Czech/Slovak Legal Institute

Following the Velvet Revolution and a visit to Brno, faculty and alumni of the Law School, with the encouragement and support of then Dean Howard T. Markey, established the Czech/Slovak Legal Institute. It was an interest in helping the Czech and Slovak Republics emerge from the communist era as independent nations committed to the rule of law that led to the establishment of the institute. A variety of programs for students, attorneys, judges, and friends of the Law School were created over the years to foster a better understanding of the U.S. legal system, as well as an appreciation of the cultures of the three partnering nations.

Visiting Scholars & Fellowships Heading link

The Institute regularly extends invitations and arranges programs and visits with individuals from Metropolitan University Prague (MUP); the Constitutional, Administrative and Supreme Courts of the Czech Republic, and other academic and legal institutions to come to UIC Law to partake in lectures, conferences, fellowships, and research projects.

International Study Opportunities for UIC Law Students Heading link

Study Abroad Programs

UIC Law offers students an opportunity to study law in the Czech Republic at either Metropolitan University Prague (MUP) or Masaryk Faculty of Law during the fall or spring semesters.

Law Courses with International Field Trip Components

In addition, UIC Law students may choose to enroll in a 2-3-credit European Law course presented in the Czech and Slovak Republics. This study opportunity is offered annually during the summer.

Czech/Slovak Study Tour for Friends of the Law School Heading link

A legal study trip for American lawyers, judges, and friends of the Law School to the Czech and Slovak Republics is planned annually. Participants visit the Faculty of Law at Masaryk University in Brno, various courts, government agencies, and private law firms. The participants also present A Day of U.S. Law at Masaryk and may make presentations to members of the Czech and Slovak bar associations.

Seminar for Czech/Slovak Lawyers Heading link

Each year, UIC Law’s Czech/Slovak Legal Institute presents a week-long seminar for Czech and Slovak lawyers in cooperation with the Czech and Slovak Bar Associations. The program is funded in memory of two Law School alumni, Robert Beart and John Drost. The program is designed to develop a better understanding of the American legal and entrepreneurial systems.