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Centers & Programs

Mexico City, Mexico

June 10 – June 29, 2012

Universidad Iberoamericana

Located in the elegant district of Santa Fe, and just a short distance from the heart of Mexico City, the Universidad Iberoamericana is a beautiful campus with state-of-the-art facilities including an extensive library, beautiful gardens, athletic facilities, a campus cathedral, and various restaurants at very reasonable prices. Mexico City is the Federal District, the capital of Mexico, and the seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is Mexico’s largest city as well as its most important political, cultural, educational and financial district. Just two hours away are the breathtaking Teotihuacan Pyramids. The program includes various legal and cultural tours.

At a Glance:

Program Dates: June 10 – June 29, 2012
Program Director: Professor Peter Reich; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Host University: Universidad Iberoamericana
Location: Mexico City (Santa Fe)
Tuition: $3,400 (max 4 units)
Externship Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities with private law firms and nonprofit organizations litigating trans-border matters.

Program Details

Mexico is our neighbor to the South, and California’s largest foreign market for trade and legal services. There are many practical benefits to consider about our legal relationship with Mexico. Therefore, we hope you will join us to study in the world’s largest metropolis rich with history and a diverse culture. Students will gain cultural and legal perspective by the participation of Mexican students in class sessions, as well as scheduled group excursions within Mexico.

Courses (all courses are seminars)

International Business Transactions – 1 unit
Professor Nora Munguía

This course covers both private and public aspects of international business transactions. Specific topics include doing business in Mexico, Mexican and U.S. corporations, the incorporation process, entrepreneurial activities, international and Mexican tax law, taxation of international commerce under NAFTA, environmental regulation from the business perspective, a field trip to the customs office, and applied case studies.

International Environmental Law – 1 unit
Professor Peter Reich

A survey of international environmental principles and problems, treaties and conventions. Topics to be covered include planning processes, global climate change, trans-boundary air and water pollution, hazardous substances, and marine conservation.

International Sports Law – 1 unit
Professor Kristen Martin

This course will introduce students to the emerging field of International Sports Law. The course examines the legal and international dimensions of the modern sports industry. Topics covered include the historical development of professional team sports, the structure of sporting organizations, and the domestic and international governance of sport, including the Olympics. The course also explores the legal status of athletes as employees, public and private efforts to eliminate doping, and the impact of intellectual property on sponsorship and promotion of sporting events. Special attention will be paid to the increasing commercialization and globalization of sport.

International Migration and Refugee Law – 1 unit
Professors Ortiz Ahlf and Raquel Amiga

This course introduces students to the international law of refugees. Topics covered include the definition of refugee status, the 1951 Geneva Convention, the asylum/refugee distinction, the use of statistical analysis, and concepts incorporated into national immigration law. Interviews with actual refugees and role-playing will be used to enhance students’ experience.

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

Please see Study Abroad – Financial Aid
Projected Expenses based on figures from 2011 (may vary depending upon when you purchase your ticket, the carrier, and other variables.)

Tuition $ 3,400
Application Fee $ 100
Housing $ 1,260
Transportation $ 522
Food/Miscellaneous $ 460
Total $ 5,742

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

Professor Peter Reich is the stateside director responsible for planning and overall administration of the program. Professor Reich is a well-known environmental law scholar and has written extensively on Mexico and Mexican law. He has traveled, studied and worked in Mexico City on many occasions and enjoys sharing its wonders with students. He will also serve as the on-site director during the program. You can reach him directly at (714) 444-4141, x 235; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Calvin D. Peeler is the Associate Dean for International Relations, and oversees all Summer Abroad Programs. You can reach him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); ext. 111.

For general inquiries, you may also contact Jennifer Maniscalco at (714) 444-4141 × 111; .(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

Recent News

Q&A with April Frisby
Business & Transactional Law

Children’s Rights Clinic
Family Law / Children's Rights

CICL Symposium