Oxford Summer Law Program

Here are a few highlights of the benefits of the Oxford Summer Law Program:

• You will learn about the British and American legal systems as well as comparative and international law subjects, through a combination of class work, guest lectures by distinguished British academics and policy makers, and field trips in Oxford and London. These are designed to broaden and deepen students’ understanding of Britain’s history, culture, and legal system.

• You will be able to take the Comparative Legal Professions course to gain a comparative perspective of the rules on legal ethics from different countries outside of the U.S. and meet the JD degree's professional responsibility requirement at the same time.
• The program will add a global perspective and experience to your legal education. You will be taught by the faculty members of both OSU and the host university - Oxford University, a feature that many study abroad programs do not offer. The professors at OSU and Oxford University have vast experience in teaching and practicing international law .
• With up to 6 credits earned in this summer program, you will be able to reduce your course load in the second and third year, freeing up more time for you to focus on an externship, job search, or bar exam preparation upon return to the U.S., or simply to have extra time to relax!
• The program provides room and board during your entire program, making it a hassle-free experience for you to focus solely on studying and exploring England and Europe at the same time! You will be living in the historic setting of Oxford's Brasenose College, where your daily activities, including lectures, dining, social activities and more will take place. You will not only benefit from the convenience of having all activities in one place, but also enjoy the tranquility of Oxford without having to worry about your daily needs.
• You will be able to expand your networks with globally minded law students and practitioners, and open up yourselves to a new worldview and new people.
• You will be able to take advantage of the central location of London to travel around England and Europe.

• Last but not least, with the mission to train new generations of global lawyers and leaders, Moritz subsidizes the Oxford Summer Program. As a result, the program's total costs are relatively reasonable compared to many other study abroad programs at other law schools.  Last year's program fee was $8,300.

Courses 

There will be four courses offered in the Oxford Law Summer Program. All of the courses offered count toward Moritz graduation requirements, and students may take up to six credits toward their J.D. degree. This increases the flexibility of your schedule in the second and third year of law school. The Comparative Legal Professions course satisfies Moritz’s Legal Professions requirement and the Ohio bar’s legal ethics requirement (though not the additional requirement of one hour of instruction on substance abuse). Other law schools have also accepted credits from Moritz's Oxford summer program in the past, although non-Moritz students must confirm the credit transfer with their own law schools. Those planning on seeking bar admission in another state's bar other than Ohio bar should likewise check with that state.

1. Comparative Legal Professions (3 credit hours)

Professor Todd Starker, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

This course is designed to broadly explore the laws governing the practice of law. To understand the rules governing lawyers in the United States, the course will delve into the Model Rules of Professional Conduct by applying the text of the rules to complex hypothetical problems. This is not a test preparation course for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), but much of the material covered will help prepare for that exam. The course will also explore global issues with respect to the legal profession. It will consider ethical issues facing lawyers who practice in the United States on international matters and examine how the law governing the legal profession is different in other countries.

2. Regulation of Emerging Technologies - Cyberspace and Artificial Intelligence (2 credit hours)

Professor Tsvetelina Van Benthem, Oxford University Faculty of Law

Artificial intelligence, cyberspace, digital propaganda, ransomware – all words that we encounter on a daily basis in the media, governmental statements, reports of non-governmental organisations. How are these technologies and technology-enabled human activities regulated under domestic and international law? In this course, we will explore the current challenges faced by states in the regulation of new technological frontiers, such as cyberspace, outer space and artificial intelligence, and of emerging risks related to digitally-enabled conduct, such as online propaganda, manipulation operations, and ransomware.  

While these areas present unique challenges, they also pose similar questions of approach to legal regulation. For instance, is existing general international law sufficient to meet new risks, or do we need new technology-specific treaties? How can the law be complemented by confidence- and capacity-building measures to ensure effective implementation? How can we build robust institutions for compliance review and cooperation? 

By way of example, we will explore the range of negative and positive obligations binding states and other relevant actors in relation to online disinformation and hate speech, ransomware, AI biases and unpredictability, space debris. We will explore international law, including the regional approaches of the African Union, European Union and Organisation of American States. We will also analyse relevant domestic regulation through a comparative perspective.  

Seminars in this course will be led by academics, as well as representatives from government and international organisations. 

3. Two additional specialized courses on comparative and international law taught by the Oxford University law faculty: to be announced.

Guest Lectures

In addition to the regularly scheduled classes, the program features at least six lectures by prominent scholars in their respective fields. Topics of past lectures have included “Tony Blair’s Domestic Policy Triumphs 1997-2007,” “The Rise and Rise (or Fall?) of Boris Johnson,” “After Brexit: Implications for the European Union and Britain,” and “Parliament, Politics and Lawmaking in the U.K. – The Role of the House of Lords.”

Excursions

The program also includes numerous educational and cultural side trips. Students will visit courts in London (including the Old Bailey), the English Inns of Court (including the Middle Temple,) and the Houses of Parliament. Trips also include visits to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, Windsor Castle, Runnymede, and the British Museum or the National Gallery in London.

Faculty teaching in the Summer 2024 program

Prof. Todd Starker
Clinical Professor of Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, starker.2@osu.edu

Professor Todd Starker will serve as the Resident Director of the 2024 Oxford Law Summer Program. He will be also teaching the Comparative Legal Professions course in the program.

Prof. Starker teaches Legal Analysis and Writing, Transactional Practice, and Accounting and Finance for Lawyers at the Moritz College of Law. Prior to joining the faculty at Moritz full time, he clerked for the Honorable Alan E. Norris of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, practiced at the international law firm of Squire Patton Boggs, and taught Appellate Advocacy at Moritz as an adjunct professor.

In his practice, Professor Starker represented clients of all sizes in corporate, real estate, financing transactions, and securities offerings, each ranging from a few hundred thousand to several billion dollars. He also represented the United States Department of the Treasury in dozens of transactions in connection with its Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and Hardest Hit Fund.

Professor Starker earned a J.D. from Moritz in 2007, where he served as editor in chief of the Ohio State Law Journal; an M.B.A. from the Fisher College of Business in 1996; and a B.A. in mathematics from The Ohio State University in 1992.

Tsvetelina van Benthem

Lecturer in Public International Law @ Merton College, University of Oxford

Prof. van Benthem is a generalist international lawyer specialising in international human rights law, the law of armed conflict, international criminal law and the regulation of emerging technologies. Tsvetelina is a lecturer in international law for the Oxford Diplomatic Studies and Foundations of Diplomacy Programmes. She is a seminar leader for the international law stream of the Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government and a research officer at the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC) where she is part of the core team convening the Oxford Process on International Law Protections in Cyberspace. She co-convenes the Oxford Transitional Justice Research group and presides over the Bulgarian-registered educational NGO Centre for International Law ‘Erga Omnes’.

Prof. van Benthem has worked for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the area of cyber threats, for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence project on Ethical Principles for AI in Defence, and for cyber regulation projects funded by the Government of Japan and Microsoft.

Two other professor at Oxford University Law Faculty. More details to come.

Applications for acceptance to the Oxford Summer Law Program 2025 are now open

Who May Apply

J.D. students who will have completed at least one academic year and who will be in good standing at an ABA-approved law school by June 30, 2024 may apply via our online application for admission. Graduate students in law-related fields will be considered for admission on an individual basis.

Application Deadline and Fee:

The application deadline is March 1, 2025. An application fee of $150 is due by credit or debit card at the time of submitting the online application. The application fee is non-refundable except where (i) the applicant withdraws application before March 1, 2025, (ii) the applicant is denied admission to the program, or (iii) the program were to be cancelled.

Application Process

1. For OSU students: complete and submit an online application. 
2. For non-OSU students currently enrolled in a JD program at an ABA-approved law school: please express your interest via this online interest form before applying. Upon receipt of your interest form, we will reach out to you to guide you through the application process as a non-OSU student. If you have any questions, please contact the Oxford program administrators at MoritzOxford@osu.edu.

Notification of Acceptance

Preliminary acceptance notification will be sent on a rolling basis and within 3-5 days from the receipt of your complete application.

The official acceptance notification will be communicated immediately after the March 1 deadline. Applicants have 10 days from the date of receipt of the official acceptance notification to commit to the program or decline the offer of admission.

Withdrawal/Cancellation

• By committing to the program (i.e. accepting the offer of admission), you are agreeing to participate in the program, and you understand and are bound by the Program's Cancellation Policy if you withdraw from the program after committing to the program.
• In addition, since global conditions may change rapidly, you acknowledge that The Ohio State University reserves the right to cancel this program at any time should conditions warrant, including but not limited to the event of under-enrollment or other compelling circumstances that prevent the program from being held. All fees, including application fee, will be immediately returned in the event of cancellation.

Contact Information

For information, please contact program administrators at MoritzOxford@osu.edu.

1. Flat program fee:

The Oxford Law Summer Program charges a flat program fee. The 2025 Program Fee will be announced in October.

The flat program fee will include:

• Instructional fees for up 6 credits and mandatory guest lectures, site visits & excursions
• Housing and meal (dorm style; 3 meals daily on site Monday-Sunday)
• Books
• Supplemental health insurance through GeoBlue Travel Insurance for the duration of the program (NOTE: participants must maintain their primary health insurance from the U.S. while studying abroad)
• Welcome and farewell receptions, and a formal farewell dinner

2. Non-refundable fees: $200 (a $150 application fee and a $50 administrative fee)

3. Out-of-pocket costs: These expenses include airfare to and from UK, and all other personal expenses (such as passport/visa fees, immunizations if required, supplies during the program, entertainment expenses, and local transportation and travel expenses). Out-of-pocket costs may be higher depending on each individual’s needs and lifestyle.

4. Financial Aid:

For financial aid related questions, please email lawfinaid@osu.edu or 614.292.8807.

Non-OSU students should consult with their own law school's Financial Aid Office as well as coordinate with Mr. Marc Nawrocki at lawfinaid@osu.edu. Each university does financial aid differently. Sometimes the students are given the money from their university, and sometimes the university sends it straight to OSU. In order to complete this process, students should coordinate with Mr. Nawrocki at lawfinaid@osu.edu.

Participants of the Oxford Summer Program will study and live at the Brasenose College, University of Oxford. Brasenose Hall was established on the current site of the College in the 13th century. The College has a long and distinguished tradition in the teaching of Law.

The participants of the Oxford Summer Law Program will be staying in dorm style rooms with shared bathrooms on each floor. While the floors are mixed-gender, we will strive to minimize different genders sharing bathrooms. View sample pictures here. The Brasenose College Welcome Leaflet also provides an overview of the site where our program will be hosted.

The Brasenose College has classrooms, a dining hall, student living facilities, and faculty/administrative offices. Besides side trips and excursions, all classroom activities take place at the College. Meals are served on site in the dining hall of the College. The program will provide room and board for program participants, except for the weekends during which only the Bed &Breakfast option is available (i.e. on the weekends students will be served only breakfasts and not lunch and dinner). 

The College has laundry room on site for students to use at any time.

The University of Oxford and its colleges are generally accessible to students with disabilities. The directors of the program are committed to making accommodations, when feasible, to allow students with disabilities to participate fully in the program and in student life.

Visa

Students with a valid U.S. passport can enter the U.K. and European countries that are members of the Schengen Agreement and can stay in these countries for up to 90 days for tourism or business. Since participants in the Oxford Summer Program will be present in England to study in a non-degree program a short duration, those with a valid U.S. passport are not required to apply for a visa to enter England for this purpose. Similarly, you can travel within the Schengen area with your U.S. passport without a visa while you are in Europe next summer. Learn more about traveling to and in Europe on the website of the U.S. Department of State.

If you are not a U.S. citizen and hence do not have a U.S. passport, you may need to apply for a visa to enter the U.K. Please check if you need a U.K. visa and how to apply for a visa to visit the U.K. here.

Located 54 miles northwest of London, the ancient city of Oxford is home to a renowned university that dates from the twelfth century. The city enjoys a remarkably rich artistic and cultural life, and is within easy reach of splendid countryside and unspoiled villages. The city and its university provide an exciting setting for a study program in law.

The University of Oxford began as a confederation of independent colleges. The extensive grounds and magnificent buildings of the colleges still exist, each as a self-contained academic unit with a dining hall, classrooms, student living and recreational facilities, and faculty offices.

Read more about Oxford (from The New York Times)

The Oxford program can be of substantial value in helping students find a job. The program offers instruction in comparative and international law subjects, something that is vital in an age where the practice of law has become increasingly transnational. Over the years, many students have reported that law firms and other prospective employers are interested in discussing their Oxford experience during interviews. In addition, getting to know Moritz professors on a more informal basis while taking courses from them can help students develop relationships that form the basis for recommendation letters and other networking opportunities.

All of the courses offered count toward Moritz graduation requirements, and students may take up to six credits toward their J.D. degree. This increases the flexibility of your schedule in the second and third year of law school. The Comparative Legal Professions course satisfies Moritz’s Legal Professions requirement and the Ohio bar’s legal ethics requirement (though not the additional requirement of one hour of instruction on substance abuse). Other law schools have also accepted credits from Moritz's Oxford summer program in the past, although non-Moritz students should confirm the credit transfer with their own law schools. Those planning on applying for another state’s bar should likewise check with that state. Pursuant to ABA guidelines, participants should be aware that it is unlikely that participation in a foreign summer program may be used to accelerate graduation.

Yes, you may be eligible to get a loan for tuition and other expenses associated with the Oxford Summer Program. You should consult Marc Nawrocki in Moritz’s financial aid office, at lawfinaid@osu.edu or 614.292.8807.

Non OSU students should consult with their own law school's Financial Aid Office as well as coordinate with Mr. Marc Nawrocki at lawfinaid@osu.edu. Each university does financial aid differently. Sometimes the students are given the money from their university, and sometimes the university sends it straight to OSU. In order to complete this process, students should request the consortium agreement from their university and ask the university to work with Mr. Nawrocki.

Yes. The program runs for four to five weeks starting in July each year, which allows for at least six weeks of summer work before Oxford classes commence. Many past participants in the program have worked for the first part of the summer before attending the Oxford Summer Program. Students interested in “splitting” their summer between work and Oxford should consider applying for research assistant positions with professors.

Please note that students participating in the Oxford Summer Program are NOT allowed to work for pay, or do any unpaid internships while in the UK. This is a condition of their visa and is not negotiable.

Admission to both the Oxford Summer Program and to each of the courses offered within this Program is on a first-come, first-served basis, so we do not know precisely when the program will fill up. You should therefore apply as soon as possible, and it is strongly recommended that applications be submitted by March 1 of the year in which you wish to participate in the program. You should also be aware that some courses are likely to fill up before others. Those interested in a particular class are advised to get their applications as soon as possible.

See Application Process section above.

This varies a great deal from student to student, and depends on their lifestyle choices while in Oxford and the amount of extra travel they do. The only truly unavoidable expenses are the program fee, transportation to and from Oxford, and the cost of living difference between the US and Oxford (everything here is just a bit more expensive).  Those who travel a lot and eat out/go out often will spend more; those who travel less and eat the meals provided by the host college will spend less. The best source of more precise information about this is likely to be their friends currently in the program.