The Florence Summer Law Program provides an opportunity for Gonzaga Law students to study comparative and international law in the center of Florence, Italy. The Gonzaga in Florence campus is located in the heart of the University District of Florence, in the center of the cultural and historical center of Florence, Italy. Steeped in the commitment to global justice and the connections between the interdependent systems of international law, the Florence Summer Law Program is an opportunity to study in a fully ABA and ALS accredited school, internationally.
Four classes are offered each summer in Florence. The courses, all taught by Gonzaga Law professors, focus on comparative or international legal topics. Students are expected to enroll in 4 credits of classes during the one-month program.
Located 1-1/2 blocks north of the Piazza San Marco, the facility overlooks the Medici’s botanical garden, the Giardino dei Semplici. It is situated in the heart of the University of Florence district and near the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore — known as the “Duomo.”
The refurbished building has a computer lab, wireless access in the classrooms, and a library with English-language books and periodicals.
“Studying abroad in Florence was a wonderful experience. The opportunity to get to know my classmates and professors in an informal yet dynamic setting was priceless. It was a great way to spend a portion of the summer, and the schedule left lots of time to work at Columbia Legal Services, a non-profit legal aid organization, when I returned.
My varied summer experience at the end of my first year certainly contributed to securing my current employment as a law clerk with the Washington State Supreme Court. Employers look for well-rounded candidates who show a passion for learning and the law; a study abroad program indicates an interest in both. Work experience is important, and it certainly came up in my interview with State Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge. But we discussed many other things as well, including my interest in international human rights and women’s rights, which developed out of my Florence classes. In addition, I recently published a law review article on violence and exploitation of women workers abroad, a topic that was covered in both courses. I easily got the best of all worlds that summer after my first year and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Grace Spencer
Gonzaga University School of Law alumna
“Many students might look at the brochure and be dissuaded by the cost. I know that I was at first. But the truth be told, it was worth every penny. The experience you gain in Florence far surpasses anything that can be offered to you at home. The city, the culture, the people, the classes, the professors, all combine to give you a month of your life that you will never forget. If I could give any advice to any student at Gonzaga Law or any other law school, it would be: sign up for Florence, RIGHT NOW!”
Steven Giaier
Gonzaga University School of Law
