Degree Name

MA in International Education

First Advisor

Richard E. Rodman

Second Advisor

William Hoffa

Abstract

It has been noted by many legal education professionals that, although legal education in the U.S. is good at development of analytical skills through its case system, it still lags behind in the development of professional integrity and ethical values. Due to an increase in globalization in most areas of American life, even if students do not choose to work in international companies and organizations, their work will require communicating in an intercultural setting. It is no longer enough for law school graduates to just be able to solve problems effectively. They need to be effective at communicating with people from different and cultures, situations very common for many legal professionals. Intercultural competence is becoming more and more necessary even for those who will work domestically, due to the increasing diversity of the American population.

This program explores one of the ways to provide law students with necessary intercultural training at an early stage of their education. The program is an addition to one of the mandatory first-year courses that examines the nature of legal practice and its components – interviewing, counseling, and negotiating. A study abroad short-term program is added to the course and offers its participants the opportunity to explore intercultural aspects of these processes through a series of seminars and a short-term trip to China. Students will focus on cultural values frameworks and learn to navigate cultural differences in the legal setting.

Disciplines

Higher Education | International and Comparative Education

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