Why Study Law Abroad?
I have had the pleasure of attending law school abroad at Koç University in Istanbul, Turkey, and I am currently studying at the University of Copenhagen for one semester. Other American law students have occasionally asked me about the benefits of studying law abroad. Some may wonder whether I will be adequately prepared to practice in the United States, given my focus on foreign law.
My fellow law students and I will enter a legal world that is more globalized than ever before. American clients are increasingly becoming subject to jurisdictions beyond United States borders, as corporations are diversifying their business throughout the world in response to the world-wide economic turmoil in recent years. Now, it would not be uncommon for a business to be incorporated in Delaware, and have affiliated companies in Brazil and France. This same company may well hold bank accounts in Switzerland, have assets in South Africa, invest in Saudi Arabia, and conduct business transactions in Japan. As a result, lawyers may be asked to provide advice on how a French subsidiary of an American parent company would be taxed and whether any international tax conventions apply; what happens if an American financial institution enters into a contract with a Saudi lender and the contract fails to meet the strict requirements of Islamic finance law; or what if an American car dealer enters into a sales contract with a German car manufacturer and the contract fails to meet EU sales directives? Questions such as these are becoming more and more relevant and American attorneys need to be able to provide answers to clients who wish to do business abroad.