Application
The program is open to degree-candidate law students currently enrolled in ABA-approved law schools. Degree-candidate law students at other ABA-approved schools must submit a letter from their school’s registrar stating that they are in good standing and have permission to take Mitchell Hamline courses for credit toward their JD degree requirements.
Enrollment is limited to enhance the interactive nature of each course. Qualified students are accepted on a first-applied, first-enrolled basis.
Application deadline: April 15, 2024 or until full.
Program Administration
Professor Henry Allen Blair serves as the on-site faculty director for the London program. There are additional on-site administrative support personnel present throughout the program.
Cost
Nonrefundable program deposit: $250 (The non-refundable deposit will be applied to the tuition balance and is due within one week of acceptance to the program.)
Tuition: $5,100 (6 credits @ $850 per credit)
Program Fees: $450 (includes course materials and books; co-curricular visits to the Royal Courts of Justice and Middle Temple, welcome dinner, etc.)
London accommodations: $3,480 A limited number of student studio apartments are available through the program, on a first-come, first-served basis.*
Balance of tuition and fees is due: On or before April 15, 2024, unless a financial aid award letter copy is provided by this date.
Program participants should contact their home school’s financial aid office to determine eligibility for financial aid. For students seeking financial aid, the tuition and fees balance will be due 10 days prior to the start of the program, the anticipated date for federal aid disbursement. Please note that after the drop deadline of April 15, 2024, all tuition and fees are the responsibility of the student, whether or not they attend the program.
NOTE:
Mitchell Hamline scholarships cannot be applied to any off-campus or study abroad costs.
If you are a visiting student seeking financial aid and have submitted a completed consortium agreement, you are not required to submit the tuition/fees balance until your loans are disbursed. Mitchell Hamline School of Law students do not need to submit a consortium agreement and will have their pending financial aid status confirmed with the Student Accounts office.
*IMPORTANT STUDENT HOUSING INFORMATION! Mitchell Hamline has reserved a block of rooms for a limited number of students who elect to use student housing. Mitchell Hamline pays the full balance for rooms actually reserved. Therefore, students who wish to CANCEL their student housing must do so by April 15, 2024, or they WILL BE LIABLE for the FULL HOUSING COST, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ATTEND THE PROGRAM.
Planning a Program Budget
Each student is responsible for their international airfare, meals, health insurance coverage (including medical evacuation coverage), inter-London and intra-European travel, and personal expenses.
Estimated program costs beyond the tuition and fees listed above are:
Airfare Allowance: $1,900 from U.S. to Europe (This is an average and can be more or less depending on the carrier, timing of ticket purchase, and departure city.)
Miscellaneous Costs: $1,500 (Tube pass, passport, health insurance, personal expenses, etc. – this varies based on spending habits.)
Food: $1,925 ($385 per week x 5 weeks)
Withdrawal
Should you withdraw from the program on or before April 15, 2024, tuition will be refunded, beyond the $250 non-refundable program deposit. If you withdraw after April 15, 2024, you are liable for the full tuition and fees, whether or not you attend the program.
International Travel
You are responsible for international and intra-European travel. Mitchell Hamline has no responsibility for such arrangements. You must arrive in London no later than Sunday, June 16, 2024. Housing is available after 3 pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024, and must be vacated by 10 am on Saturday, July 20, 2024.
Airfares to Europe can vary greatly. London is served by two international airports: Heathrow and Gatwick. Fares usually start to drop in early January but increase quickly as flights for summer travel fill.
If you plan to travel before or after the program, you may want to purchase a Eurail Pass while still in the U.S. It is possible to buy a Eurail Pass at a limited number of Eurail Aid offices in Europe, however, prices are about 20% higher than if you bought the same pass in the U.S. There are also a limited number of regional passes that cannot be purchased in Europe. Individual train tickets can be purchased at train stations. Information about train schedules and tickets is available on their website.
The Certificate in Global Arbitration Law and Practice program is offered solely as a convenience for law students and other graduate students. Participation is entirely voluntary. It is up to the students who choose to participate to make their own travel arrangements to, from, and while in London. Neither Mitchell Hamline School of Law nor other participating law schools have any responsibility or liability for those arrangements.
Passports and Visas
You are responsible to obtain a passport prior to traveling to London. Contact the nearest state department office or post office for further information. Plan ahead and obtain your passport early!
U.S. citizens do not need a visa to travel to the U.K. for a short course of study. You may be asked to present your letter of purpose from Mitchell Hamline School of Law (sent in your information packet), along with your round trip ticket, to customs officials upon arrival in the U.K.
Generally passports must be valid for another six months before you depart for international travel. Depending on which country you are traveling to, the six-month period may begin from the date you leave that country or the date you arrive. Be sure to check the rules for the countries you plan to travel to and from and update your passport if needed.
For non-U.S. citizens/nationals, please consult the U.K. Border Agency as well as the U.K. Visa Services to determine if your home country is defined as a visa national country. If you are in need of prior entry clearance, please apply early.
Please note that student visitors are not eligible to work in the U.K. at paid or unpaid employment, including internships.
The United States Embassy
33 Nine Elms Lane
London, SW11 7US
United Kingdom
Switchboard: [44] (0) 20 7499-9000
Housing
Mitchell Hamline provides a limited number of student studio apartments for the duration of the program. Those choosing this option you will stay in Chapter House London Highbury Residence (I or II) or Islington apartment buildings, located in Zone 2 in the heart of north London. All three buildings are within 5 minutes of a tube station and a short tube ride to the classroom at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (Queen Mary University of London Law School, Lincoln’s Inn Fields Campus) in the legal district of Central London where classes are held.
Accommodations include a private ensuite room with kitchenette, on-site laundry, high-speed internet, and other amenities. Bedding, towels, and kitchen supplies are included.
Because of the mild London weather student residence is not air-conditioned as is the case with many establishments in London.
Rooms are available after 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2024, and must be vacated by 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday, July 20, 2024. All students must arrive in London no later than Sunday, June 16, 2024, to participate in the orientation and welcome dinner.
Grading and Credits
Students will be awarded a letter grade on an A-F scale based on criteria announced by each faculty member.
Students must attend all class sessions and complete advance reading assignments. For the International Trade and Investment Dispute Settlement as well as Introduction to U.S. Arbitration Law: Domestic and International Aspects courses, you must complete an exam. In lieu of an in-class final examination, students complete a series of graded in-class arbitration simulations in the International Commercial Arbitration Theory and Practice course. There are no prerequisites.
Acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the program is subject to determination by the participant’s home school. Students interested in using credits earned in a foreign study program to accelerate graduation should consult with their home school to determine if the acceleration is a possibility, considering ABA Standard 304, Interpretation 304-4.
Note: Mitchell Hamline students are advised that academic credit for “Introduction to U.S. Arbitration Law, Domestic and International Perspectives” is not awarded if you have already taken an introductory arbitration course for law school credit.
Program Cancellation
Mitchell Hamline reserves the right to alter or cancel this program for limited enrollment or if exceptional circumstances (natural disaster, war, political unrest, or similar emergency) occur. You will be promptly notified if a State Department travel warning is issued for the United Kingdom, if there is a major alteration of the program, or if the program is canceled.
In the event of program cancellation, all tuition and fees are refunded. By request, the director will use best efforts to arrange for you to attend a similar program. In the event of material program alteration, you may cancel by sending a letter stating your intentions and request for a refund of tuition and fees within seven days of notification. Refunds are issued within 20 days after program cancellation or receipt of your letter. Mitchell Hamline only provides refunds if the program is cancelled or there is substantial change to the current travel warning.
Students with Disabilities
Housing and scheduled classrooms at Queen Mary University of London are accessible to individuals with disabilities. However, given the age of the campus, this is not the case for all university buildings and facilities. Moreover, the London public transportation system, including many stations on the underground and bus routes, has limited or no access for individuals with disabilities. Disabled students interested in participating in the summer program should contact Kitty Atkins, DRI associate director, [email protected], to discuss accessibility and related issues.
Students possessing a letter of accommodation from their home institution should provide documentation of such accommodation by April 15, 2024 to Kitty Atkins ([email protected]) so that arrangements can be made in London, if possible.
Health Insurance
Participants are strongly encouraged to make their own insurance and medical arrangements before leaving for England. Neither Mitchell Hamline School of Law nor other participating law schools provide insurance coverage or arrange medical care for participants enrolled in the Certificate in Global Arbitration Law and Practice summer program, nor do they have any liability for acting or failing to act in situations requiring emergency medical care.
Travel information and advisories
The most current information on travel warnings is available at the U.S. Department of State Current Travel Warning website.
Consular Information for the UK
The most current Consular Information for the United Kingdom is also available on the Gov.uk website.
Release
Neither Mitchell Hamline School of Law nor any of its trustees, faculty, or staff will be liable for any loss, injury, or damage to persons or property that may be incurred in connection with the events, activities, accommodations, transportation, or other services associated with or incidental to the Certificate in Global Arbitration Law and Practice program. This release includes any loss, injury, or damage that is the result of any activity or passive negligence on the part of the school, its trustees, faculty, or staff. Participating law schools and their trustees, faculty and staff shall have no liability or responsibility for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred as a result of any of the aforementioned causes.