Czech/Slovak Legal Institute
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Following the Velvet Revolution and a visit to Brno, faculty and alumni of the Law School, together with the encouragement and support of the dean of the law school, 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.
Opportunities at the Institute
Through academic exchanges, international partnerships, and immersive travel experiences, the Czech/Slovak Legal Institute at UIC Law connects students, faculty, and legal professionals with unique opportunities to engage in cross-cultural learning and scholarship. From welcoming visiting scholars and fellows to leading study tours abroad, the Institute fosters meaningful dialogue and collaboration between the U.S. and Central Europe. View some of the opportunities to engage below.
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The Czech/Slovak Institute regularly extends invitations to distinguished scholars and legal professionals from Metropolitan University Prague (MUP), the Constitutional, Administrative, and Supreme Courts of the Czech Republic, as well as other academic and legal institutions. During their time at UIC Law, these visitors contribute to the advancement of legal education at the school by delivering guest lectures, participating in conferences, engaging in collaborative research, and mentoring students. These programs not only strengthen academic exchange between the U.S. and Central Europe but also give the UIC Law community direct access to international perspectives on law, governance, and policy.
Most recently, Professor Michael Seng and the Czech/Slovak Legal Institute hosted a special “Noon Hour Lecture” event featuring Academic Lecturer and Researcher JUDr. Radka MacGregor Pelikanova from the Metropolitan University of Prague.
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Each fall since 1993, (except in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 outbreak), UIC Law has arranged a 10-day study tour to the Czech and Slovak Republics for American lawyers, judges, and others who are interested in Czech and Slovak politics and culture. Participants visit sites in the Czech Republic, especially those with a legal significance, including the Czech Bar Association, the courts, and other government agencies. The tour often includes short visits to other nearby countries, including Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Members of the group make presentations to the law students at Masaryk University in Brno on United States law. These lectures are enthusiastically received by the students. During the trip applicants are interviewed by professors from UIC Law for selection as exchange students for the following year. The school also hosts a reception in Brno for prospective exchange students, past exchange students that have returned to the Czech Republic, professors from the law faculty at Masaryk University, and other friends of the Law School
Czech Institute Director Honored with Prestigious Award
During the 2024 Czech/Slovak Study Tour, Professor Michael Seng, director of the Institute, was honored with the prestigious Gratias Agit Award, presented by the Czech Foreign Minister. This award is the highest form of recognition the Czech Republic bestows on non-Czech citizens who have made exceptional contributions to promoting the country’s reputation abroad, strengthening international relations, and supporting Czech culture and society. Professor Seng received the award in recognition of his decades-long commitment to fostering academic exchange, advancing legal education, and building enduring partnerships between UIC Law and institutions in the Czech and Slovak Republics.