Inter-American Summer Program in Guatemala
May 21, 2011 – June 11, 2011
The University of Denver Sturm College of Law is proud to offer its first summer study-abroad program through the Lawyering in Spanish Program. In partnership with the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and Seattle University School of Law, DU Law will offer the innovative 2011 Inter-American Summer Program in Guatemala.
Study-abroad programs offered by U.S. law schools, including those in Latin America, commonly teach courses in English that could have been offered in the United States. In contrast, the Inter-American Summer program in Guatemala will provide students with the equivalent of at least two years of Spanish the opportunity to take law classes in a bilingual and inter-cultural environment. The program will offer substantive law classes about Latin America taught in Spanish as well as bilingual externship placements. It will also allow students the opportunity to study with Latin American students and to take courses taught by Guatemalan law professors. Program participants will gain professional legal and inter-cultural competence to practice law in Latin America or to work with Latino issues and clients in the United States.
Courses
Students not confident in their ability to take courses taught in Spanish but who have had at least two years of Spanish during their college years (or the equivalent) may enroll in “Comparative Free Speech and Access to Information in the Americas,” a course that will be taught in English, and in “Legal Spanish for Lawyers.” Students with intermediate or high proficiency in Spanish may enroll in “Commercial Law for Foreign Investors in Guatemala,” and in “International Environmental Law in Latin America,” each of which will be taught in Spanish. Each course is a 2-credit course.
The classroom portion of the Guatemala summer program will take place over three weeks, from May 21, 2011 through June 11, 2011. Students must enroll in two courses, and will earn four semester units of credit.
Externships
Students with high proficiency in Spanish may enroll in optional externships following the classroom program and earn four additional semester units of credit over an 8-week period.
Students placed in an externship are required to enroll in the two substantive law courses taught in Spanish over the first three weeks of the program plus a preparatory course taught in Spanish during the beginning of the externship. Externship students will earn eight semester units of credit by the completion of the program.
The agencies and organizations in which externships will be offered work in the fields of environmental justice, commerce and trade, human rights, economic development, immigration and labor relations. Among the organizations with which externship placements will be available are:
- Center for Environmental and Social Legal Action (CALAS)
- Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT)
- Rigoberta Menchu Foundation
- National Roundtable of Immigrant Groups of Guatemala (MENAMIG)
Latin American Partners
The Inter-American Summer Program in Guatemala has also partnered with Rafael Landívar University, a leading Jesuit-run institution in Guatemala that is known for its social justice mission and its offerings of law courses in the field of human rights. Students from Rafael Landívar University and other Latin American universities may attend classes in this program alongside the U.S. law students, providing a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the legal systems of Latin America.
Antigua, Guatemala
La Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as just Antigua or La Antigua) is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. La Antigua Guatemala means “Old Guatemala” and is a growing tourist destination in Guatemala.
Applications
Students interested in participating in the Inter-American Summer Program in Guatemala should apply as soon as possible, and no later than March 1, 2011. Online applications and more information regarding the program are available at http://www.mcgeorge.edu/Academic_Programs/International_Study/Summer_Program_in_Guatemala.htm.
Program Brochure
You may download a copy of the program brochure here.