Legal Study Trip

Since 1993, The John Marshall Law School has conducted a trip each fall to the Czech and Slovak Republics. The trip is open to lawyers and judges and others who are interested in the development of the rule of law in these formerly communist countries. Since 1993, group participants have been able to observe the transformation of the legal system as well as the economical and social structures of the two countries.

During the early trips, the American participants attended lectures on the Czech and Slovak legal systems by professors at the Faculty of Law at Masaryk University in Brno. More recently, the American participants have provided lectures to law students about American law and the American system of government.

The American participants also present lectures in Prague to law students and lawyers on American legal subjects. These lectures are done in cooperation with the Czech Bar Association.

While on these trips, participants have had the opportunity to visit the Czech Supreme Court, the Czech Constitutional Court, the Office of the Ombudsman, and other government offices and ministries. Participants have also been invited as special guests to the Czech Bar Convention.

Each year several days are schedule in Prague so that the participants can tour that historical and architecturally significant city. The group also visits Brno, the judicial capital of the Czech Republic, where the group visits Masaryk University and renews friendships developed during the various exchange programs between Masaryk and John Marshall. Each year participants visit other regions of the Czech and Slovak Republics. Some of the sites visited in the past have included the towns and regions around Olomouc, Cesky Krumlov, Jindrichuv Hradec, Znojmo, the Bohemian Highlands, Zlin, and Ostrava.

The Czech/Slovak Legal Study Trip -

Sixteenth Annual John Marshall Law School
Study Trip to the Czech Republic
October 15 through October 26, 2008

The 16th Annual John Marshall Law School Study Trip to the Czech Republic will leave Chicago on Wednesday, October 15 and return to Chicago on Sunday, October 26, 2008.  We will fly direct from Chicago to Amsterdam and then to Prague on KLM.  We will return to Chicago from Prague via Amsterdam and, therefore, will clear customs in Chicago.

 The Tour will begin in Magical/HIstoric Prague where we will spend two nights.  On Friday, we will present our regular program on American Law for the Czech Bar Association.  We will also have time to see the sites and monuments in Prague.

On Saturday morning October 18, we will depart Prague for a guided excursion to charming Cesky Krumlov located in South Bohemia and spend the night at a hotel (TBA) in the area.  This town, first mentioned in historical annals in 1274, originated by the unification of the houses below Krumlov Castle and Nove'Mesto (new town) in a meander of the river Vitava.  The town's historic cores has been added to the U-NESCO List of World Cultural Heritage thanks to its outstanding urban and architectural jewels created without a break since the 13th century.  The town owes its characteristic silhouette to its Gothic cum Renaissance. Modified in the Baroque style, it boasts splendid historic interiors dating from the 16th to the 18th century, a grand Masquerade Hall and a unique Baroque theatre.  The chateau is surrounded by a large garden and park.

On Sunday evening, October 19, we will arrive at the Hotel Continental in Brno.  Brno is the largest city in Moravia and the judicial capital of the Czech Republic.  On Monday, October 20, we can explore Brno.  Starting Tuesday, October 21, we will visit the Masaryk University Faculty of Law, the courts and governmental offices.  Our attorney participants will again present a program for the Masaryk University Faculty of Law, the courts and governmental offices.  Our attorney participants will again present a program for the Masaryk law students on American law. On Wednesday, October 22, we are planning a side trip to South Moravia.  Our plans are still flexible but possibly we will visit the ruins of a convent, Rosa Coeli, that was burned down in the 17th Century.  It is a romantic setting with an interesting  history.  We might also visit the baroque church and monastery at Rajhrade.  At one time, it was one of the principle Benedictine houses in South Moravia.

On Thursday evening, October 23, we will host a reception for our Czech friends at the Continental Hotel.  There will be additional time to visit the historical sights in Brno, do shopping, and visit with the many friends we have made over the years.  On Friday morning, October 24, we will return to Prague for more sightseeing and depart for the United States on Sunday, October 26.  

Cost of the trip, including round trip airfare on KLM (Chicago/Prague via Amsterdam) and hotel (including breakfast) is $2,865, single occupancy.  The cost for a double occupancy (second person sharing room) is $2,765.  We have been driven by the rising cost of fuel and the lower exchange of the dollar to increase the cost.  We have been notified that additional fuel surcharges may be added to the cost of the airfare.  We will notify participants should that occur.  Also, we recommend that participants purchase travel protection insurance.  We will mail the insurance information to you upon receipt of your registration. 

Attorney participants should be eligible for continuing legal education credit hours.  More information on CLE hours for attorneys will be forthcoming.

For more information, please contact:

Professor Michael P. Seng or RoseMarie Knight
The John Marshall Law School
315 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604
or phone 312-987-2397.

The itinerary is subject to change.

For Terms and Conditions click here.

For Registration Form click here.

For Payment Transmittal click here.

Photos from past trips.

Participants in the John Marshall Law School Czech Study Trip attending a
private Baroque concert in Prague, October 2001.

 

Participants in the John Marshall Law School Czech Study Trip traveling
to the Christening of Judy and Lester Munson's grandson in Prague, October 2003.

 

Lester Munson lectures to a class of students at Masaryk University, October 2003.