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During the Law School’s two-week spring break, March 17-28, 93 students and 7 faculty members will head abroad to learn about the role of law and legal institutions, as well as the cultural, political and economic systems of five foreign countries. Groups of about 15 to 20 will visit Brazil, Cuba, Russia, Uganda, and Vietnam.

In 1998 Northwestern Law launched the innovative International Team Project (ITP), the only course of its type at an elite law school. Modeled on a popular course at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, ITP is student-led and combines semester-long research with an intense two-week field study abroad. In the past students have traveled to Australia/New Zealand, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Singapore, and South Africa.

"The international, intellectual, collaborative and humanitarian components of the course offer students unparalleled training for law and business careers in a world that increasingly has no boundaries," said David Van Zandt, dean and professor of law.

After conducting general background research, students work in groups of three to four to focus on particular topics of interest. Once in their chosen country, they contact established sources and arrange interviews with key players in businesses, justice systems, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. The final projects, which are completed after returning, are of publishable quality.

“While these projects are a learning experience for our students, the research is also valuable to government agencies or NGOs that don’t have the time, money, or manpower to conduct it on their own,” said Thomas Geraghty, professor and director of Northwestern’s Bluhm Legal Clinic, who is leading the trip to Uganda; it is his fourth ITP trip.

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