Curriculum

All courses are offered in English and are taught by full-time Vanderbilt Law School faculty members, in conjunction with expert faculty from the University of Venice.

Students may enroll in three courses and receive up to 6 credits in International Law and Comparative Law. Vanderbilt Law School students will receive direct credit for the courses taken through the program. Students may also enroll in an optional Italian language course.

Three classes are offered and taught by members of the Vanderbilt Law School faculty. Classes meet Monday through Friday, and class attendance is required. Course demands are the same as typical Vanderbilt Law School courses. The grading system, examination rules and processes are the same as those used by Vanderbilt Law School. Acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the program is subject to determination by the student's home school.

Michael Newton

Program Director

Michael Newton

Professor of the Practice of Law
Professor of the Practice of Political Science
Director, International Legal Studies Program

Michael Newton is an expert on terrorism, accountability, transnational justice, and conduct of hostilities issues. Over the course of his career, he has published more than 90 books, articles, op-eds, and book chapters. He has been an expert witness in terrorism-related trials both in domestic courts and at the International Court of Justice.

Professor Newton is admitted to the Counsel List of the International Criminal Court, where he helped prepare the appeal of Jean-Pierre Bemba and has participated in oral arguments at the Appeals Chamber in other cases. At Vanderbilt, he developed and teaches the innovative International Law Practice Lab, which provides expert assistance to judges, lawyers, legislatures, governments and policy makers around the world, and directs the International Legal Studies Program.

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Summer 2024 Courses

  • Comparative Perspectives on Counterterrorism

    Comparative Perspectives on Counterterrorism offers a comparative analysis of the national approaches of the United States, Israel, the European Union, and other states, focusing on legal norms and political and operational imperatives. Counterterrorism is a global cooperative phenomenon, and the study of its practice entails the use of case law, legislation, international law, and national policy directives and operational decisions. Students will be exposed to case law from international courts and commissions and other sources, and engage in scenario-driven exercises that also involve human rights and humanitarian law and comparative statutory study.

    Taught by Michael A. Newton, Professor of the Practice of Law; Director, International Law Practice Lab.

  • International Arbitration - Experiential Learning

    International Arbitration introduces students to public and private international law rules from an arbitral perspective, with special emphasis on international economic law. This course examines the sources of international law and addresses related bodies of rules involving multiple legal and political systems, such as the Unidroit Principles for international commercial contracts, with a focus on doctrines, institutions and applications from historical, political and jurisprudential perspectives. Topics include the European Community Law experience, The Hague Peace System for intergovernmental dispute settlement and the International Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization and economic disputes, mixed arbitration, and transnational commercial arbitration.

    Taught by Fabrizio Marrella, Professor of International Business, University of Venice. (Course qualifies for experiential learning credit.)

  • Transnational Litigation

    This course will provide an introduction to the procedural issues that arise in the legal resolution of disputes in international transactions. Transnational litigation in U.S. courts is the primary focus, but there will be some discussion of transnational litigation in the courts of other countries, especially the countries of the European Union. The course covers jurisdiction, sovereign immunity, service of process abroad, taking evidence abroad, parallel litigation, applicable laws and treaties, comparison of trial procedures, enforcement of foreign judgments and use of arbitration.

    Taught by Ingrid (Wuerth) Brunk, Helen Strong Curry Chair in International Law.

Summer 2023 Courses

  • Comparative Perspectives on Counterterrorism

    Comparative Perspectives on Counterterrorism offers a comparative analysis of the national approaches of the United States, Israel, the European Union, and other states, focusing on legal norms and political and operational imperatives. Counterterrorism is a global cooperative phenomenon, and the study of its practice entails the use of case law, legislation, international law, and national policy directives and operational decisions. Students will be exposed to case law from international courts and commissions and other sources, and engage in scenario-driven exercises that also involve human rights and humanitarian law and comparative statutory study.

    Taught by Michael A. Newton, Professor of the Practice of Law; Director, International Law Practice Lab.

  • International Arbitration

    International Arbitration introduces students to public and private international law rules from an arbitral perspective, with special emphasis on international economic law. This course examines the sources of international law and addresses related bodies of rules involving multiple legal and political systems, such as the Unidroit Principles for international commercial contracts, with a focus on doctrines, institutions and applications from historical, political and jurisprudential perspectives. Topics include the European Community Law experience, The Hague Peace System for intergovernmental dispute settlement and the International Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization and economic disputes, mixed arbitration, and transnational commercial arbitration.

    Taught by Fabrizio Marrella, Professor of International Business, University of Venice. (Course qualifies for experiential learning credit.)

  • Corporate Law and Capital Market Regulation: A Comparative Perspective

    A primary function of corporate law is to regulate the relationships between shareholders, shareholders and the corporation’s hired agents, and shareholders and creditors to improve the efficiency of the corporate form as a wealth-creation device. Shareholder characteristics, creditor characteristics, and management structures vary across jurisdictions, and so too does the content of corporate law. This course acquaints students with the paradigmatic problems that corporate law seeks to address and explores how various jurisdictions differ in their approaches to these problems.

    Taught by Amanda Rose, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Law and Professor of Management.

Have Questions?

Connect with the Vanderbilt in Venice Program Coordinator.