A: No. However, because there are some weeks we meet all day (e.g. when we go to Toronto), and meetings with practitioners will be at variable times, students need to keep 9-4 open each week even though we will not meet for those hours each week. There will also be a couple of Fridays when we don’t meet
A: Yes. We can discuss your 2L class choices to make sure you can fit in all the requirements.
A: LL.M. students interested in Cross-Border Legal Studies should apply for the Cross-Border Legal Studies LL.M. The concentration is for J.D. students.
A: The concentration is designed for students who want to do cross-border legal work, regardless of location. If you want to stay in Buffalo, there are numerous firms and companies in Western New York and Southern Ontario that have cross-border legal work and are interested in students with this skill set. But if you intend to practice anyplace else in the world, this knowledge will position you well for cross-border practice wherever you are. We use the U.S.-Canada border as our laboratory, but the skills you learn are completely transferable.
A: Yes! First of all, if you declare the concentration, you will (after consultation about your interests) be assigned an attorney mentor engaged in cross-border practice.
Second, in the capstone class you will gain valuable advice and experience that will prepare you to enter into a position involving cross-border legal work. You will receive assignments from multiple practitioners (under my supervision and guidance) and have opportunities to interact with those practitioners, sometimes in person and otherwise via phone or email.
Third, these practitioners (who are primarily, though not exclusively, our alumni) are giving their time to our program because they are supportive of the law school and this concentration; believe cross-border practice is a growing area; and want to help train you to be ready to practice. As such, they are keeping their eyes open. Though there is no guarantee that at any given time they will be hiring, these are all practitioners interested in students with this experience (they love the capstone course and all say they wish they had had something like it when they were in law school).
A: Except in unusual circumstances (such as extensive relevant previous work experience), students must pursue the concentration in order to take the capstone class.
A: Get in touch! Email Professor Meredith Kolsky Lewis (mlewis5@buffalo.edu) and we’ll set up a time to meet if you’re already a student, or we can otherwise connect by phone or through email.