After reading a personal statement in which the applicant discussed her experiences abroad, “This applicant didn’t need to tell me she would be a self-reliant, inquisitive and broad-minded law student. Her story demonstrated all these qualities, as well as the perspective she gained on difference between . . . culture, both big and small.”
Julie Ekkers, Former Assistant Director of Admissions, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Academic Planning
Study law from a different cultural perspective
- Learn how legal systems vary throughout the world and how law impacts other societies; choose a program where your professors are from the host country.
- Topics such as human rights, international relations, diplomacy, politics, environmental protection, social justice and public policy are just a sampling of program areas of emphasis. Consider a program that highlights your particular interests.
- Study abroad as a pre-law student doesn’t have to include the study of law at all! Any experience where you develop an awareness of other cultures, yourself, writing, understanding of others, and research is great preparation for law school and beyond.
Seek cultural immersion
- Look for programs that offer significant cultural integration. Deep involvement in the host culture leads to personal growth and instills the cross-cultural skills that are so important to success in the world of law.
- Classroom learning is only part of the study abroad experience. Use internships, community engagement, research opportunities, and homestays to get involved in the community. This sort of educational approach can give you a much broader feeling for your host society and culture than if you experience it mostly in a conventional academic setting.
- Take risks and explore new things, but be realistic; not all students are ready for the same amount of cultural immersion. Many law schools offer study abroad, so consider this opportunity as a potential stepping stone to another great experience later.
- Many countries have educational systems very different from ours. By taking courses in a host-country institution you can learn about these differences first-hand.
Liberal Education requirements
- Advance planning can help you apply study abroad credits to many of the University’s Liberal Education requirements. Decide early which requirements you want to satisfy through courses taken abroad so that you can work on other requirements here.
- Consult the Learning Abroad Center’s U Credit Abroad Search to find courses that have been approved for Liberal Education.
Work on your major or minor requirements
- Nearly all majors have major advising pages parallel to this one. Consult yours early in the process.
- The earlier you begin your planning, the easier it will be to coordinate your on-campus major coursework with your study abroad coursework.
- Don’t forget to work with your major adviser by using an Academic Planning for Study Abroad (APSA) form. Think carefully about how any selected study abroad program impacts your major.
Develop or improve second language skills
- If you are at the beginning or intermediate level, consider a Language Intensive Program where you can study a language and be surrounded by it.
- If you already have reasonably advanced language skills, consider a program taught in the language. Any ability in a second language may be an advantage when working with clients in the future.
- See your academic adviser and plan your language study carefully, so that you do not find yourself out of sequence on your return to the University of Minnesota.
Be deliberate about your law school application timeline
- Applications should be submitted almost a year in advance of starting law school. Plan your study abroad accordingly! Know that many law students take 1+ years between undergrad and beginning law school, and there is no preference for beginning law school immediately after undergrad. Many law schools view this time positively. Plan your study abroad accordingly!
- The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is offered at limited times throughout the year. Taking the test in summer or early fall (or earlier depending on your study abroad plans) of the year you apply is encouraged.
- The LSAT is offered overseas on a limited basis, so if necessary you may be able to take it during your study abroad experience. For further information see the Law School Admission Council website.
- Be realistic about how much time you will need to study for the LSAT and prepare your applications. While it is possible to study for the LSAT while abroad, know your own limitations and plan accordingly.
At the University of Minnesota, Pre-Law Services offers individual appointments and drop-in hours, as well as workshops and on-demand resources to assist you in exploring law school as an option. Students can also utilize Pre-Law Services virtually while abroad.
Programs
Africa and the Middle East
Botswana
University of Botswana (offered through ISEP Botswana)
- Located in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana and has a student body of 18,000
- The university is a comprehensive institution offering courses in both the liberal arts and sciences and a number of professional programs, including business, education, engineering and medicine
- The University of Botswana has undergraduate law courses available to students, with courses taught by highly skilled and motivated staff, drawn from the best in their areas. Course examples include LAW131 Introduction to Law, LAW132 Comparative Legal History and Systems, LAW134 Family Law, LAW231 Criminal Law, General Principles, LAW201 Introduction to Property Law, LAW331 Civil Procedure and Practice
- Instruction is in English; no prior study of an African language is required. Fall semester, spring semester, or academic year
Ghana
University of Ghana (available through ISEP Ghana)
- Comprehensive university on the outskirts of the capital, Accra, one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa
- Course offerings in business include human resource management, human behavior in organizations, economics, entrepreneurship, and business finance
- The School of Law of the University of Ghana is the premier center for legal education in Ghana and continues to lead the way in preparing students for the legal profession. Law courses are available for undergraduate students
- English is the official language and instruction is in English
- Fall semester, spring semester, or academic year
Senegal
MSID—International Development in Senegal
- Program Type: Field Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring semester
- Program themes are Entrepreneurship, Health, Human Rights, and Sustainability
- Grassroots internships or research options working with local non-governmental organizations for development and social change form the core of this highly experiential program
- Deep cultural immersion
- Internship or research placements are highly individualized according to students’ backgrounds and interests
- Sample areas: education, literacy, public health, youth work, environmental protection, women in development, human rights, and many, many more
- Instruction is in French; students must have 2 years of college-level French
Americas
Ecuador
MSID—International Development in Ecuador
- Program Type: Field Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring semester
- Program themes are Entrepreneurship, Health, Human Rights, and Sustainability
- Grassroots internships or research options working with local non-governmental organizations for development and social change form the core of this highly experiential program
- Deep cultural immersion
- Internship and research placements are highly individualized according to students’ backgrounds and interests
- Sample areas: education, literacy, public health, youth work, environmental protection, women in development, human rights, and many, many more.
- Instruction is in Spanish; students must have 2 years of college-level Spanish
Asia and Oceania
Australia
- Program Type: Field Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Summer
- Although this program could easily have been listed instead in the section on Study Abroad Centers, its greatest attraction for many pre-law students is likely to be the internship component
- A wide range of internship opportunities could include interning in law offices, human rights organizations and environmental advocacy groups
- Instruction by Australian faculty
- Classroom courses in semester programs include Contemporary Australia Government & Politics in the Pacific Rim Context
Japan
Exchanges in Japan
- Program Type: Host-University Study
- Program Term: Spring Semester or Academic Year
- The University’s exchange arrangements provide relatively affordable access to several Japanese Universities.
- Hitotsubashi University (Tokyo), Nagoya University (Nagoya), Ritsumeikan (Kyoto), Sophia University (Tokyo) Hiroshima University (Hiroshima)
- All three universities offer an intensive Japanese language option
- Non-language courses are available in English
- Prior Japanese language study encouraged by not required
New Zealand
Victoria University of Wellington (available through IFSA New Zealand)
- Program Type: Host-University Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Academic or Calendar Year
- This university of over 17,000 students is located in the political capital of New Zealand.
- Location and the country’s small size (4 million) mean students have unparalleled access to politicians and the political process.
- Courses available in such areas as Commercial Law, Criminology, International Relations, Maori Studies, Political Science, Law, Public Policy, and Social Policy, and many others
Thailand
MSID—International Development in Thailand
- Program Type: Field Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring semester
- Program themes are Entrepreneurship, Health, Human Rights, and Sustainability
- Grassroots internships or research options working with local non-governmental organizations for development and social change form the core of this highly experiential program
- Instruction is in English; no prior Thai required
Thammasat University (available through ISEP Thailand)
- Thammasat University offers courses in English in a fascinating location, perfect for students with a sense of adventure and independence
- Undergraduate law courses are available to students at one of Thailand’s oldest and most famous academic institutions. The objective law program is to produce graduates who are well versed in the law in both theory and practice, with a focus on morality and ethics. There is a particular emphasis on business law, international business, trade, and tax law, and international law for international students. Course examples include Introduction to Law and Legal Systems, Law of Obligations, Business Law, Contract Law, Law on Business Organizations
Europe
Denmark
Study Abroad in Denmark and Summer in Denmark & Sweden
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Academic year, Summer
- DIS offers a broad curriculum on Denmark, Scandinavia, and Europe
- Offers a wealth of law-relevant courses on such topics as human rights, criminal justice, international law, the European Union, health care, and environmental studies
- Summer in Denmark & Sweden offers you the opportunity to explore one or both countries and build your summer experience abroad
- Excellent study tours
- Instruction is in English
France
Language & Culture in Southern France
- Program Type: Host-University Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Academic Year
- One of the premier study opportunities in France, the University of Minnesota’s own program in Montpellier attracts students from throughout the US.
- Special language and culture courses for international students plus courses from the regular curriculum of l’Université Paul Valéry
- Rich array of courses available
- For-credit internships available in many settings
- Instruction entirely in French
Germany
IES Germany—Freiburg
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester
- This additional interdisciplinary Freiburg-based program is ideal for students interested in environmental law
- Host city is a hotbed of the German environmental movement
- Modular course calendar permits full immersion in one course at a time
- Sample courses: Ecology and Management of Forest Landscapes in Southwest Germany & the Swiss Alps; Global Environmental Change; Methods in Ecosystem Analysis
- Post-program research assistantships available
- Instruction is in English; no prior German required
Ireland
- Program Type: Field Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester
- This program offers opportunities for in-depth internships with a member of parliament, or in some cases with a public service agency, industry or community organization, or a lobby group
- Based in Dublin, Ireland
- One or more classroom courses complement and support the internship
Italy
- Spend your summer in Siracusa, Sicily, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Study the rich and complicated history of Sicily through topics such as human rights, entrepreneurship and criminal justice perspectives on migration.
- Participate in a research project with a local organization.
- Summer session
Netherlands
IES Netherlands—Amsterdam Pre-Law Program
- Program Type: Host-University Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester
- This special program is based at the University of Amsterdam
- 5-credit IES core course plus two 5-credit pre-law courses through the University of Amsterdam
- Instruction is in English; no prior Dutch is required
Norway
- Program Type: Host-University Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Academic Year
- Located in the country’s capital, the University of Oslo is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive institution of higher education
- A wide range of course offerings available in English; no prior Norwegian required.
- Many courses on law topics courses (www.uio.no/studier/emner/jus/jus/in-english.xml) including some with a focus on human rights (www.uio.no/studier/emner/jus/humanrights/in-english.xml)
- Law courses are graded S/N only so students should take others as well
Spain
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Academic Year, Summer
- Offered for the past two decades by the University of Minnesota, the Toledo program affords an opportunity to study in Spain’s former capital surrounded by some of Europe’s best-preserved medieval and Renaissance architecture
- Strong social science and humanities curriculum includes courses on Latin America as well as Spain
- Internship opportunities include Castilla La Mancha regional parliament
- Community engagement course offered on the immigrant experience in Spain
- Instruction is in Spanish
Sweden
Study Abroad in Sweden and Summer in Denmark & Sweden
- Program Type: Study Abroad Center
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Academic year, Summer
- DIS offers a broad curriculum on Sweden, Scandinavia, and Europe
- Offers a wealth of law-relevant courses on such topics as human rights, criminal justice, international law, the European Union, health care, and environmental studies
- Excellent study tours
- Summer in Denmark & Sweden offers you the opportunity to explore one or both countries and build your summer experience abroad
- Instruction is in English
United Kingdom
University Study in the UK: Queen Mary, University of London
- Program Type: Host-University Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Academic Year
- Large, comprehensive, exceedingly diverse campus is part of University of London system
- Astounding ethnic diversity in the surrounding East End of London
- Program Type: Field Study
- Program Term: Fall or Spring Semester, Summer
- This study abroad center features a wide variety of courses on Britain and Europe. Sample courses from a wide range of offerings: Understanding Britain; Western /European Government & Politics; Criminal London—Aspect of Crime & Criminal Justice in Britain; International Trade; and Ethical Issues in the British Media
- A wide range of internship opportunities could include law offices, local or national government, advocacy organizations, and many others
- Instruction by British faculty
University Study in the UK: University of Glasgow
- Program type: University Study
- Fall or spring semester, academic year
- Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the United Kingdom, and consistently ranks as one of the UK's most highly-rated schools
- The university is host to more than 20,000 students from over 100 countries and offers an exceptional breadth of academic choice across the physical and life sciences, social sciences and the humanities
Additional Options to Consider
- 3-week, 3-credit programs at the 3000-level led by University of Minnesota faculty and staff over winter break or May session.
- Explore an exciting location and topic, Fulfill Liberal Education requirements, or earn major/minor credit.
- Combine on-campus instruction during the spring semester with a study abroad component during spring break, on a 3 credits, 1xxx level Seminar.
- Freshman Seminars Abroad are designed specifically for first-year students as an introduction to study abroad, an opportunity to explore an exciting location and topic, and likely fulfill a liberal education requirement.
- Check out additional LAC Instructor-led Seminars that might run over winter break, spring break, May, and summer sessions. They vary in length, dates, and content so students can find one that best fits their academic and professional goals.
- Begin your language study or work toward completing requirements for a language minor.
- Complete a semester of language on a short-term program or explore options to complete two or more semesters of language on semester-long program.