Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York, founded in 1901, and Loyola Law School of Loyola-Marymount University, Los Angeles, founded in 1920, are fully accredited by the American Bar Association and both schools are members of the Association of American Law Schools. The Summer Law Program in Bologna is approved by the American Bar Association.

The 2013 program will be held at the Faculty of Law of the University of Bologna (Università degli Studi di Bologna). The Faculty of Law (Facoltà di Giurisprudenza) is housed in a beautiful Renaissance building with modernized classroom facilities. The University is the oldest university in the western world. The study of law in Bologna began in the eleventh century with the revival of the systematic study of Roman Law; today the Faculty of Law is one of Europe's most respected law schools.

The University and Faculty of Law are located in the heart of the old city of Bologna, within walking distance of the major cultural and artistic attractions of the city. The University of Bologna has a multi-million volume library, as well as the usual facilities of a major institution of higher learning. 

Classrooms and Administrative Office
Classes are held in air conditioned classrooms at the University of Bologna. They are equipped with audio visuals and internet.  The Faculty Library, which includes reading rooms and study areas, will be open to students from Monday through Saturday. Students will also have access to the university's computer laboratory. An administrative office is provided in the center of town near the hotels and the classroom.

Students with Disabilities
Brooklyn and Loyola Law Schools comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. The Acts prohibit discrimination on the basis of a disability. Students who are requesting disability accommodations must provide supporting documentation.

Brooklyn Law School students should contact briana.bunn@brooklaw.edu.

Loyola Law School students should contact Debbie Esparza at 213-736-1151 or debbie.esparza@lls.edu.

Accessibility
Given the difference between Italian law and U.S. law, the facilities may not be fully accessible. Students should notify us of their needs and we will try to accommodate them.

If you attend a different law school, ask your law school to provide a letter describing the nature of the accommodation it has provided. The letter should be submitted to briana.bunn@brooklaw.edu.

The city of Bologna, with a population of approximately 500,000, is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy, approximately midway between Florence and Venice. Bologna is one of Italy's most attractive and interesting cities. The old city includes the magnificent Piazza Maggiore, the cathedral, beautiful churches and palaces, museums, and a wonderful marketplace, combined with the cafes, restaurants, nightclubs and discos frequented by thousands of university students. The program is scheduled while the university is in session.

The Asinelli & Garisenda towers

Bologna offers easy access to the surrounding region of Emilia-Romagna and all of Northern and Central Italy. The city is the major rail center of North-Central Italy. Florence (1 hour), Milan (1-1/2 hours), Rome (3 hours) and Venice (1-1/2 hours) are easily accessible by trains that run virtually around the clock. In addition, the beach resorts at Rimini and Ravenna are 1-1/2 hours by train.

Program participants can travel in the afternoon if the class schedule permits and easily arrange trips to almost any destination in Italy during the weekends. Other European cities outside of Italy are accessible by train.

Sunday, May 26 to Saturday, June 8, 2013 (1-2 credits)
Students may take one one-credit course, or both one-credit courses for two credits: International Commercial Arbitration and World Legal Systems.

Sunday, May 26 to Saturday, June 15, 2013 (2-4 credits) 
Students may take either two, three or four credits in the three-week session. They may enroll in International Litigation for two credits, and earn up to two more credits by enrolling in one or both one-credit courses: International Commercial Arbitration and World Legal Systems.

Eligibility and Acceptance
Students who are in good standing and who have completed one year of full-time or part-time law study at a U.S. law school are eligible to apply for admission to the program for academic credit. Law students at universities outside of the United States who have completed a year of study and practicing attorneys are also eligible to apply to attend the program. Students from non-U.S. law schools and practicing attorneys will receive a certificate for completed course work but they will not normally receive academic credit from the program. CLE credit may be available.

We are looking for a diverse group of interesting students who will bring various talents and backgrounds to the summer program and who will particularly benefit from what it has to offer. Brooklyn and Loyola adhere to and support all legal requirements for non-discrimination and equal opportunity in all of their programs.

You are advised to apply as early as possible and in any event no later than February 22, 2013 in order to secure a spot in the program with your preferred courses and hotel accommodations. We will consider applications received after February 22, 2013 so long as space remains in the program.

We accept a maximum of 58 students for the program. Last year there were 59 applications and 49 students attended the program (8 from schools other than Brooklyn and Loyola).

Good Standing Letters
Students from Brooklyn and Loyola, by signing and submitting their applications, authorize their Registrars to verify to us their good standing.

Students from other schools must submit letters of good standing. You are required to check with your school to determine your eligibility to attend the program. Letters of good standing are due by February 22, 2013.

See the Important Dates and Application Checklist for important dates and information about the Application process.

In order to receive academic credit for a course, students must attend class consistently and complete the final exam for the course. The American Bar Association has strict rules governing class attendance and exam completion in summer study programs. Because of the small number of class meetings, students seeking academic credit for a course may not miss more than one class meeting. Attendance will therefore be taken at the beginning of each class. Each course has an on-site exam after the last meeting for the course. Students seeking academic credit should therefore arrange their travel schedules to ensure they are present in Bologna for the duration of the courses in which they are enrolled and to take the on-site exams at the designated times. The summer program begins with an introduction and welcome dinner on Sunday, May 26, 2013 and all classes start on Monday, May 27, 2013. The exams for World Legal Systems and International Commercial Arbitration are on Friday, June 7, 2013. The exam for International Litigation is on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

For students enrolled at Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn Law School’s grading system governs the Bologna program. For each course taken, credit will be awarded only if a grade of D or better – as defined by Brooklyn Law School -- is received in the course. The units will be awarded on a "pass" basis. Although the course must be taken for a grade and not on a pass/fail or credit/no credit basis, actual letter grades received in the course(s) will not appear on Brooklyn transcripts and will not be used in computing a student’s weighted cumulative grade point average. Enrolling in this summer abroad program does not preclude Brooklyn Law School students from exercising their pass/fail option during the regular academic year.

For students enrolled at Loyola Law School Los Angeles, Brooklyn Law School’s grading system governs the Bologna program, unless otherwise indicated. For each course taken, credit will be awarded only if a grade of C- or better – as defined by Brooklyn Law School -- is received in the course. The units will be awarded on a "pass" basis. The course must be taken for a grade and not on a pass/fail or credit/no credit basis. The actual grade received in the course(s) will not appear on the Loyola transcript and will not be used in computing the student’s weighted cumulative grade point average.

Brooklyn and Loyola students may obtain an official transcript showing their grade for each course from their respective law school registrars.

For students enrolled in a law school other than Brooklyn Law School or Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, we will send to the registrar of your own law school an official transcript showing the letter grade you received for each course. In order for us to send this transcript, you must check the appropriate box on the Application Form giving us permission to release your grades to your registrar. We do not send official transcripts directly to students. You should consult with your own law school registrar in advance of the program about the availability of and requirements for receiving transfer credit. Your own registrar will be able to tell you whether transfer credit is available through the program on a Pass/Fail or letter-graded basis.

Following the completion of the program, all students, regardless of where they attend law school, will receive directly from Brooklyn Law School an unofficial transcript showing the letter grade they received for each course. 

CLE Credit (Continuing Legal Education)
If you are interested in CLE credit, contact Lorraine McDonald at (718) 780-7533 or lorraine.mcdonald@brooklaw.edu.

Tuition & Fees
Tuition for the program is $800 per credit, plus a $100 activity fee to cover tours and social events. Your $400 tuition deposit, which must accompany the application, will be credited against the tuition.

In early March, accepted students will receive a bill for remaining payments for tuition and activity fees. Full payment will be due on March 22, 2013.

Review the Important Dates and Application Checklist for information on tuition due dates, withdrawals and refunds.

Financial Aid
Payment of tuition in FULL is required by Friday, March 22, 2013. Even if you are applying for financial aid at your school, you must include a $400 tuition deposit with your application.

Students who wish to apply for financial aid must first apply to the study-abroad program and should submit financial aid applications as early as possible. Summer is considered a separate term for financial aid awarding purposes. Financial aid for the summer term is not automatically awarded based on prior eligibility or acceptance to the program. 

Loyola Law School students who wish to borrow loans must complete a Summer Study Abroad application. Watch for announcements from the Office of Financial Aid concerning the summer study abroad aid and application deadlines. Loyola students should contact Maura Boden at (213) 736-1023 or studyabroad@lls.edu for more information.

Brooklyn Law School students should contact Janet Solomon in the Office of Financial Aid at (718) 789-7915 or janet.solomon@brooklaw.edu . More information on summer loans for study abroad is available on our Applying for Aid page at https://blsconnect.brooklaw.edu/finances/Pages/applying-for-aid.aspx

Students who are not enrolled at Brooklyn Law School or Loyola Law School should comply with the section on consortium agreements below.

Financial Aid in the form of Federal Graduate Plus Loans (GPLUS) may be available for students enrolled in a total of 6 credits or more for summer programs. Thus, students who are enrolled in summer courses or internships for credit in addition to the study abroad program may be eligible for GPLUS Loans. Private Alternative Educational loans may be available for students enrolled in 3-5 credits. Students may borrow loan funds up to the cost of attendance (COA). The COA is determined by the Office of Financial Aid and includes tuition and fees, as well as an allowance for room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. Under no circumstance can financial aid exceed the cost of attendance.

Federal regulations do not allow federal loan funds to be disbursed earlier than 10 days prior to the start of the program. Students borrowing Private Alternative Educational Loans should check with their lender as to the earliest disbursement date for their loans. Tuition costs may be deferred pending receipt of summer aid. However, students must be prepared to pay for some expenses (such as airfare) out-of-pocket before their loan funds are disbursed.

Consortium Agreements
Students who are not from Brooklyn Law School or Loyola Law School must obtain financial aid for program costs through their home institutions. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid at their home institution to begin the consortium agreement process. There are several requirements that must be met before financial aid can be awarded and disbursed via a consortium agreement. Students should begin this process immediately after applying to the program.

Consortium agreement forms must be mailed, faxed, or emailed to: 

Brooklyn Law School
250 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn NY  11201
Attn: Florence Attino
Email: Florence.attino@brooklaw.edu
Facsimile: (718) 228-6796

Additional Costs

Meals
Students are responsible for their meals (the hotels include breakfast). Bologna has many self-service restaurants, fast-food restaurants, bars, cafes, and pizzerias where students can eat for about $15 to $20 per meal. Program participants may also eat in the University's cafeteria.

Miscellaneous
You should plan to bring a reasonable amount of money in traveler's checks or a bank debit card (ATM card) that can be used in Italy to cover personal expenses such as meals, souvenirs, local transportation, etc., as well as to provide a safety cushion for the unexpected.

Travel
Students will arrange and pay for their own round trip travel between the U.S. and Bologna, Italy. Several airlines fly from various U.S. cities to Bologna, with connections in London, Paris, Frankfurt and other cities. Students may also fly to Milan with rail connections to Bologna. You can check the travel sections of local newspapers or travel websites for discount airfares.

STA Travel is a travel agency that specializes in student travel. They may offer a lower fare for the summer. 

Changes, Cancellation and Refunds

Program Changes
Brooklyn Law School and Loyola Law School reserve the right to make changes to the program. Should any significant changes to the program occur; students will be advised of the changes and given the option to withdraw with a full refund.

Cancellation or Termination

Brooklyn Law School and Loyola Law Schools reserve the right to cancel or modify the program should circumstances, such as the need to protect the health of students and staff, or to ensure the integrity of the program, or insufficient registrations warrant it.  In the event that the program is canceled or terminated, students will be notified by email and, upon request, the program director will endeavor to assist students in finding a similar program.

In the event that the program is canceled or terminated, the following refund policy will apply:

• If the program is canceled prior to the commencement of the program, students will be notified immediately and issued a full refund.  The program director will assist the students in identifying another suitable program, if the students so desire.
  
• If the program is terminated during the course of the program, students will be notified immediately, given the opportunity to withdraw from the program, and refunded all tuition/fee charges except room and board charges utilized prior to withdrawal.

Under no circumstances are Brooklyn Law School and Loyola Law School responsible for financial losses caused by travel arrangements due to the cancellation or termination of the program.

Travel Warnings and Alerts
In the unlikely event that the U.S. State Department issues a Travel Warning or Alert covering the destination and dates of the program, the following refund policy will apply:

• If the warning or alert is issued prior to the commencement of the program, students will be notified immediately and given the opportunity to withdraw from the program with a full refund.
  
• If the warning or alert is issued during the course of the program, students will be notified immediately, given the opportunity to withdraw from the program, and refunded all tuition/fee charges except room and board charges utilized prior to the withdrawal.

For informational purposes, we provide a tentative schedule. Actual class meeting times may vary.

Recreation Facilities
There are a variety of sports facilities in Bologna including swimming pools, tennis courts, and gyms. There is a park close to the host hotels for running, basketball, and other activities.

Visits to Legal Institutions
Students will have the opportunity to visit local legal institutions. In past years, we have arranged visits to the local court and to a law firm as well as a roundtable discussion on the Italian legal system with local judges, lawyers, and professors.

Streets of Bologna

Social Events
A number of social events are held during each session of the program, including a welcome dinner on Sunday, May 26, 2013. There will be organized tours of the city and the university. In past years, we have arranged for a trip to a vineyard, with a visit to the wine cask storage room, and a lesson on wine production techniques.

During the summer months, the Municipality of Bologna organizes a Cultural Festival which offers a wide range of events each evening, such as open theater, cinema, concerts, and poetry readings. As a university town, Bologna offers a wide variety of other entertainment options, from opera to night clubs.

Health Insurance Requirements
The Summer Program at the University of Bologna does not include health insurance, and Brooklyn Law School and Loyola Law School assume no responsibility for students’ medical treatment or expenses during the program. Medical care is available in Bologna; however, students will be required to pay for medical services at the time they are rendered.

In order to participate in the summer program in Bologna, students must have health insurance coverage and must send us proof of that coverage. A copy of your HMO card will not suffice. Proof of your coverage must be in the form of a letter from your health insurance company indicating that you have insurance that will be effective while you are in Italy, or proof that you have purchased health insurance for that time period.

If you need to purchase insurance, one option is purchasing low-cost traveler’s insurance through the STA Travel website at www.statravel.com, or calling 1-800-791-4040.

To obtain proof of coverage, Brooklyn Law School students who are enrolled in the BLS student insurance program should contact Gallagher Koster Customer Service at 800-394-5783 or www.gallagherkoster.com/BrooklynLaw.

If you have questions about travel vaccinations, please contact your health care provider. Travelers’ health information is available at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website.

General Travel Information
Students will arrange and pay for their own round trip travel between the U.S. and Bologna, Italy. Several airlines fly from various U.S. cities to Bologna, with connections in London, Paris, Frankfurt and other cities. Students may also fly to Milan with rail connections to Bologna. You can check the travel sections of local newspapers or travel websites for discount airfares.

Travel Advisory Information
Travel advisory information is available online at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1146.html, http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/. Information will be mailed to students with acceptance materials.

Visas
All students who are not U.S. citizens are responsible for inquiring about and applying for their own visas. It is important that you check with the Italian embassy or consulate for visa requirements. The website for the Italian Consulate in New York is: http://www.consnewyork.esteri.it/Consolato_NewYork/

Important Dates 

• Application deadline is Friday, February 22, 2013. We will consider applications after February 22, 2013 so long as space remains in the program.
• Full tuition payment is due on Friday, March 22, 2013.
• If you withdraw before midnight March 22, 2013: the $400.00 housing deposit & $400.00 tuition deposit will be refunded.
• After midnight on March 22, 2013, all deposits are non-refundable.
• If you withdraw between March 23, 2013 and midnight April 12, 2013: tuition payment (minus the $400 tuition deposit) will be refunded.
• Withdrawal after midnight April 12, 2013: no refund will be made.

In Bologna, Italy

• Program begins for all students with dinner and introduction on Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 8 p.m.
• Classes begin for all students with an introductory lecture on Monday, May 27, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
• Final exam for World Legal Systems is on Friday, June 7, 2013 at 9-10 a.m.
• Final exam for International Commercial Arbitration is on Friday, June 7, 2013 at 4-5 p.m.
• Program ends for students enrolled in the two-week session on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at noon.
• Final exam for International Litigation is on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 9-11 a.m.
• Program ends for students enrolled in the three-week session on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at noon.

Read more about about tuition due dates, withdrawals and refunds.

Please fill out the attached applications and forms.

• Apply here to the 2013 Summer Program in Bologna, Italy.

After you have applied to the summer program in Bologna, please send us the documents below. 

• Letter of good standing. A student applying to the program who does not attend Brooklyn Law School or Loyola Law School must arrange for the Dean or Registrar of the student's own school to submit as part of the application a letter verifying that the student is in good standing. Please have your letter of good standing sent to Lorraine McDonald by February 22, 2013.  
• Insurance Letter (not a copy of your HMO card). 
• Passport (photocopy). We will wait if your passport is being processed.
• Deposits. Please make out a check or money order for $800 for the required deposits ($400 for tuition and $400 for housing - if you are using our housing) payable to Brooklyn Law School. Please send your deposits by February 22, 2013.
• Mail the above documents and deposits to:
  

  Lorraine McDonald
  Brooklyn Law School
  250 Joralemon Street
  Brooklyn, NY 11201
  
  If you are a BLS student you may bring your documents and deposits to Lorraine McDonald outside of room 931.
  
  If you have any questions, please send an email to lorraine.mcdonald@brooklaw.edu.