International Law Program Promotes Global Understanding with Foreign Students

Each summer for the past 14 years, the UC Davis law school becomes a miniature United Nations. This year 106 law professionals and students from around the world have come to Davis to spend a month learning about U.S. and international law with the hopes of applying their knowledge and new perspectives to help their countries succeed in the global arena. Coordinated with UC Davis Extension, this year's International Program includes 21 Fulbright students, chosen for their ability to exchange ideas and develop solutions to shared concerns. For the first time in its 14-year history, Fulbright fellowships have allowed legal professionals from developing countries in Africa to attend the program.

Abdoulaye Sangare, an attorney and Fulbright student from Mali, notes, "There is a great need in Africa to harmonize the laws among its countries, and the U.S. has set an example with its 50 states whose laws and regulations work in conjunction with federal law. American law is also at the heart of much of the business done around the world, so there's a need to synthesize Mali's commercial laws and regulations with those of the United States so that foreign investors are more willing to do business in Mali."

Maimul Khan, a visiting professor from Bangladesh, who is pursuing a Master's degree in International Commercial Law, is focused on the connection between human rights and international law. "Poverty, inequality and environmental degradation are closely linked. The interests of third world countries must be represented in the international arena if we are to protect human rights. This kind of dialogue is critical because Americans must also learn why it is that they are not liked in many parts of the world."

Sabine Wrede and Gokce Kilic hope to return to their respective countries, Germany and Turkey, with a better understanding of environmental and corporate liability law. The summer master's degree program is particularly attractive to many, who spend six weeks each summer for three consecutive summers earning their degree. As Wrede said, "It's a great program because you don't have to quit your job to go to school for nine months but can complete it over the course of three summers." Students can also network with attorneys from around the globe, making the program all the more enticing. "We stay in contact with each other throughout the year. These are contacts I hope to have for many years."

And for others, it's the U.S. educational system that brings them here. Saud Alarifi of Saudi Arabia noted that American universities are the best in the world. "Here you learn to think. And it's not just from the professors, I'm learning from my classmates as well."

"We need people who are friends and who utilize an international code of justice," says El Hadji Sow, a judge and Fulbright student from Senegal. Different legal traditions and systems require more knowledge and skill to reconcile laws from country to country. The truth is legal systems are not the same throughout the world. Some like those in Mali are based on continental law that they inherited from France. Others like Turkey are similar to those of the European Union. In Italy case decisions are not as binding. According to Alessandro Piermanni, an attorney from Milan, "Juries are rare in Italy and judges have a great deal more freedom and power than in the United States." This can be both good and bad with more confidence in knowing that judgements are based on a certain degree of expertise but also leaves much legal interpretation up to the judge.

But the program is not all about business. These students are also enjoying the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of Davis where, as one academic recently commented, everyone is a minority. Students of the International Law Program and Master's degree in International Commercial Law will remain in Davis until August 1 when they move on to Berkeley's Boalt Hall to complete their courses.