Two specially designed programs are giving American and Italian law students international perspectives in law.

The John Marshall Law School recently hosted a student and faculty delegation from the University of Cagliari in Sardini, Italy, as part of an expanding relationship between the two institutions. In addition, John Marshall Professor Michael Polelle is taking 16 John Marshall students on a summer exchange to the University of Parma in Italy for the third consecutive year.

The relationship between John Marshall and The University of Cagliari began in 1997, when Polelle visited the university to pursue the possibility of a formal educational connection. During that visit, Polelle met with Gianmario Demuro, a professor at Cagliari, the dean of the university and several other professors there who agreed that a relationship would be established.

That beginning furthered in 1998, when Professor William B.T. Mock visited Italy for a week as a guest speaker at Cagliari. Mock also was hosted by the university for his sabbatical in 1998, building an even stronger relationship between the two institutions.

In November 2000, Mock was invited back to Italy to make presentations in a constitutional law and jurisprudence course focusing on constitutional law in the United States.

"We want to continue to improve the relationship between Sardinia and the United States," said Demuro, who, in turn, taught European Governance and Regulation at John Marshall in the Summer 2000 semester as an adjunct professor.

The April visit by the Sardinian students was the first student exchange under the partnership.

"They are the best students in the university," said Demuro, of the 26 honors program students, juniors and seniors in a law curriculum, who were accompanied by three professors.

In the European tradition, the University of Cagliari offers students a four-year degree in law. After college graduation, the students can work as a "practicing lawyer" for two years, and may then choose to join the National Bar Association, apply to be a judge or become a public official or notary public.

Every three years, The University of Cagliari organizes a trip similar to the Chicago visit at no cost to the students.

While in Chicago, the Sardinian students toured the law school, visited a law firm, attended the 12^th Annual Belle R. and Joseph H. Braun Memorial Distinguished Lecture on media violence at John Marshall and joined a class on international business transactions, taught by Professor Mock, who organized this visit. In addition, the students took a bus tour of Chicago and visited several city cultural attractions.

The relationship between the two schools remains in its planning stages, and according to Demuro, both sides "would like to improve the program."

"We can do a lot of things, including exchange programs with students and professors. Eventually, we would like to host John Marshall students," he added.

Polelle also established the relationship between John Marshall and the University of Parma in 1997. During both the summer of 1999 and 2000, a group of six students accompanied Polelle to the Italian university to attend lectures on Italian law, as well as visit Italian cultural attractions.

While in Parma this summer, John Marshall students will attend lectures including the structure of the Italian legal system, Italian constitutional law, the European Central Bank, international law and women, the Italian system of intellectual property and competition law.

Polelle also has planned educational trips to the Italian Parliament in Rome, the Bologna Court system and a tour of the Barilla Pasta plant to discuss intellectual property issues. Students will sightsee and conduct original research, by consulting with the Italian specialists in their area of study.

May 28

Memorial Day

May 30

SPC Meeting, Room 1200A, 9:00 a.m.

May 31

Professor Kordesh Meeting, Room 1101, 9:00 a.m.

June 5

SPC Meeting, Room 1200B, 11:00 a.m.

Alumni Reunion Committee Meeting, Room 1203, 12:00 p.m.

June 6

Alumni Association Annual Meeting, Room 1200, 5:00 p.m.

June 7

Palestinian Law School Project Consortium, Room 1203, 4:00 p.m.

June 8

American Intellectual Property Law Association Annual Meeting, Room 1200, 8:00 a.m.

Golf Open Committee Meeting, Room 1102, 12:00 p.m.