International Legal Studies
Vanderbilt’s International Legal Studies Program prepares students to practice law in a global environment by combining substantive classroom exposure to cutting-edge topics in international law with practical experience in their application through the International Law Practice Lab and annual externships. The program’s core faculty includes respected scholars with expertise in key areas of international law. Students also have the opportunity to interact with other top international legal practitioners and scholars who come to Vanderbilt to participate in lectures and scholarly conferences sponsored by the International Legal Studies program. For more information, see International Legal Studies Program News.
From Vanderbilt to the World
The Vanderbilt International Legal Studies program provides a strong intellectual and practical foundation for students who wish to practice international law. The program equips students with the substantive understanding of complex issues and the pragmatic skills needed to launch a professional career that meshes with students’ individual needs and interests. The pathways into international legal practice are complex and variable, but Vanderbilt students will find an incredibly supportive set of personal and institutional resources to assist them in finding their niche in the world of practice.
Vanderbilt alumni are currently employed in a wide range of international organizations, including the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the World Trade Organization; a range of U.S. governmental agencies; and international tribunals, such as the International Tribunal for Rwanda. Eight 2010 graduates were selected as Presidential Management Fellows, which permits them to seek placement in U.S. government agencies and begin a civil service career. Other graduates have accepted offers in law firms in areas related to projects undertaken as part of the International Law Practice Lab. Others have taken the Foreign Service Exam and are serving overseas in the Department of State. Some graduates choose to spend the first year or two out after graduation as judicial clerks before making a transition into an international law field. Your professional horizons will stretch from Nashville throughout the world based on your preparation, your interests and your perseverance.
The International Legal Studies Program awards a scholarship to an entering student in memory of the late Raymonde I. Paul, who developed a diverse practice in international law and participated extensively in the International Federation of Women Lawyers. There are also an array of semester and summer externships available. In addition, several stipends are available for students in financial need. For more information on these offerings, see the Externships and Scholarships page.
"Talking Foreign Policy" is a one-hour radio program, hosted by Michael Scharf, Professor of Law and Director of the Frederick K. Cox International Law Center at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and produced in association with WCPN 90.3 Idea Stream, in which experts discuss the salient foreign policy issues of the day. The premier episode covered the controversial use of predator drones, humanitarian intervention in Syria, and responding to Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons. The panel of experts includes professor of the practice of law, Michael Newton.
Vanderbilt team places first at the regional 2012 Jessup International Moot Court competition
The team will compete in the international competition in March in Washington, D.C.
Public Radio International: The Takeaway: What’s the future of Guantanamo? - January 11, 2012 - Vijay Padmanabhan, assistant professor of law, discusses the legal and political future of the base.