Foreign lawyers to spend summer at USC learning legal, English skills

A new program will enable foreign lawyers to learn about American law and improve their English skills during an intensive summer course designed to prepare students for LL.M. programs around the country.

In partnership with the USC Rossier School of Education Language Academy, USC Law has established the Southern California American Law and English Program, which combines rigorous language study and an introduction to fundamental areas of law in a four-week course taught at USC. The program will launch in summer 2004 with a class of pre-LL.M. students as well as recent graduates of foreign law schools and foreign lawyers who can’t take the time for a full-year LL.M. program.

“With increasing globalization and interaction between countries,” says Deborah Call, executive director of international programs at USC Law, “lawyers and businesspeople can gain a competitive advantage by understanding foreign legal systems, particularly the American legal system.”

Students will study law each morning under the tutelage of USC law faculty and practicing attorneys; language classes will be held each afternoon under the direction of the Language Academy. Visits to legal and cultural institutions around Los Angeles also will take place. The course will begin on July 12 and conclude on August 6.

While other similar pre-LL.M. programs exist nationwide, few combine legal study and language courses.

“After working with our first class of LL.M. students we have a better sense of what they really need to prepare for an American LL.M. program,” Call says. “We designed this program to offer something of real benefit to students and to help expose more of the world’s top legal professionals to USC Law.”

For enrollment information, contact the LL.M. office at (213) 821-5916.