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Penn Law signs agreement with London School of Economics and Political Science Law Department

May 30, 2018

New Academic Building at the London School of Economics and Political Science
New Academic Building at the London School of Economics and Political Science
The agreement will facilitate a program for Penn Law JD students to spend the fall semester in LSE Law’s LLM (Master of Laws) program

The University of Pennsylvania Law School and the London School of Economics and Political Science Law Department have signed an Agreement which will facilitate a program for Penn Law JD students to spend the fall semester of their third year enrolled in LSE Law’s LLM (Master of Laws) program.

The Study Abroad Program agreement, signed by Penn Law Dean Ted Ruger and Head of LSE’s Law Department Jeremy Horder, was facilitated by Rangita de Silva de Alwis, the Associate Dean for International Programs, and states that each year Penn Law will send up to three law students to LSE Law, where they will complete the Michaelmas term between September and December.

The LSE courses in which Penn Law students will participate will be in a broad range of fields including arbitration, human rights, international law, corporate, commercial, and financial law.

“Students selected to study at LSE Law will have the opportunity to build global peer networks while studying at one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the UK, in the heart of London,” said Penn Law Dean Ted Ruger. “This agreement offers students a course of study in law from different perspectives, jurisdictions, and disciplines, while providing an unique opportunity for our students to engage with peers from all over the world and a faculty with a well-deserved global reputation for excellence.”

Jeremy Horder, Head of the Law Department and Professor of Criminal Law wrote: “This is a historic agreement for the LSE Law department. We are delighted to be entering into partnership with the world-renowned Penn Law. We anticipate a long and fruitful relationship, furthering excellence in both research and study abroad.”

“Penn Law students will enjoy an unparalleled intellectual experience at LSE Law and will remain inspired throughout their legal careers by LSE scholars,” said de Silva de Alwis. “Through these Penn Law students LSE Law will influence the legal profession, government, and academia in the U.S. This agreement is forged at a time when these transnational partnerships are more important now than ever before.”

Professor Conor Gearty, Professor of Human Rights Law at LSE and Director of its LLM Programme, welcomed the new partnership, saying ‘There is an excellent fit between our two law schools and I look forward to many years of mutual co-operation between our two institutions. We especially look forward to seeing the first of the Program’s Penn students at LSE where we can assure them a very warm welcome.’

Apart from the partnership with LSE, Penn Law offers opportunities for study abroad at Hong Kong University, Waseda, Tsinghua, Sciences Po and ESADE, providing students who choose this path a deeper knowledge of foreign law and developing comparative strength.

Located in the heart of London, LSE Law’s LLM offers the highest quality of teaching in small group seminar settings provided by leading international and UK academics. Their approach to the teaching of law combines views and experiences from different disciplinary traditions and jurisdictions, ensuring that what students learn at LSE Law is relevant to legal study and practice in any jurisdiction.

Penn Law traces its history to 1790 when James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, framer of the Constitution, and member of the first U.S. Supreme Court, delivered first lectures in law at what is now the University of Pennsylvania to President George Washington and members of his Cabinet. Today the hallmarks of the Penn Law experience are a cross-disciplinary, globally-focused legal education, and vibrant intellectual community. Penn Law prepares graduates to navigate an increasingly complex world as leaders and influential decision-makers in the law and related fields.