Canadian Summer Externship Program
Ottawa, Ontario
May 15 - June 26, 2009
Sponsored by Michigan State University College of Law in cooperation with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law and with the assistance of the government of Canada
- The Program
- Program Faculty
- Educational Objectives
- Admissions Process
- The Location
- Program and Living Costs
- The Externship Program
- Travel
- The Externship Placements
- Program Accreditation
- Student Performance and Grading
- Additional Information
The Canadian Summer Externship Program in Ottawa provides U.S. law students with an opportunity to earn six academic credits in 35 class days during the six-week period from May 15 through June 26, 2009. The program consists of two integrated components. The first is a field placement, during which the student will be working for a six-week period under the supervision of Members of Parliament or public lawyers. The second is a classroom component, which consists of an introductory course on the Canadian legal system, a series of weekly seminars on topical Canadian legal issues, and a speakers’ program featuring prominent Canadians visiting with students over lunch at the House of Commons private dining room.
Currently in its twenty-second year, this ABA-accredited program is intended to provide law students with an educational experience in which they will come to understand the Canadian political and legal systems at work and foster an appreciation of Canadian social, cultural, and political institutions and character. Students will:
- Gain a broad exposure to Canadian law and legal institutions
- Obtain specific insight and particularized experience in Canadian law
- Conduct legal research using Canadian legal sources
- Learn firsthand how the Canadian government and its legal institutions approach problems
MSU Law’s Canadian Summer Externship Program is held in beautiful Ottawa, Ontario, the national capital of Canada and home to Canada’s Parliament. Classes are held at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, which is one of only a few law schools in Canada that has both a Common Law Faculty and a Civil Law Faculty. It is distinguished from other Canadian law schools because a significant portion of its civil law curriculum is taught in English instead of French. The University of Ottawa is recognized as Canada’s premiere bilingual university.
Ottawa has been named one of the world’s 10 best cities in which to live (Source: Corporate Resource Group, Geneva). It has a vibrant cultural life with an abundance of theaters, national museums, and festivals. Despite its more than one million residents, the area is famous for its green spaces, bicycle paths, and rivers, making it especially appealing to people with an active lifestyle.
Enrichment
Activities
Among the numerous extracurricular programs is a weekend trip to Quebec City, where students are hosted by the Quebec provincial government. Tours of the city, government offices, and legal facilities include meetings with officials from the government of Quebec, who meet with students over lunch. Students enjoy Quebec’s cultural and social life as well.
The introductory Canadian legal system course will be taught at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law before placements begin. The weekly seminars and the Director’s office will also be located at the Faculty of Law. During the placements, students will be required to perform relevant legal tasks such as legal or legislative research, analysis investigation, legal writing and legal or legislative drafting under the direct supervision of Members of Parliament or public lawyers. In addition, the students’ work will be monitored by the Program Director. Seminars and lectures will be conducted during the six-week period. Students will also be required to complete legal research and writing assignments that are relevant to or derived from their externship placement.
Externships have included placements with:
- Members of the House of Commons and Senate including the offices of the Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, the Chair of the Economic Development Committee, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, and the House of Commons Law Clerk & Parliamentary Counsel
- Ministry of Justice in the Civil Litigation, Legislation, and International Law Sections
- Federal Courts of Canada
- Secretary of State for Latin America & Africa
- Privacy Commission
- Auditor General
- National Transportation Agency
* About one-half of the placements will be with Members of Parliament.
Student Performance and Grading
Both the Program Director and the supervising lawyer will evaluate student work, and the Program Director will grade each student’s performance. Upon successful completion of the program, six hours graded credit will be awarded by the Michigan State University College of Law as part of its fully accredited curriculum. Acceptance of credit is at the discretion of the applicant’s law school. (MSU Law students who have earned credits in another externship are ineligible to participate in this program.) It is unlikely that participation in a foreign summer program may be used to accelerate graduation. Students interested in acceleration should contact their home school for information. If there are any questions concerning acceptance of credit, or if more information is required by the applicant’s Dean, please contact the Program Director at (517) 432-6892 or at (517) 432-6818.
John Reifenberg,
Program Director
Professor of Law, MSU College of Law
A.B., Brown University
J.D., University of Denver
Prior to joining MSU Law’s law faculty in 1978, Professor Reifenberg was an instructor at Southern Methodist University Law School and an assistant professor of law at Nova University Law School. He was the author of the 1987 Jessup International Moot Court Problem. During the 1990-91 academic year, Professor Reifenberg was a Fulbright Fellow at Wuhan University Law School in the People’s Republic of China. Professor Reifenberg is Chair of the International and Comparative Law concentration at the Law College. He teaches Torts, International Law, International Business Transactions, and various comparative law courses.
Additional teaching faculty for the introductory course and the weekly seminars will be drawn from cooperating Canadian law faculties, Center faculty, outstanding Canadian lawyers, and other experts on Canadian law.
Student Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Minimum eligibility requirements are that the student be in good standing at an ABA-approved law school and have completed one full year of legal study. Selection criteria will vary in some respects from placement to placement. In general, academic standing, legal research and writing skills, course concentration or emphasis, law school activities, prior law and non-law related work experience, qualities that demonstrate student interest in Canada, motivation and diversity are all factors that will be considered in evaluating students for selection.
Since we place a maximum of 20 students in responsible positions in government offices, we select only those students with the highest credentials and whose application materials indicate that they have the maturity and responsibility to work successfully in the placements. The students in the program come from law schools throughout the United States. Typically, at least one-third of the students in the program are from other law schools.
Selection Process
Applicants will be screened initially by the Program Director. Résumés and writing samples of potential students will be mailed to placement sponsors and students will subsequently be selected by the sponsor in cooperation with the Program Director in accordance with the selection criteria. Students will be notified of their acceptance into the program within a few business days of the deadline.
Application and Deadline
To apply, send a completed application form, a letter of good standing from your law school, a résumé, and a short writing sample with the $100 non-refundable program fee to:
Canadian Summer Externship Program
Michigan State University College of Law
316 Law College Bldg.
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1300
The application deadline is March 16, 2009.
Tuition and Fees
The 2009 tuition fee for each student enrolled in the program is $4300, which covers the costs of the externship, seminars, lecturers, speakers’ luncheons, cultural events and materials. In addition, students are expected to pay a non-refundable activity fee of $100. In addition to the program fee, an additional program fee of $100 will be assessed by MSU’s Office of Study Abroad, which provides coverage in the study abroad insurance program (HTH) for medical evacuation if necessary; an emergency assistance card for immediate telephone access to the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety; and routine scanning of U.S. State Department alerts. Tuition is due by May 4, 2009. Tuition may be refunded if notice of withdrawal from the program is received 10 days prior to the beginning of the program.
The cost of living in Ottawa is similar to that in most major U.S. cities. Although living costs depend upon your lifestyle, it would not be unusual to spend $120 per week on living costs beyond the room charges. Since the dorms provide a kitchen and refrigerator on each floor, it is possible to economize by cooking your own meals.
Housing and Living Expenses
Housing will be available for students at the student dormitories at the University of Ottawa. At the current exchange rate, housing charges will be approximately $1300 (US) for the full program period. Students are encouraged to reside in University housing; however, students wishing to make other arrangements should indicate this on their application form. All facilities at the University of Ottawa and at the government offices hosting the placements are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Mail to MSU Law at the address above.
Students are expected to make their own travel arrangements. All U.S. citizens must present proof of citizenship and photo identification for entry into Canada. A U.S. passport is required. Every student participating in this program must have a passport.
Health Insurance
Students will be required to show proof of health insurance that covers medical expenses incurred in Canada. The additional $100 program fee assessed by MSU’s Office of Study Abroad provides coverage in the study abroad insurance program (HTH) for medical evacuation if necessary. Such medical evacuation insurance is required by this program. The Study Abroad fee also provides an emergency assistance card for immediate telephone access to the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety and routine scanning of U.S. State Department alerts.
Cancellation Policy
Although the Program has never been cancelled, the Michigan State University College of Law reserves the right to cancel the Program for insufficient enrollment. Applicants will be notified of cancellation as soon as possible, but in no case later than May 9, 2008. In the case of such cancellation, there will be a full refund of tuition and housing fees.
The Program has received the approval of the American Bar Association, Section of Legal Education. Michigan State University College of Law is approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
For more information, please contact:
Professor
John Reifenberg
Director, Canadian Summer Externship Program
Michigan State University College of Law
316 Law College Bldg.
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1300
517/432-6818 phone
517/432-6801 fax
reifenbe@law.msu.edu
studyabroad.law.msu.edu