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Centers & Programs

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, Spain

July 2 – July 31, 2012

Universidad de Barcelona

Barcelona is located on the Mediterranean Sea, at the foot of the Pyrenées Mountains, and a short distance from the Spanish Balearic Islands (Mallorca and Ibiza). One of the most visited cities in Europe, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and world renowned for its art, architecture and beautiful beaches. It is the capital of Catalunya which is Spain’s most politically progressive autonomous community. The academic program focuses on sexual orientation law.

At a Glance:

Program Dates: July 2 – July 31, 2012
Program Director: Associate Dean Calvin Peeler: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); and
Professor Seval Yildirim: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Host University: Universidad de Barcelona
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Tuition: $4,500 [includes legal and some cultural tours] (max 6 units)
Externship Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities may be available to early applicatns.

Program Details

Universidad de Barcelona

Whittier Law School, in collaboration with the Williams Institute of UCLA Law School, sponsors the only summer law program devoted to sexual orientation law and policy issues. The program will take place at the Universitat de Barcelona, which is located near the heart of Barcelona. The facility is modern and each classroom is equipped with comfortable seats and desks, good lighting, ventilation and blackboards. Students will have full access to the library, computer rooms and all campus facilities, including a reasonably priced campus restaurant. The campus is equipped with elevators and ramps and is accessible to individuals with mobility issues.

Curriculum

The Sexual Orientation Law program has a direct relationship to Whittier Law School’s Centers for International and Comparative Law and its Center for Children’s Rights. The curriculum will focus on international and comparative law as well as family law issues as they pertain to same-sex couples and non-traditional families. The faculty will include national and international scholars, practitioners, and policy makers.

The University of Barcelona faculty are well known for their scholarly interests in the area of Sexual Orientation Law. Spain is among very few nation states that give legal recognition to same-sex marriage. Barcelona has a very active and visible LGBT community including legal scholars, practitioners and policy makers.

*2012 Courses *

International and Comparative Sexual Orientation Law.

View class schedule

Transgender Law (Seminar) – 2 units
Professor Shannon Minter

This course will explore the legal issues facing transgender people and the goals of the transgender legal movement. Although we will focus primarily on the U.S., we will occasionally consider the legal treatment of transgender people in other parts of the world. The course will cover marriage, parenting, and other family law issues; the treatment of transgender children and youth in schools, the child welfare, and juvenile justice systems; the treatment of transgender people in prisons; hate violence against transgender people; and employment, public accommodations, and housing discrimination against transgender individuals. We will consider these issues through two broad thematic frameworks: (1) the ways that transgender identity is deeply linked to race, ethnicity, geography, and economic status; and (2) the tension between seeking to abolish gender as a meaningful legal and social category versus seeking to win legal and social acceptance for transgender people on the other.

Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Relationships Around the World (Seminar) – 2 units
Professors Brad Sears & Evan Wolfson

This course will explore the legal treatment of lesbian and gay relationships, comparing the legal status of lesbian and gay couples in the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and other European nations with the treatment of such couples in the United States. The course will explore recent developments in the United States, including the Massachusetts marriage decision, Vermont’s Civil Union law, Hawaii’s Reciprocal Benefits approach and the efforts to enact a “Defense of Marriage” constitutional amendment.

Comparative Legal Systems: Law & Sexuality (Seminar) – 2 units
Professor Seval Yildirim

This course is a survey of how different legal systems, secular and religious, construct and regulate various aspects of consensual adult human sexuality. Among the topics we will discuss are minority sexualities, marriage as a socio-legal institution (including debates on same-sex marriage in the United States), and sex work. We will explore how some of these issues are addressed in various legal systems in countries such as India, Turkey, Brazil, Thailand and Israel. Aside from a collection of readings, we will watch documentaries about different contexts.

Community Property (Lecture) – 2 units
Professor Calvin D. Peeler

This course focuses on modern California community property law, a marital property regime inherited from Spain, via Mexico. Topics covered include non-marital relations, putative spouses, prenumptial agreements, basic presumptions governing separate and community property designations, division of property at dissolution and death among other issues covered on the California bar exam. Some comparative law discussion, particularly regarding Spanish community property law.

Spanish Law & the LGBT Community (Lecture) – 2 units
Dr. Monica Navarro

This course starts with a presentation of the Spanish legal system, and explores the efforts to eradicate discrimination and violence against the LGBT community. The course will then focus on different Family Law issues and whether special provisions are made on the basis of gender and sexual orientation and other rules specifically addressed at the LGBT community. Spain allows marriage, adoption and assisted reproduction, free from any gender and sexual orientation discrimination, and yet there are instances where biases do exist. The course will discuss strategies to protect the LGBT community, and how those strategies have been and are being utilized.

Sexuality, Gender & Displacement (Lecture) – 2 units
Professor Stewart Chang

This course looks at the social, political, and legal aspects of how sexuality and gender play a central role in the displacement and forced migration of people globally, as well as international legal instruments aimed at providing relief. Specific topics of study include gender persecution, gender-related violence, sexual-orientation persecution, and international trafficking of women and children.

Same-Sex Couples: Partnering and Parenting (Seminar) – 1 units
Professors Jennifer Pizer & Kees Waaldijk

Same-sex couples and their families face challenges and new opportunities as both national and international law evolve. This course considers the fast-changing legal landscape through two distinct lenses.

The first part addresses legal issues facing LGBT parents, focusing on the prevailing approaches in the United States and contrasting the approaches of Northern European nations. This portion of the course examines both litigation and public policy strategies developed to protect LGBT parents’ relationships with their children following heterosexual divorce, with emphasis on the needs of both parents and children. It similarly considers the increasing opportunities of LGBT adults to have and raise children within a same-sex-couple-headed household, problems of dispute management, emerging inter-jurisdictional issues, and the particular challenges confronting transgender parents.

The second part of the course examines the legal status of same-sex partners in international law, which increasingly is acknowledging their existence and needs. There now is a body of case law, even some treaty law, and various declarations and recommendations, produced mostly in the contexts of the United Nations and regional organizations such as the Council of Europe. Following the recognition in international human rights law that (most) same-sex sexual activity should be respected as an important aspect of private life, both the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committee have recognized that discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation should not (always) be tolerated. Same-sex partnership now is recognized in international law to a limited degree, but by a wide range of international actors. Parenting by lesbians and gays is also gaining a little recognition in international human rights law, although so far mostly when there is only one gay or lesbian parent.

Leading cases and texts in this field will be presented in this course. There will be plenty of scope to discuss the technical and political aspects of this dynamic field.

In both halves of this seminar course, students will be asked to write and present a short paper. Class participation (including taking turns presenting the assigned cases) also will be considered in the overall course grade.

AIDS Crisis & International Law (Seminar) – 1 unit Professor John Heilman

More than 30 million people are infected with HIV in the world, most of them in areas without access to adequate medical care or treatment. This course will explore some of the legal issues posed by the AIDS pandemic, including the legal challenges made by the pharmaceutical industry against those who supply essential medications. This course will also explore trade treaties which restrict countries from using generic drugs to combat AIDS. The course will also examine whether international law provides any rights or remedies to individuals living with HIV or AIDS.

Housing

Whittier Law School has secured housing accommodations for all program participants in Barcelona. Program housing is required in order for you to participate in the academic program. The program housing is also a location for occasional gatherings and posting of notices and program information.

The program residence is called Campus del Mar and located at Passeig Salvat Papaseit, #4, Barcelona SPAIN, in the area of Barcelona called La Barceloneta. Campus del Mar is three blocks from the Mediterranean Sea and local beaches. The neighborhood provides many restaurants, cafés and stores for shopping. It is centrally located to allow you to enjoy the city life of Barcelona.

The Campus del Mar Residence provides single/studio style accommodations with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. The rooms are cleaned once per week, including a change of linen and towels. Each room has a telephone, and calls are free to others within the facility. If you wish to be able to make calls outside of the facility, you can simply deposit money at the Reception. You will be notified when your account is depleted. There is no charge for you to receive calls.

The Residence has a laundry room with a limited number of coin-operated washers and dryers. There are several shared amenities including two television rooms, a gym and separate game rooms with a pool table and ping pong table. Each floor is accessible by elevator, and on each floor is a quiet shared study room. The rooms are not air conditioned. Students may wish to purchase portable space fans in the event that the facility is unable to provide one.

Campus del Mar is ideally located for extracurricular activities, and hopefully you will enjoy your stay. The Residence is, however, approximately 40 – 50 minutes from the university law facility by metro. From the nearest metro stop, you will need to change trains once. The metro exit is very near the law facility and called Palau Reial. Students can purchase a monthly, unlimited pass for the metro and all public transportation.

Access to Computers & Internet Service

Students will have access to the computer lab at the University of Barcelona law facility. It is strongly recommended for students to bring their own notebook/laptop computer, particularly for those courses that require papers or written assignments. Wireless service will be available to students and faculty while on campus. The residence also has wireless service that is accessible in the common areas. The management also provides a limited number of computers and printers for use free of charge. You must supply your own paper for printing.

Grading

Students are required to attend all classes and participate actively in all classes. All students receive a course grade based on class participation and a required paper or exam administered at the end of each course. Seminar classes have limited enrollment and require regular class participation. For seminars, students may be required to make group or individual presentations, and typically the most significant component of the final grade is determined by a research paper of approximately 10-15 pages per unit of credit to be determined by the professor.

All Whittier Summer Abroad Courses are graded by using the same grading system used for the on-campus program. We do not offer courses on a Pass/No Pass basis except for units earned for Externships, Independent Study projects, and clinical or extern units. Professors report numerical grades based on a 4.0 point system as follows:

  • 3.6 – 4.0 (A)
  • 3.0 – 3.4 (B)
  • 2.5 – 2.9(C )
  • 2.3 – 2.4(C-)
  • 1.8 – 2.2 (D)
  • 1.7 (F)

Reporting of Grades

Whittier Law School will report all grades once they are reported and finalized by the professors. Professors submit grades no later than six weeks after the end of the program. Non-Whittier students must inquire with their home school for policies regarding accepting courses and transferring credit for courses taken at Whittier law school’s summer programs. Whether credit will be accepted and how grades will be reported at the home school is entirely at the discretion of each student’s home school.

Grading Normalization

For more information regarding Whittier Law School’s grading normalization policies, please see Whittier Law School’s Policies and Procedures.

Visiting Students

The acceptance of any credit or grade for courses completed in a Whittier Summer Program by any law school other than Whittier Law School is subject to determination by the home school.

Admissions

The program is open to law students who have completed their first year of full or part time study by the time the program begins. Law graduates may be admitted as auditors. All students, except Whittier students, must submit a letter of good standing from the Dean or Registrar of their school.

The application deadline is March 1, 2012. Early applications are encouraged as program enrollment may be limited. Applications received after the March 1 deadline will be considered only if space is available.

You may request an application from the Law School or print the form from this site. For your convenience, you may submit your application(s) and the required fee(s) by mail, email, fax, or in person to:

Office of International Relations
Whittier Law School
3333 Harbor Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Fax: (714) 444-0855
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Attn: Jennifer Maniscalco

A complete application consists of a completed application form, and a non-refundable application fee of $100, payable by Visa, MasterCard or personal check. (Checks should be made payable to Whittier Law School. The application fee must accompany the application at the time of submission.)

Participant File

  • A complete file consists of all of the following:
  1. Completed application form
  2. A letter of good standing from the Registrar of your law school (not required of Whittier Law School students). Students on Academic Probation are discouraged from applying, but will be considered on a case by case basis
  3. Copy of your passport [should be valid for the duration of your study abroad]
  4. Signed Acceptance Letter
  5. Signed Participation Agreement
  6. Signed Tuition Agreement

Residency Requirements

It is unlikely that participation in foreign summer programs may be used to accelerate graduation. Whittier Law students interested in acceleration should consult with the Student Affairs office to review this issue in light of Standard 305, Interpretation 4. Non-Whittier students should consult with their home school.

Course Registration

You will be required to select your courses no later than the March 1 application deadline. For some programs, there are several course choices. In order for the Program Director to know whether all courses will be adequately subscribed, we require early registration. For your convenience, we have included on each program website course descriptions and a course plan or syllabus for each course to enable you to make your selections. This information is critical for planning the operation of our programs so that we are certain to offer courses that interest you. In the event that a course for which you have enrolled is undersubscribed, we will notify you promptly so that you can consider alternative choices. Courses with insufficient enrollment will be cancelled.

Add/Drop Period: March 2 – 9, 2012

We must make early commitments of financial resources to operate our summer programs, including faculty assignments. Therefore, we will offer a very limited opportunity to add or drop a class after the registration deadline. Please consider carefully your course selections. You may change your registration until March 9 without consequence. Any request to add or drop a class(es) after March 9 will require an additional administrative fee of $25 per course.

Deadlines & Payment Schedule

Application Deadline: March 1, 2012. Applications received after this date will be considered only if space is available.

First Tuition Deposit Deadline: March 15, 2012. $200 Deposit Due

Final Tuition Balance & Housing Payment Deadline: April 16, 2012. (If you are applying for financial aid, please advise us.)

Last day to withdraw with no tuition obligation: April 16, 2012.

Requests to withdraw must be made in writing, and submitted or postmarked on or before April 16, 2012. Notices of withdrawal received after April 16 will not be considered for tuition/fee relief. Any program participant who withdraws after April 16 will be responsible for the full price of tuition and/or other non-refundable fees.

Failure to Comply With Deadlines

PLEASE NOTE: Failure to comply with a deadline will not automatically withdraw you from a program(s) to which you have applied and been admitted. Your failure to meet a defined deadline may subject you to an additional administrative fee. To request exemption from a deadline and avoid a fee, please contact the Office of International Relations.

Financial Aid

Projected Expenses based on figures from 2011 (may vary depending upon when you purchase your ticket, the carrier, and other variables.)

Personal Expenses $ 1,509
Housing $ 1,494
Transportation $ 1,700
Tuition & Fees $ 4,600
Total $ 9,303

Please see Study Abroad – Financial Aid

Withdrawal Policy

Admitted students are automatically enrolled in the program(s) and counted for purposes of program plans upon submitting the signed acceptance letter. Should a student decide to withdraw from a program(s), s/he must submit in writing a “Letter of Declaration” setting forth an intention to withdraw no later than the close of business on April 16, 2012. For timely requests for withdrawal, all appropriate tuition and/or fees will be refunded within 10 business days of receipt of a letter of withdrawal. Failure to withdraw by April 16 will subject a student to tuition obligations as well as other fees the Law School has advanced on his or her behalf.

Please be advised that the Program Directors make early commitments to secure housing, purchase materials and pay for other program expenses based upon the number of participants determined shortly after the application deadline. Additionally, the Law School makes non-refundable financial commitments to faculty, program activities, and foreign hosts based upon the anticipated student tuition revenue at the time of registration. Therefore, it will not be possible for Whittier Law School to accept requests for refunds and/or relief of commitment to pay tuition or housing fees after the April 16, 2012 deadline to withdraw. A student who withdraws from a program after that date will be liable for all fees and tuition.

Please be advised that once you withdraw from a summer program, there will be a $50 fee to re-activate your application and reserve your space in the program in the event that you subsequently change your mind. We understand that a few of you may need to change your summer plans, and we are ready to assist you as best we can. We wish you all a wonderful and productive summer.

Notices of withdrawal received after April 16, 2012 will not be considered for refund or for tuition fee relief. Any program participant who withdraws after April 16, 2012 will be responsible for the full price of tuition and/or other non-refundable fees.

Withdrawal after the April 16 Deadline

Whittier Law School will not refund tuition or housing fees or grant relief from these financial obligations under any circumstance after the April 16 deadline, not even in the event that a student withdraws for reasons or misfortunes beyond his or her control, e.g., academic disqualification, financial aid disqualification, medical emergencies, or any other unforeseen circumstances, etc. Therefore, it is very important that each student weigh carefully his or her decision to participate in one of Whittier Law School’s Study Abroad Programs. Since no tuition or housing fee will be refunded under any circumstance after April 16, students are encouraged to consider Tuition Insurance. You may inquire with the Jennifer Maniscalco for additional information regarding Tuition Insurance.

Changes in Course Offerings or Other Significant Aspects of the Program by Whittier Law School

Whittier Law School reserves the right to cancel or alter the Study Abroad Programs. The programs, or specific courses advertised, are subject to cancellation if the enrollment is insufficient or if a State Department travel warning has been issued for the country or area where the program will take place. Any cancellation or material alteration of the program will be promptly communicated to all enrolled participants. In the event that Whittier Law School decides to cancel, significantly change the course offerings, or make other material changes to a program, students will be notified and given the opportunity to withdraw without financial penalty. All tuition and all fees will be promptly returned. In the event of program cancellation, the Associate Dean for International Relations will assist displaced registrants to find suitable alternative summer programs.

Students on Academic Notice

Students typically learn their GPA in June after all grades have been submitted and published. It is particularly important that you carefully weigh whether you should apply to a Summer Abroad program if there is an apparent risk of academic disqualification. After April 16, 2012, no one is excused from financial commitments, even when disqualified and even when student loans are cancelled.

Program Enrollees Who Subsequently Learn That They Are Academically Disqualified

Please be advised that if you fail to withdraw by the withdrawal deadline and subsequently learn that you are academically disqualified, we will hold you responsible for tuition fees and any other fees we cannot recover should you decide not to attend the summer abroad program. Therefore, we invite your participation. You will be welcome to take courses, participate in enrichment opportunities, and fully participate in all program activities.

Please note, however, that due to your disqualification you will be ineligible to earn law school units or credit for your participation in the courses you take abroad. If you have concerns about your plans to go abroad, please contact the Office of the Associate Dean for International Relations.

Program Cancellation by Whittier Law School

Whittier Law School reserves the right to cancel or alter the Study Abroad Programs. The programs are subject to cancellation if the enrollment is insufficient or if a State Department travel warning has been issued for the country or area where the program will take place. Any cancellation or material alteration of the program will be promptly communicated to all applicants. In the event that Whittier Law School cancels a Study Abroad Program or makes a material alteration to the academic curriculum of any program, we will promptly return all tuition and all fees. In the event of cancellation, the Associate Dean for International Relations will assist all displaced registrants to find suitable alternative summer programs.

Medical Insurance

Whittier Law School assumes no responsibility for medical care or costs, and students may be required to show proof of health insurance that covers medical expenses incurred abroad. You are advised to check with your medical insurance provider to see if your current medical insurance covers emergency medical care while overseas. If it does not, you are strongly encouraged to consider buying supplemental medical and hospital coverage for the period of your stay overseas. You might inquire with your medical provider, insurance agent or travel agent.

Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to obtain medical evacuation insurance. Such insurance may be obtained from various providers including, but not limited to, the following possible providers: Travel Assistance International, (800) 821.2828 , http://www.travelassistance.com; Global Travel Insurance, (800) 232.9145 , http://www.globaltravelinsurance.com; and Travel Insurance Services, (800) 937.1387 , http://www.travelinsure.com; The Gateway Plans http://www.gatewayplans.com; Wallach & Company Inc. http://www.wallach.com; BETiNS, (866) 552-8834 , http://www.betins.com.

Administrative Staff

Associate Dean Calvin D. Peeler is the stateside director responsible for planning and overall administration of the program. He will be the on-site director during the program. You can reach him at: 714-444-4141 ext. 111 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Professor Seval Yildirim will co-direct and be on-site for the duration of the program. You can reach her at 714-444-4141 ext. 226 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

For general inquiries, you may also contact Jennifer Maniscalco at: 714-444-4141 ext. 111 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Upcoming Events

CIPL Colloquium: “Judicial Perception of Patent Litigants”
February 22, 2012 4:00pm-5:30pm

Moot Court and Trial Ad: Student/Alumni Mixer
February 22, 2012 5:30pm-7:00am

WPILF Auction
February 25, 2012 6:00pm-11:00am

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