(2 semester credits per course)
July 7- July 25, 2008
Law students in the Lisbon Summer Program
combine study of European Union legal institutions
and selected European law with comparative
exploration of jurisdiction, intellectual
property, contract, and other information
and cyber law issues. The program includes
two courses.
European Union: Legal Institutions and
Selected Topics (2 semester credits) consists
of an introduction to European Union law
and legal institutions plus focused study
of selected important topics.
Information Law and Policy: Comparative
Perspectives (2 semester credits) explores
cutting edge information technology law
issues, with emphasis on comparative study
of differing legal responses and how they
reflect cultural, social, economic, and
institutional differences.
Academic Program
All classes are taught in English by Roger
Williams University, Catholic University
of Portugal and other European university
law professors.
Classes meet Monday through Thursday during
the first week, and Monday through Friday
during the second and third weeks. Each
class meeting is for two hours, with the
class day beginning at 9:00 AM and concluding
in early afternoon.
Information Law and Policy: Comparative
Perspectives will meet throughout the three
weeks. European Union: Legal Institutions
and Selected Topics includes a one afternoon
introduction to European Legal Institutions
for non-European students during the first
week in preparation for study of selected
European law topics during the second and
third weeks in classes with law students
from a half dozen or more European law schools.
The European law students will be participating
in a two-week European Legal Practice Integrated
Study (ELPIS) Summer Academy that is also
hosted by the Catholic University of Portugal
Faculty of Law.
Roger Williams University Summer Program
students study with European law students
in European law topic modules taught by
Catholic University and other European law
faculty during these two weeks.
During the closing week of the ELPIS Summer
Academy and our Summer Program, the European
students join our students in Information
Law and Policy to jointly study a selected
topic with emphasis on comparison of differing
national and community legal perspectives
and responses.
Returning students, and their European
counterparts, leave no doubt in their personal
comments and program evaluations that studying
and socializing together is a high point
of the summer study experience and that
the combined faculty is outstanding.
ELPIS Summer Academy topics for July 2008
will be finally set in February 2008, and
at that time posted on this page. During
the past two years, the topics have included
human rights law, private international
electronic commerce law, social communications
and law, European competition law, and European
environmental law.
Programs and Events
Non-credit arrangements will be made for a
lecture introduction to the Portuguese legal
system and visits to a law firm, court or
other venues, including a trip to the U.S.
Embassy in Lisbon and meeting with Embassy
officials.
Several included dinners or events are
included in the arrangements, including
a closing dinner at the Catholic University
of Portugal, the host institution for the
ELPIS Summer Academy and Roger Williams
University Summer Program.
Resources
Students have full library privileges. The
English language and other materials of
the Catholic University of Portugal Library
are supplemented by a small special collection
of course-related reference materials, and
by syllabus references to electronically
available English language materials.
Catholic University of Portugal provides
full Internet access in its Library and
in a computer lab classroom set aside for
Lisbon Summer Program use. Before leaving
the U.S., students should arrange summer
study password activation for usual legal
research databases accessible via the Internet.
Lodging and Meals
Double-occupancy housing in comfortably
spacious two-bed rooms at a conveniently
located business class hotel, with outdoor
pool, is included in the program tuition
and fees.
Daily breakfast at the hotel is included
in tuition and fees, as is lunch on Monday
through Friday at a university cafeteria.
Upgrade to single-occupancy housing, as
well as accommodations for an accompanying
person (double-occupancy), can be arranged
at an additional cost.
Lisbon and Beyond
Lisbon has historical and cultural ties
back over the centuries to Phoenicia, Greece,
Rome, and Africa as well as forward to the
New World. It is a vibrant port city situated
on seven hills with splendid views over
the broad River Tejo Estuary.
Lisbon has many museums, parks, varied
attractions, and fascinating sights that
can be explored by walking tours and by
using its excellent public transportation
on buses, trams, elevators, and subways.
Castles, beaches and other attractions
of Costa de Lisbon are a short distance
from the city and are accessible in a day
or afternoon trip via public transportation.
Students soon discover Lisbon's new waterfront
centers of social life and activity that
bring new vitality to clusters of old waterfront
buildings and other districts in the city
that remain venues for traditional Fado
music entertainment and clubs.
The whole of Portugal also invites exploration
from its Lisbon hub by rail, air, car and
even commuter ferry or train. There is something
for every taste: coastal fishing villages,
castles, wine country, Roman ruins and medieval
ruins, regional crafts, sandy beaches, and
ascetic to grand old monasteries.
The class schedule will allow time for
one extended weekend trip outside Lisbon
to Porto, the North, Alentejo, the Plains,
Beiras, the Central, Algarve, or even the
Azores, Madeira or a country other than
Portugal.
English is widely, though not universally,
understood at Lisbon and other hotels, restaurants,
other commercial establishments, resort,
and cultural sites frequented by travelers.
Still, learning common phrases or expressions
before arrival is strongly encouraged as
a show of respect and a means for enhanced
enjoyment of one's visit.
Tuition, Fees and Expenses
Tuition and Fees:
$4,560 - 4 semester units
(double occupancy)
$5,460 - 4 semester units
(single occupancy)
$5,710 - (with accompanying
person)
Tuition and fees include a double room
and daily breakfast at a business class
hotel, some course materials, and program-sponsored
events.
Single room accommodations, and accompanying
person accommodations (double occupancy)
inclusive of daily breakfast and participation
in program social events, can be arranged
at additional cost.
Airfare and other transportation costs,
other meals, some course materials, and
personal spending are in addition to stated
tuition and fees
Courses and Faculty
Information Law and Policy: Comparative
Perspectives
David A. Rice, Professor of Law and Director
of Lisbon Summer Program, Roger Williams
University
2 Semester Units, Graded with Final Examination
or Paper
Internet use, including electronic commerce,
present new legal issues and intellectual
challenges in subject areas as diverse as
jurisdiction, intellectual property rights,
database protection, data privacy, contract,
and consumer protection.
The course is comparative, and includes
the study of international treaties, European
Union law, and national law of the United
States and other countries. European law
students join the course during its second
or third week for joint study of a particular
topic of common interest, but differing
legal treatment.
European Union: Legal Institutions
and Selected Topics
Dra. Maria Ines Quadros, Catholic University
of Portugal, and Other European University
Faculty Members
2 Semester Units, Final Grade Based on Assignments
for Each Module
Introduction to the history and the political
and legal institutions of the European Union
followed by study of selected topics.
Topics selected in prior years have included
competition, human rights, environmental,
social communications, and electronic commerce
law. Final topic selection for July 2008
will be made and announced in February
2008.
