Spend the summer studying law in Parma, Italy!
Albany Law School's Summer in Italy Program gives students a chance to earn five credits in comparative and international law subjects, taught in English, at the University of Parma. Professors and students will be a mix from Albany Law School and University of Parma.
2023 Dates
- Classes via zoom May 22-26
- May 29-June 21, 2023 in Parma, Italy
Overview
The study abroad program includes both courses and weekly enrichment activities, such as:
- Visit European Food Safety Authority
- Tour local parmigiano cheese making factory
- Sample cheese & wine
- Join panel discussions with Italian scholars
- Visit sites relevant to courses
- Meet Italian students
Application deadline - February 27
Director
Jonathan Rosenbloom, Professor of Law - jrose@albanylaw.edu
International Study Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge and understanding of international and legal policies related to environmental issues, sustainable development and the European Union.
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge and understanding of laws and policies that influence global systems from multiple perspectives, analyzing how complex multinational systems impact themselves and others.
- Explore complex dimensions of diversity, equity, and inclusion around the world, including language, culture, and identity.
- Demonstrate increased confidence in interacting with people from another culture who hold different interests, values, or perspectives.
- Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to be competent and effective lawyers in a multicultural world, including an understanding of Italy’s culture and how that shapes perspectives.
- Explain one’s own cultural values and biases and how cultural can impact perspective.
- Reflect on how a study abroad experience can broaden ways of thinking about other people, places, and things.
- Evaluate and apply diverse perspectives to complex legal and policy issues in the face of multiple stakeholders and conflicting positions (i.e. cultural and ethical).
About Parma
The City of Parma is a vibrant, culturally-rich, centrally-located city in Italy and one of the fastest growing cities over the last decade. It has about 200,000 people (the province of Parma (similar to the county) has about 430,000 people and Emilia-Romagna (similar to a US state) has about 4.5 million people). Its deep history in art, music, and architecture and the University’s large student body make for a dynamic city. While it has a deep history and is often visited by tourists, it remains authentically Italian.
Parma is an easily walkable city and conveniently located. It is an easy train ride to Milan, Bologna, Modena, and Ferrara. Florence (3 hours by train), Venice (3 hours by train), and Rome (5 hours by train) are also easy cities to visit.
Parma has a fantastic mix of professionals, students, and visitors. Its history in art and architecture date back to the Roman times. It has an especially large amount of Renaissance art, music, and architecture. It also has a deep and important history in the Italian, partisan resistance to Fascism and Germany. It was where some of the most important union battles were fought. Parma is also home to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The area is also known for many culinary treats, including parmigiana cheese and prosciutto.
Faculty & Courses (Tentative)
Albany Law School
Jonathan Rosenbloom is a Professor of Law teaching sustainability, land use, and racial justice. Jonathan was previously the Associate Dean at Vermont Law School and the Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor of Law at Drake Law School. He is the author of Building Food Security and Sovereignty: 42 Ways to Regenerate the Local Food System through Development (ELI 2023) and Remarkable Cities and the Fight Against Climate Change (ELI 2020), co-author of two textbooks, and co-editor of two other books. His scholarship has been published in Hastings Law Journal, Harvard Environmental Law Review, Colorado University Law Review, Washington Law Review, and others. He is one of the Top 150 scholars ranked on HeinOnline and his scholarship has been cited in over 150 federal opinions. Jonathan is the founding executive director of the Sustainable Development Code, a model land use code designed to provide local governments with the best sustainability practices in land use. Jonathan received his Bachelors in Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, JD from New York Law School, and LLM from Harvard Law School.
University of Parma
Elena Carpanelli is Senior Assistant Professor in Public International Law at the Department of Law, Political and International Studies of the University of Parma (Italy), where she teaches, inter alia, International Law and Sustainability and Climate Change. She holds a JD in Law (cum laude) from the University of Parma (Italy) (2009), a LL.M. (Adv.) in Air and Space Law (cum laude) from the University of Leiden (The Netherlands) (2011) and a Ph.D. in Public International Law from the University of Milan-Bicocca (Italy) (2016). Before starting her Ph.D., Mrs. Carpanelli worked for two years (2011-2013) in the Milan office of the law firm Pirola, Pennuto, Zei & Associati, where she practiced corporate law. She has undertaken research and worked also abroad, in particular in Austria, Germany, Japan, Switzerland and the United States.
Dr Marco Inglese is a Senior Assistant Professor of EU Law at the Department of Law, Politics and International Studies, University of Parma, where he teaches and researches in the vast domain of EU Law. Marco holds a JD in Law and a Masters' Degree in International and EU Law (University of Bologna), a joint PhD in EU Law (University of Bologna and University of Strasbourg, with a thesis authored and defended both in Italian and French). He has acquired vast experience abroad and in different capacities, namely, in Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland. Marco's main research interests encompass food sustainability, digital platforms, citizens' initiatives and healthcare mobility.
Taught by Elena Carpanelli, Professor of Law at the University of Parma and Jonathan Rosenbloom, Professor of Law at Albany Law School
There is a rapidly growing global movement to move beyond “environmental law” or the “status quo” and, instead, to integrate “resilience” and “sustainability” into decision-making at the international level in both the public and private sectors. In this course, we will explore the law’s role in this movement, and how the law can serve as a mechanism for positive change.
Our objectives in this course are to understand the theory and concept of resilience and sustainability, including their applicability to many disciplines and to explore the law’s role in integrating resilience and sustainability to real world legal situations.
Taught by Jonathan Rosenbloom, Professor of Law at Albany Law School
This course is an introduction to the body of international law developed to grapple with catastrophic anthropogenic climate change.
The course begins with a general overview of current climate science, and the policy, economics, and legal framework of the international law of climate change, including the climate treaties and current negotiations. We will explore the international human rights to a clean environment and stable climate, and the attempts to locate and enforce these rights in international law.
Finally, we will delve into the nexus existing between the international law of climate change and Sustainable Development Goal 13.
Taught by Elena Carpanelli, Professor of Law at the University of Parma and Marco Inglese, Professor of Law at the University of Parma
The European Union has become a formidable trading bloc, and the gross national product of the European Union countries will soon rival that of the United States. As international trade increases, it is imperative that U.S. lawyers understand how the community is organized.
In this general introductory course, students explore the basic institutions and principles of the European Union as well as its procedures. The course looks also at the political reasons behind the creation of the European Union, and the impact of expansion to the former Soviet bloc countries of Eastern Europe. We will also look at the stresses and strains of recent years, and in particular the EU’s reaction to the nationalistic and authoritarian trends in some of the Member States.
Taught by Elena Carpanelli, Professor of Law at the University of Parma and Marco Inglese, Professor of Law at the University of Parma
This course will focus on specific Sustainable Development Goals, in particular goals 2 (“Zero Hunger”), 5 (“Gender Equality”), 8 (“Decent work and economic growth), 11 (“Sustainable cities”), 12 (“Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns”) and 16 (“Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”).
These SDGs will serve as the starting point for different lecturers to delve into specific issues, such as those stemming from the use of novel foods or GMOs or surrounding the concept of “European peace”. The course will have a multi-disciplinary nature, as it will include lectures held by professors of law, economics and political science.
Requirements
The program is limited to 15 students.
To be accepted into the Summer in Italy program, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Anyone who is accepted but later falls below these requirements will be withdrawn from the program, even if the program has already started. Tuition money will be refunded, but the student will continue to be responsible for all housing costs and any other costs that might be incurred by the student.
Qualified students will be admitted on a first come, first served basis with priority going to second-year students. This application is not complete until a $250 deposit has been paid (see below).
Costs
- Deposit amount - $250.00
- Deposit due - within 7 days of acceptance
- Full payment - $7,750 (Tuition, five credits and fees - $4,500; Housing - $3,250)
- Full payment due - May 15
Refund Policy
- Deposit is nonrefundable.
- Housing must be paid whether attending or not attending program.
- Housing cannot be paid through Federal Aid if one does not attend the program.
- With the exception of the non-refundable deposit and housing costs, the refund policy located in the current Student Handbook will be followed.
Student Withdrawals
Once a student is accepted into the Parma Program, deposits are refunded only in cases of bonafide medical withdrawal, or student withdrawal/suspension from Albany Law School, any of which must occur and be documented, including a written request for return of the funds, prior to the Parma Program departure date. In the case of bonafide medical withdrawal, the student must also submit to the Program Director, prior to departure date, a physician's statement of reasons why the student cannot/should not undertake the trip. In all cases, any refund may be reduced to the extent Albany Law School itself is unable to obtain a refund or where a penalty or extra charge is imposed for a cancellation or change.
Should a student withdraw while the Program is in progress, he/she will forfeit the deposit and all non-recoverable fees and will also be responsible for any additional fees that result from the withdrawal (such as additional airfare).
Albany Law School must make an irrevocable commitment on housing each year. For this reason, any student who withdraws from the program after March 8 will remain obligated in full for the housing non-refundable costs incurred by Albany Law School and will not be able to use Federal aid to pay for the non-refundable housing costs.
Program Cancellation
This program may be cancelled in the following circumstances:
- Fewer than 8 students enrolled in the program;
- Issuance of a U.S. State Department Travel Warning or Alert covering Italy and/or surrounding countries;
- Other compelling circumstances, which will be identified by Albany Law School.
In the event of program cancellation, all monies including the $250 deposit and housing will be returned to the student.
State Department Travel Warnings and Alerts
If, prior to the commencement of the program, a U.S. State Department Travel Warning or Alert covering the program dates and the country of Italy is issued, all registrants will be notified promptly and given an opportunity to withdraw from the program. If the registrant withdraws under this section prior to commencement of the program the registrant will receive a full refund of all monies, including housing, advanced within twenty (20) days after the withdrawal.
If, during the course of the program, a U.S. State Department Travel Warning or Alert covering the program dates and the country of Italy is issued, students will be notified promptly and given an opportunity to withdraw from the program. If the student withdraws under this section during the program the registrant will receive a refund of fees paid except for room and board payments utilized prior to the date of termination or withdrawal.
Financial Aid
Federal financial aid is available for this program. Please complete the 23-24 FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. In addition, you must complete the Summer Aid Request Form and return it to Financial Aid. This form will be sent via e-mail to all students in late February.
- Cost of Attendance for aid recipients:
- Tuition and Housing $7,750
- Transportation $1,300
- Food $1,250
- Personal $1,000
- Total $11,300
Please contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions at 518-445-2388 or awedl@albanylaw.edu.