutional law. Additionally, he has taught as a visiting professor and guest lecturer at the University of Paris Nanterre (France), the University of Valencia (Spain) and worked as a lawyer in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and South Africa. He is a founding member and instructor in Europe’s INNO-Talk program for the promotion of trans-national dialogue related to innovation in international legal education. Prior to entering academia, Professor Christiansen directed several international and local nonprofit organizations.
Michele Benedetto Neitz (Comparative Corporate Law): Professor Neitz is a tenured faculty member at GGU Law. She has received the Teacher of the Year award multiple times for her teaching in Business Associations, Blockchain Law, Professional Responsibilities of Lawyers, Corporate Compliance, and Poverty Law. She is also a member of State of California's new Blockchain Working Group. She is currently researching and publishing about the ethics of blockchain technology. She has published extensively in the areas of judicial ethics, implicit bias, and the connection between corporate law and social justice.
Johanna K.P. Dennis (Comparative Immigration Law & Policy): Associate Professor of Law Johanna Dennis, Ph.D. EL, is Associate Director for Legal Writing and Research and an Associate Professor of Law at GGU Law. Professor Dennis teaches upper division writing, immigration, and intellectual property law courses. Prior to joining the faculty at GGU, she served on the full-time faculties at several ABA-accredited law schools. Professor Dennis is admitted to the Pennsylvania bar, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a Registered Patent Attorney. She is fluent in French.
Hina Shaw (Comparative Trial Practice): Professor Shah is an Associate Professor of Law at GGU Law and Director of the award-winning Women’s Employments Rights Clinic. She has over twenty years of experience in employment litigation working for private union-side law firms and nonprofit organizations, and substantial appellate experience as a Staff Attorney at the Ninth Circuit. Professor Shah has conducted trainings and provided technical assistance and expertise to legal advocates in litigating cases throughout California, has trained state and local enforcement investigators, and has been consulted by the Legislature regarding various wage and hour bills. She was invited by the Ford Foundation to develop and teach comparative labor and employment law to Chinese labor law professors in China.
APPLICATIONS
Download the Paris Program Application here. Please send your completed application to parisprogram@ggu.edu, or if sending by mail, to:
Golden Gate University School of Law
c/o Paris Program, Suite 3320
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
CONTACT INFORMATION
Professor Eric C. Christiansen
Golden Gate University School of Law
Director, Summer Paris Program
415-369-5338
Brett Trace
Golden Gate University School of Law
Administrative Coordinator, Summer Paris Program
Pronouns: They/Them 415-442-6501
DISCLOSURES
ANTICIPATED ENROLLMENT
Enrollment is not limited to GGU Law students only; anyone can apply!
In the past, the program welcomed American students from 34 other American Law Schools, as well as students from the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Approximately 130 French and other EU students have also participated through the Université Paris Nanterre.
ENROLLMENT LIMITS
- Program will be limited to 60 U.S. and other international students, and 40 French students.
- Introduction to French and European Union law (1 credit) will be limited to 60 students (United States, Canada, and non-EU students only).
- The specialized comparative law elective courses will be limited to 20 students each. Some students may not receive their first choice from among the elective courses.
PAYMENT TERMS
Once you are accepted, you will receive a Deposit Form that you must return along with a U.S. $250 non-refundable fee. (The fee is refundable only to students who are not accepted into the program.) Payment in full is due by April 21. Alternatively, students can submit letters from their home school's Financial Aid Office stating that the student has applied for financial aid to pay for the program and that the application is pending. No course credits will be awarded until payment in full is received.
COURSE CREDITS
- U.S./Canadian/GGU-enrolled international students will earn 3 semester units of credit from Golden Gate University School of Law.
- EU students may arrange for credits through GGU Law or the Université Paris Nanterre.
- It is unlikely that participation in a foreign summer program could be used to accelerate graduation. Students interested in acceleration should contact their home schools to review this issue in light of ABA Standard 305, Interpretation 4.
GRADING
- Students will be expected to attend all class meetings, prepare for classes by reading the assigned material, and participate in class discussions.
- Grades will be based on preparation and participation, formative assessment assignments, and a two-hour in-class exam administered on the final Friday of the session.
- GGU permits faculty to award the following grades: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, and D.
- No mandatory grading curve will apply to these courses.
- Acceptance of any grade or credit for any course taken in the program is subject to the policies and determination of the students' home schools..
DISABILITIES
Mobility Disabilities
The classrooms and law library at Nanterre are accessible for people using wheelchairs, as are the public rooms at CIUP. French consciousness of the importance of providing access to people with disabilities is similar to that in the United States. Paris, however, is an old city, and its cobblestone streets and sidewalks, which often lack curb cuts, can be very challenging to navigate. Students with disabilities who wish to enroll in the program should consult the program directors regarding their specific mobility needs to be sure they can be accommodated.
Other Disabilities
Students with disabilities that may require (or have typically required) accommodations, especially examination accommodations, should inform GGU Law’s Student Disability Services Office by April 30th at gguds@ggu.edu. Please expressly identify yourself to the Director as a Paris Program student. The GGU Student Disability Services Office will work to accommodate all students with disabilities, regardless of home school. The program will make every effort to make reasonable accommodations, but French facilities differ significantly than those of U.S. law schools. For example, all exams in France are handwritten, and the program needs advance notice to prepare accommodations for students who must type.
REFUND POLICY
- The $250 deposit fee (due with the Deposit Form) is non-refundable, but will be applied to the program tuition/fees.
- Except in the case of cancellation of the program, or academic disqualification from GGU (see below), students who cancel after April 21st must still pay an additional $250 to cover our administrative costs.
- Students who are academically disqualified after arriving in Paris and before the last class day at Nanterre may opt to remain in the program or withdraw. Students who withdraw will receive a refund of tuition minus a $500 administrative charge.
INSURANCE
- Students registered in the program will be covered by a French insurance policy that provides liability insurance during the on-site period of the Program.
- Students are responsible for securing basic medical insurance and evacuation insurance (for transit back to the U.S. in a medical emergency) through a U.S. insurance company.
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION
- General Information about France: https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/france/
- General Travel Safety Page for Europe: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/schengen.html
- Information about the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/step.html
ACCREDITATION
Golden Gate University School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association.
The Summer Paris Program is pending final ABA approval in November 2019.
The Université Paris Nanterre is accredited by the Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation, France (Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, France).