Study Abroad

Studying abroad instills a combination of theory and practice by enabling students to study a foreign legal system while living in that country at the same time. It broadens students' perspectives by training them to approach other legal systems and legal subjects from a non-U.S. perspective. Minnesota Law is proud to partner with eleven institutions around the world to provide opportunities for J.D. students to spend a semester abroad. 

All second- and third-year law students in good standing can transfer up to 15 credits towards their J.D. from one semester abroad, or a total of 29 credits over the course of a J.D. program. Students may also transfer up to six credits towards their J.D. degree from a summer study abroad experience.

Study Abroad Information Session

An information session is held in mid-November each year for current J.D. students interested in learning more about opportunities to study abroad. Specific details are included in the law council digest emails, which are sent to all students weekly.

Summer Study Abroad

With prior permission, students can pursue summer programs for foreign study offered by other law schools. Many U.S. law schools now sponsor at least one summer program in conjunction with a foreign institution, ranging from 2-6 weeks in length. Most summer programs focus on a substantive area of the law (e.g., environmental, business, human rights), and many attract prominent legal scholars as lecturers. All instruction is in English. Students typically earn 4-6 credits, and all coursework must be approved in advance. The costs of summer programs vary widely, as do the living accommodations. Financial aid can apply. Learn more at nationaljurist.com, studyabroad.com and ilsa.org.

Semester Exchange Programs

Interested students are encouraged to learn more about our semester exchange programs with eleven international universities before attending the information session.

Self-Initiated Study Abroad

Students may develop their own program if they want to study abroad at an institution where neither the Law School has an exchange relationship nor the student is able to apply through another ABA-accredited law school’s program. Students identify the school and the program at which they would like to study, apply directly to and become accepted at that institution, and pay tuition to that school. Because this option is the most administratively difficult to arrange, students are encouraged to start exploring the self-initiated study abroad option at least a year in advance.

Semester Study Abroad Programs Offered by Other Law Schools

Students interested in spending a semester at a foreign institution with which the Law School does not have an exchange relationship, but with which another U.S. law school does, can explore and apply to the program they would like to attend. Students are responsible for obtaining having all the courses they plan to take approved by the Law School prior to the program. Students will pay tuition to the program they plan to attend and not the Law School for that semester.