CUA Law: 2024 Summer Abroad Programs
Rome International Human Rights Summer Law Program (Rome) and
International Business and Trade Summer Law Program in Kraków, Poland (IBTSLP)

Thank you for your interest in the Law School’s International Business and Trade Summer Law Program (IBTSLP) in Kraków, Poland, and the International Human Rights Summer Law Program in Rome, Italy (offered in even years). We are excited to offer both programs in the summer of 2024. The programs are tentatively scheduled:

          Sunday, May 12 to Sunday, June 2, 2024 - Rome Program offers a three-week session, two courses, each with two credits

          Sunday, June 9 to Sunday, July 14, 2024 - IBTSLP-Kraków offers two course blocks, each with two 2-credit courses:

          Block 1 runs from June 9-June 26

          Block 2 runs from June 24-July 14

The Rome and Kraków (IBTSLP) summer programs offer mix-and-match options tailored to a student’s interest and time.  Students can go to Rome and Kraków in the same summer or to successive summers. Rome is offered in alternate years while the IBTSLP is offered every summer. Coursework and/or externships in Poland for credit at prestigious law firms and other legal institutions can be combined up to a maximum of 10 credits. You can opt to take:

  • classes in both programs—combining Rome at 4 credits with 2, 4, or 6 credits in the IBTSLP

  • combine 4-credits of classes in Rome with an IBTSLP externship for an additional 4-6 credits. (The externship includes taking the 2-credit Law of the European Union course from June 10-20; the on-line, 1-credit Becoming an International Lawyer course; and 1-3 credits for fieldwork, which students start as early as June 24.)
  • IBTSLP classes in one or both the course blocks (the first beginning June 10, second beginning June 24) with classes alone or combined with externship (packages ranging from 4-10 credits).

We hope that you will be able to join us on one or both of our summer programs in Rome and Kraków in the summer of 2024! We encourage you to visit the summer abroad website frequently for updates. To receive information on the Law School’s summer abroad programs, join our mailing list now by providing us with your contact information.


International Human Rights Summer Law Program Rome, Italy

May 13 to June 2, 2024
The International Human Rights Summer Law Program in Rome allows students to earn four credits over a concentrated three-week program of study. Students study and live in Rome, the Eternal City, which is home to the Holy See, a major international advocate for human rights and provider of humanitarian relief throughout the world. Rome is also the headquarters of the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization as well as other legal and humanitarian institutions of interest to those studying human rights.

In addition, Rome's historical, cultural, religious, and legal significance make it a perfect setting for a concentrated study of human rights law. Students select two 2-credit courses from a menu of courses that focuses on different aspects of human rights law. Formal study is supplemented with planned visits to local legal institutions and organizations, as well as the opportunity to explore the city of Rome and enjoy some of Italy’s religious, cultural, and historic treasures. At the completion of the program, students still have over two months free for summer employment before classes commence for the fall semester. Alternatively, students may continue their legal studies by applying to participate in our International Business and Trade Summer Law Program in Krakow.

2022 - Catholic Law Students and Faculty Attend International Human Rights Summer Law Program in Rome, Italy 
2018 - CUA Law students study human rights law in the Eternal City

2016 – CUA Law Students Participate in CUA’s International Human Rights Summer Law Program in Rome

International Business and Trade Summer Law Program Krakow, Poland


Tentative dates: June 9 – July 14, 2024

Catholic University’s joint venture with the Jagiellonian University in Krakow has provided students with intensive training in the global aspects of modern trade, comparative perspectives on regulated industries and antitrust laws in the U.S. and the EU, international business transactions, and other substantive areas of law. As the nations of our world become more connected and interdependent, and today's lawyers are increasingly called upon to demonstrate competency in the laws of more than one country, our goal is to provide students with the knowledge and skills for global practice.

Poland is an ideal site for our program in law of the European Union and international business and trade, as the nation has undergone numerous transitions to one of the most dynamic economies in the European Union, attracting investment from Germany, China, the United States and many other countries. Foreign investment has driven down labor costs, raised productivity, and contributed to the transformation of Poland into a successful market economy.

While students earn three to six credits, they engage in a true cultural exchange as they study alongside English-speaking Polish students. The rigorous curriculum will be enhanced with activities that include a tour of Krakow and several cultural and historical excursions. For those interested in acquiring practical experience in either an American or Polish law firm or legal institution, externship placements may be arranged through the director of the program either before the program commences or after it has concluded.

2022 - The International Business and Trade Summer Law Program Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

2019 - The International Business and Trade Summer Law Program in Krakow, Poland Remains a Strong Vibrant Opportunity for Law Students

2018 - Law Students Participate in CUA Law's 2018 International Business and Trade Summer Law Program in Krakow, Poland 

2018 (Fall) - CUA Law Reunion Weekend Speaker Series Celebrates 15th Anniversary of the CUA-JU LL.M. in American Law and 27 years of the International Business and Trade Summer Law Program

2017 - CUA 2017 International Business and Trade Summer Law Program, Krakow Poland

2016 – CUA 2016 International Business and Trade Summer Law Program in Krakow, Poland Celebrates 25th Anniversary

If you have any questions, please Constantia Dedoulis, Director of Institutes and Special Programs at institutes@cua.edu or contact Professor Susanna Fischer, Director of the Rome program (fischer@cua.edu) or Professor Leah Wortham, Director of the IBTSLP-Krakow program (wortham@cua.edu).