Law: International Business & Trade

Sunday, June 8 to Thursday, July 10, 2025
 

Thank you for your interest in the Law School’s 2025 International Business and Trade Summer Law Program, Kraków, Poland (IBTSLP). The International Human Rights Summer Law Program, Rome Italy, will be offered again in the summer of 2026.

For over thirty years, Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law has offered law students from Catholic University and around the world the opportunity to enrich their academic study and preparation for professional life by offering summer legal study abroad. In 2025 Summer, the International Business and Trade Summer Law Program, Kraków, Poland (IBTSLP) is tentatively scheduled from Sunday, June 8 to Thursday, July 10, and consists of two course blocks, each with two 2-credit courses.

          Block 1 runs from June 9-June 20

          Block 2 runs from June 23-July 10

The IBTSLP offers mix-and-match options tailored to a student’s interest and time. Coursework and/or externships in Poland for credit at prestigious law firms and other legal institutions can be combined up to a maximum of 10 credits. Students choose from classes in one or both course blocks (the first beginning June 9, second beginning June 23), with classes alone or combined with externship for packages ranging from 4-10 credits.

The externship includes taking the 2-credit Law of the European Union course from June 9-20; the on-line, 1-credit Becoming an International Lawyer course, coupled with Legal Externship for 1-3 credits for fieldwork. Students schedule the externship before and after the classroom component of the program.

We hope that you will be able to join us for the IBTSLP in Kraków in the summer of 2025! We encourage you to visit the summer abroad website frequently for updates. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

This summer will mark the 33rd year of the International Business and Trade Summer Law Program (IBTSLP) in Kraków, Poland. The IBTSLP is a cross-cultural summer law program, which is offered in cooperation with the prestigious Jagiellonian University. Over the last few decades, the exponential growth in international trade and investment has intensified the demand for competent attorneys specializing in international business and development. American attorneys are increasingly called upon to negotiate with foreign governments, business enterprises, and financial institutions. Our summer abroad program is designed to expose students to the wide range of knowledge and skills required for success in the rapidly changing international arena. Students receive intensive training in the law of the European Union and global aspects of modern trade and business law, as they study side-by-side with Poland's finest student lawyers in one of Europe's most beautiful cities. A unique feature of the program is that American, Canadian and students from European Union countries take part in the program, learn about other legal systems from each other, and in the process create friendships, which develop into a network of international colleagues.

The emergence of the EU is one of the defining events of the 20th century. Our program provides the opportunity to learn first-hand how the EU affects the political, economic and social landscape of Europe and its impact on foreign relations. As Poland ascended to the European Union in the summer of 2004, this program offers students an incredible opportunity to witness the transformation of an entire socio-political culture. As you prepare to join the ranks of international attorneys, learn about law of the EU and international trade and business from esteemed faculty and expert guest speakers.

For those seeking the added benefit of cultural enrichment, Kraków, almost entirely spared the destruction wrought upon many urban cities of Europe during World War II, was recognized as the 2000 Cultural City of Europe. It is both an ancient royal city famous for its architectural beauty and cultural heritage, as well as a vibrant and modern city.

I hope to see you in Kraków!  In the meantime, if you have any questions please let us know.

Sincerely,

Leah Wortham
Director and Professor Emerita
Poland@law.edu