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SKILL SHARPENER
International Programs at Whittier Law School Gain Momentum with New Center [by Erica Winter] The Center for International and Comparative Law (CICL) at Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, CA, has not only introduced new international programs to the law school but also has created a home for those already in progress.
The center serves another important, yet
are a colloquia series on international law,
Whittier’s study-abroad programs, says
more ephemeral function: it is a touchstone
internships, and externships. Then there are
Reich, all try to integrate scholarly research
that faculty and students can refer to in order
several study-abroad programs, with oppor-
with hands-on experience. For example, in
to lend their projects and ideas more clout,
tunities for students to study law in France,
Spain, students went on field trips illustrat-
both within and outside Whittier’s walls.
Spain, Australia, and Israel, with programs in
ing the legal precepts students were study-
China and the Netherlands planned.
ing. One trip was to the Santona Marshes,
The center’s clout was built up consider-
which was the subject of litigation between
ably last month as Whittier and CICL hosted
Laurie Romero, a second-year law student at
the government and private owners over
the “International Law Weekend—West.”
Whittier, is working towards her internation-
conservation concerns. The trip was led by
This was the third such conference on the
al law certificate and was one of the many
a guide from Spain’s Environment Ministry.
west coast, and it is held biannually under
students who participated in the recent con-
Students could “read a case, and then see it,”
the auspices of the American Branch of the
ference. The CICL “gives a good comparative
says Reich.
International Law Association (ABILA).
look at other legal systems,” says Romero, whose primary interest now is international
Whittier Law is also breaking new ground
Bringing the conference to Whittier was one
corporate law. As multinational corporations
with its programs in Israel and the Nether-
of the first goals of the center’s director, Hari
grow, says Romero, compliance issues are
lands. The school’s Israel program is the
Osofsky, when she came on board with the
becoming more important in private industry.
only one in that country currently being
center’s launch in 2003. “I really appreciate
There was a panel on corporate compliance
run by a U.S. law school, says Reich. “It
the vote of confidence” from ABILA in choos-
at the conference, says Romero. About 94
has become very popular,” he says, with 20
ing Whittier to host the conference, says
students attended the conference, with 40
students going on the first program there
Osofsky, also an Assistant Professor of Law
more volunteering and attending panels.
last year.
at Whittier. Professor Peter Reich teaches domestic
And, starting this summer, John Heliman,
The conference, which brought in interna-
environmental law at Whittier and is also
a Whittier Law faculty member who is also
tional law experts from around the country
the Managing Editor of the peer-reviewed
currently mayor of West Hollywood, CA, will
to speak on innovations in the field, was a
Journal of International Wildlife Law and
lead a two-week program in Amsterdam on
“major opportunity for the center in many
Policy. Whittier students edit submissions
gay-rights law. The international program
ways,” says Osofsky. The conference gath-
to the journal and can write short notes
has generated a great deal of interest among
ered highly interesting people to the school
for publication. Working on the journal is a
law students.
to speak on panels, says Osofsky. Both pan-
“great opportunity for students interested in
elists and conference attendees were able to
international environmental law,” says Reich.
Whittier Law is “very open to these programs,” says Reich, with a policy of recep-
learn about and be engaged in Whittier Law’s Reich also led Whittier’s program in Spain
tiveness to faculty ideas for programs that
in 2003. Students in that program studied
benefit students—a policy that also led to the
It is a program that is varied, diverse, and
a wide range of international legal topics,
formation of the CICL.
growing. There is an international law
including international family law, interna-
certificate which requires law students to
tional negotiation, and international environ-
The benefits of the center are threefold, says
take a set roster of classes and participate
mental law, with a focus on European Union
Reich. The center has raised the profile of
in CICL programs. Among center programs
cooperation on environmental policies.
the law school, giving a strong regional law
international program.
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