Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About The ITC

Why did the University of Michigan Law School start the International Transactions Clinic?

The International Transactions Clinic (ITC) was launched in the Fall of 2008.  It is the first of its kind in the United States.  The ITC aims to be a training ground for highly qualified lawyers who graduate already experienced at representing their clients' interests in an increasingly globalized and complex world.

What kinds of clients does the International Transactions Clinic support?
Students participating in the ITC represent socially responsible investors that want to see their international investments provide both a positive social as well as financial return; providers of microfinance services and products that work at the base of the economic pyramid in emerging markets; international financial institutions, multinational corporations and other types of business enterprises that are conducting cross-border transactions or are working to build enabling legal and regulatory environments for such transactions, to name a few.

Where does the International Transactions Clinic work?
By making use of technology, the ITC operates globally although the ITC physically is based in Ann Arbor.  Current ITC clients are headquartered in the United States, France, Netherlands, Russia, and Tajikistan.  These clients are conducting, with support of the ITC, projects and transactions around around the world—including, for example, Bangladesh, Brazil, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, and Uganda.

How does the International Transactions Clinic organize its work?

Students participating in the ITC work in teams of two to four students, under the close supervision of faculty/professors.  Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the ITC for two semesters so that they can gain exposure to a range of international transactions and clients.  At any given time during their time in the ITC, participating students are likely to be working on two to three transaction matters.

What skills will students learn by participating in the ITC?
The ITC gives students an opportunity to exercise and grow skills that are critically important to their professional development as they enter into practice areas that involve international transactions.  Students will learn drafting and negotiating skills necessary for conducting cross-border transactions, analyze ethical issues that can arise in international business, build skills at structuring and documenting investments in enterprises that primarily work in emerging markets, and deepen their understanding of international economic and financial policy.

How big of a time commitment is the ITC?
The ITC is a two semester-long course.  There are no course prerequisites.

Students participating in the ITC should expect to work on transactions for an average of 12-16 hours per week, in addition to classroom time.  Some weeks will be much shorter due to matters outside of the students' control; other weeks, however, may be much longer for the very same reason.  This is another reason why transaction matters are assigned to teams of students to help share workloads.

During the first seven weeks of the ITC, students will meet twice a week in a seminar-like setting to build the requisite foundational knowledge for serving ITC clients.

Why would a student apply to join the ITC?
Here are some of the reasons participating students gave when they applied to join the ITC in the Fall of 2008. 

"Through my courses in Transnational Law and International Trade Law, I have begun to discover the areas I am most interested in within the broad category of international law and this clinic seems to 'hit the nail on the head,' so to speak." Luis Avila, 2L, BA in Business, Calvin College

The ITC offers a "rare chance to handle international transactions as well as the equally unique opportunity to manage them in a way that promotes positive social change." Ji-Yeon Suh, 2L, BA in Philosophy, Columbia University

The ITC is ". . . an early step in my career as a transactional attorney helping to coordinate and implement major cross-border transactional deals." Joydeep Dasmunshi, 3L, BBA, University of Michigan

The ITC is an opportunity for "honing my communication and language skills, applying my knowledge from previous law school courses like Contracts and Transnational Law, and learning how to conduct negotiations and draft crucial documents needed in cross-border transactions." Nicole Lonsway. 3L, BA in French and English, University of Michigan