International Comparative Law (Kosovo)

Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Pristina, Kosovo

The Center for Law and Business at Mitchell Hamline School of Law offers a unique study abroad program in Kosovo during Summer 2026, in collaboration with the University of Pristina Law Faculty. The program, featuring U.S. faculty and international guest lecturers, provides students with a global perspective on transitional justice, human rights law, property law, and the transformation of a Socialist nation into one with public and private sectors. Special attention is given to the evolution of a market-based economy post-communism and the role of the U.S. in fostering economic development. Coursework includes rigorous, experiential learning with site visits that connect criminal law, property law, and human rights within Kosovo and beyond.

Course I: Transitional Justice in Kosovo and Beyond (classroom component) (3 credits)

Monday, July 6–Friday, July 17, 2026 (classes will take place Monday–Friday, 9:30 am–5:30 pm local time)

The emergence of a new justice-focused legal order following conflicts and significant changes in political, social, and economic structures could hardly be more timely and important. Across the globe, societies grapple with acknowledging historical truths, making reparations, and navigating reconciliation processes to build a sustainable future.

The course is comprised of a combination of lectures, class discussion, and extensive small group break-out sessions that require a hands-on practical application of topics under discussion. Assignments will be comprised of directed writing assignments on curated topics. Students will have the opportunity to hear from guest lectures by legal scholars from the University of Pristina, and other experts in human rights and legal practice. The classroom environment is designed to foster a truly global perspective, with organized events with lawyers and students from various other countries. This program is designed to provide a unique opportunity to engage with multiple legal cultures and gain a global understanding of the evolving relationship between transitional justice and economic development.

This course will build on the material covered in the classroom component by providing students with an exclusive opportunity to engage directly with key judicial institutions in Kosovo. The program includes visits to courthouses and meetings with the Supreme Court of Kosovo, appellate and trial court judges—including those from the privatization court—amongst other locations. These experiences will deepen students’ understanding of Kosovo’s legal framework, judicial practices, and corrections system, complementing their academic studies with real-world insights and practical exposure. Assignments will focus on the development of relevant and appropriate interview plans to be used at the meetings, and detailed contemporaneous notetaking of each of the interviewees.

If enrollment is sufficient, a weekend field trip to nearby cities of historical, cultural, and economic significance will be included.

Program faculty

The Kosovo Summer School faculty bring real-life, international experience to the classroom. The professors teach at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and there will be guest speakers from the University of Pristina – Faculty of Law, from other law schools, and from local lawyers and judges. The primary faculty will be comprised of Mitchell Hamline School of Law Professor Kim Vu-Dinh, director of the Center for Law and Business, director of the Economic Inclusion Clinic, and the Chair of the Louis L Ainsworth Distinguished Professorship in Business Law (’25-26)

Professor Vu-Dinh will be joined by incoming faculty member Ian Murray, Associate Professor of Law who will be joining Mitchell Hamline in the 2026-2027 school year.

Kim Vu-Dinh
Louis L. Ainsworth Distinguished Professorship in Business and Law, Director, Center for Law and Business
Professor of Law