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European Legal Studies Program

Since its inception, international law has been a core part of the Law School’s educational mission.  The 1837 statute establishing the University of Michigan specified that its “law department” would include a professor of “international law” – virtually unheard of in that era.  Soon thereafter, the Law School assumed its place as a leader in comparative, international, and foreign legal studies.  The Law School’s commitment to internationalism was confirmed by its establishment of a graduation requirement, unique among U.S. law schools in 2001, that all J.D. students must complete a course in transnational law.  In addition to the extraordinary richness of the curriculum, the extensive international, comparative, and interdisciplinary expertise of the faculty, and the large numbers of distinguished foreign visitors found regularly at the Law School, Michigan’s superior library resources in international and comparative law provide a strong attraction to scholars with interests in international subjects.

The European Legal Studies Program, which Professor Daniel Halberstam directs, has a special place in Michigan's longstanding pre-eminence in international and comparative law. Over fifty years ago, Professor Eric Stein pioneered the field of European legal studies at the Law School, creating the first European integration studies program in the United States. In addition to attracting Americans, the Law School has drawn countless European students, scholars, and future officials to Ann Arbor to study European legal integration here. Today, many of our faculty members lecture, present workshops, and teach at European institutions, and our highly selective visitor and Affiliated Overseas Faculty program brings numerous outstanding European academics, practitioners, and officials to the Law School every year to share their views and expertise. Each year, our student body is enriched by European graduate and post-graduate students studying alongside American J.D. candidates. And our extensive and closely knit network of European alumni remains actively involved in the life of the Law School.

For More Information on the European Legal Studies Program, visit the following sections.


Faculty
Numerous faculty members at Michigan share a significant focus on Europe in their scholarly work as well as their teaching activities. Below is a partial listing of these faculty members with an indication of the area(s) of their scholarly interest or teaching that pertains to Europe. A list with photos, contact info, bios, and courses is also available on the European Law Curriculum Interest Area page.

In addition to the faculty members listed, many others will routinely engage with European law and policy in the areas of their domestic or international expertise. Please consult individual faculty bio-pages for further information.

Courses:

European Legal Order

This course presents the basic legal architecture of the European Union and focuses on the progression of substantive law from free movement (of goods, persons, services, and capital) to common citizenship and fundamental human rights. Students also critically examine the ongoing effort to adopt a constitution for Europe. Throughout the course, students explore themes such as sovereignty, federalism, and democratic legitimacy that concern both Europeans and Americans alike. The course is enriched by the presence of European LL.M. students and visiting scholars enrolled in the class, as well as by prominent European scholars, practitioners, and judges, who co-teach various segments of the class.
Daniel Halberstam
Professor Daniel Halberstam, Director of the European
Legal Studies Program

The course is taught by Daniel Halberstam, who is the only law professor in the United States to have both clerked for a justice of the United States Supreme Court and worked for a Judge at the Court of Justice for the European Communities.

European Legal Order builds on the Law School's foundational course, Transnational Law. Here students are introduced to the international dimensions of law, examining public and private international law with a particular emphasis on the professional needs of current and future lawyers, both in government and in private practice.

Additional Courses and Seminars

Many other courses and seminars focus on the law and legal history of Europe and European Integration. In addition, advanced students frequently pursue independent research projects under faculty supervision. Please visit the European Law Curriculum Interest Area, for a sampling of courses.

Students writing a paper on European integration while enrolled as J.D. or LLM student at the Law School may submit their work for the prize competition for "Best Paper on European Integration".

 In addition, each year, the Law School hosts the International Law Workshop, a weekly series of talks by prominent practitioners, who present “hot topics” of international law to the students and the broader University Community.  Every year, several of these talks focus on Europe.

European Visitors at Michigan / Opportunities for Scholars from Europe at Michigan
Enhancing its intellectual climate, and providing a welcome forum for academic engagement to scholars and officials from Europe, the Law School hosts numerous senior European faculty level visitors each year. These senior faculty level visitors typically join the School to teach a full course, to pursue a research project, or to participate in existing course offerings and informal workshops. Having come to Ann Arbor once, they frequently return.

Among the European officials who recently visited are:

  • Eleanor Sharpston, QC, Advocate General of the European Court of Justice
  • Koen Lenaerts, Judge of the European Court of Justice
  • Francis Jacobs, QC, Advocate General of the European Court of Justice
  • Miguel Maduro, Advocate General of the European Court of Justice
  • Walter Van Gerven, former Advocate General of the European Court of Justice and emeritus professor of Katholieke University Leuven, Belgium
  • Bruno Simma, Judge, International Court of Justice
  • Jochen Frowein, Director, Max Planck Institute for Comparative and Public International Law, Heidelberg, and former Vice President, European Commission of Human Rights
  • Michel Aujean, Director of Analyses and Tax Policies, DG Taxation and Customs Union
  • Servaas van Thiel, Director, Program on International Legal Cooperation, EU Council of Ministers
  • Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor

Bruno Simma, Judge, International Court of Justice
 Bruno Simma, Judge, International Court of Justice
 
Francis Jacobs, QC, Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, speaking at an International Law Workshop.
 
Judge Bruno Simma, International Court of Justice, presenting at an International Law Workshop.
 
Koen Lenaerts, Judge of the European Court of Justice, speaking at an International Law Workshop.

Senior European academic visitors have included:

  • Gráinne de Búrca, European University Institute, Florence
  • Enzo Cannizzaro, University of Rome
  • Damian Chalmers, London School of Economics
  • Sijbren Cnossen, University of Maastricht
  • Christian Joerges, European University Institute
  • Michael Lang, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
  • Johannes Masing, University of Freiburg
  • Kalypso Nicolaidis, St. Antony’s College, Oxford University
  • Kees van Raad, University of Leiden
  • Sinisa Rodin, University of Zagreb Faculty of Law
  • Jo Shaw, Edinburgh Law School and former Chair of UACES
  • Michael Stolleis, Max Planck Institute for Legal History, Frankfurt
  • Neil Walker, European University Institute, Florence
  • Joseph Weiler, New York University


In addition, the Law School hosts several scholars each year through a variety of programs which are open to European applicants on a competitive basis. Although funding is provided on a competitive basis through a variety of programs described below, many scholars come to Ann Arbor with their own resources to avail themselves of the School's supportive international and interdisciplinary intellectual environment, the plethora of visiting scholars, researchers, and practitioners, and our outstanding library facilities. European scholars interested in applying to these programs (other than degree candidates) are encouraged to contact Dean Virginia Gordan prior to their application:

  • Grotius Fellows (Faculty Level)

    • Each year, the Law School invites several outstanding international faculty, including faculty from Europe, to join the community for stays of varying lengths to complete scholarly projects. Funding is available on a competitive basis.

  • Jean Monnet Research Fellows (Faculty Level)

    • In addition to the more general Grotius fellowship for law faculty, the Law School has conducted an annual competition for the Michigan Law School Jean Monnet Research Fellowship, a dedicated award to one or two junior professors of law or related disciplines for a stay of up to six months to pursue completion of a scholarly project on European integration.

  • Grotius Fellows (LL.M., Doctoral, & Post-Doctoral)

    European post-doctoral scholars intending to pursue research at Michigan; European doctoral students seeking to conduct research toward their dissertation at the Law School; or students seeking admission to our LLM or S.J.D. Program may apply for funding through the Grotius program on a competitive basis. All degree candidates must apply for such funding as part of their application for admission. Others may contact Dean Virginia Gordan for further information. Regardless of funding, our highly selective LL.M. and S.J.D. programs fully integrates these students, along with doctoral and post-doctoral research scholars, with the general J.D. student body. (Awards for J.D. students from Europe are made through the J.D. Admissions office as part of the admissions decision.)

  • Fulbright Scholars

    Each year the Law School hosts several Fulbright scholars, who come to the Law School as research scholars or students. If you are a European scholar or student seeking to participate in this program, please contact Dean Virginia Gordan who will assist you in contacting a potential faculty sponsor.

  • Student Exchange Programs

    The Law School also has a variety of specific exchange agreements with select European Universities, such as the European University Institute in Florence, bringing a small number of exceptional students and scholars from Europe to Ann Arbor each year. Please contact your home institution for further information about these programs.
Opportunities Throughout the University
JD Students at Michigan enjoy a wide range of opportunities beyond the Law School.

Ann Arbor, Michigan The Law School's European Legal Studies Program maintains close contacts with European-focused faculty across campus. Students may pursue dual degree programs allowing them to continue developing expertise in both law and another interest, from the social sciences to languages to business and environmental studies as well as area studies (such as Russian and East European Studies).

The University of Michigan's European Union Center, originally founded under Professor Halberstam's direction, is supported by a grant from the European Commission. The Center serves as a hub for the University's extensive resources and expertise in the interdisciplinary study of modern Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, and the European Union. Bringing together departments across campus, it also collaborates with other universities in Europe to examining themes, such as Eastern enlargement, trans-Atlantic relations, anti-terrorism efforts, the proposed European constitution, economics, women, religion, as well as issues of justice and fundamental rights. The EU Center is housed together with the University's prestigious Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies, as well as the University's longstanding Center for European Studies. Michigan's EU Center was recently distinguished further by receiving a new grant from the European Commission, establishing Michigan's EU Center as a "European Union Center of Excellence".

 
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer speaking at Michigan.

The EU Center serves as a clearinghouse to help coordinate and disseminate information about EU related events across campus. It also hosts an independent lecture series Conversations on Europe, and has brought numerous intellectuals and public figures to campus, including:

  • European Commission President Romano Prodi
  • German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer
  • Polish President Aleksander KwaÅ›niewski
  • European Union Ambassador to the United States and former Irish Prime Minister John Bruton

The European Union Center also administers, among several other funding and internship opportunities, the Jean Monnet Graduate Fellowship competition for students across the University who are interested in pursuing European integration research projects during the summer.

Finally, the Law School students’ European Law Society as well as the University wide European Union Students Association organize student gatherings, occasional lectures, and informal social events with various visitors.

Study Opportunities and Internships in Europe
As part of the University of Michigan's study abroad program, the University has established special ties with the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, which is the premier institution in Europe for the study of European integration. It offers doctoral and post-doctoral programs from departments of economics, history and civilization, law, and political and social sciences. Numerous other study abroad arrangements also exist, for example with the University of Amsterdam, University College London, Katholieke University Leuven in Belgium, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva, and Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, Germany. In addition, students may investigate study abroad opportunities through the European Union Center , or propose their own semester study programs at law faculties of other foreign universities.

Students have the opportunity to apply for an internship or clerkship with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the London Aire Centre for Advice on Individual Rights in Europe, and several Geneva-based programs. These programs, as well as a host of summer, academic term, and post-graduate fellowships, are administered through the Law School's Center for International and Comparative Law. Enrolled students will also find additional funding and internship opportunities through the University's European Union Center.

Finally, Michigan is one of a small group of U.S. law schools whose students are eligible to apply for clerkships at the European Court of Justice through the Dean Acheson Legal Stage Program.

Law Library
Michigan's superior library collections in international and comparative law are in themselves a powerful attraction for scholars, teachers, and students from all over the world. Visitors frequently discover that materials from their native countries are more accessible and complete at Michigan than at home.

The University of Michigan Law Library was the first academic library in the United States to become an official depository institution for documents of the European Community. In addition to codes, legislation, court reports, and other primary and secondary scholarly material from all European nations, and virtually all others, the Library has a comprehensive collection of material from intergovernmental organizations, including all UN, GATT/WTO, EU, and League of Nations documents. It has a separate facility dedicated to EU materials.

The Library has created specific research guides for researching European law and offers instructional sessions that introduce students to European source materials.


 
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