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Some of the students currently participating in Duke Law’s study-abroad program sent along photos and descriptions of their experiences:

"Studying abroad in Barcelona has provided me with a broader legal education. The law classes at ESADE have enhanced my understanding of the law by allowing me to compare and contrast different legal systems. Additionally, experiencing and sharing different perspectives and beliefs have contributed to both my educational and cultural learning. I would strongly encourage any Duke Law student to take advantage of the opportunity to study in Barcelona."

— Mary Ma '14
ESADE Law School, Barcelona, Spain

Third-year students (left to right) Mary Ma, Ashley Eisenberg, Julian Veshi, and Neil Wali in Monte Carlo, Monaco. All four are spending the Fall semester studying at ESADE Law School in Barcelona, Spain.

"I absolutely love it here. Bond University has a large number of international students and I have met people from all around the world – Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, China, Singapore, and many other countries. The classes are all fairly small. Most of mine have fewer than 30 students, and in one, I am one of only ten students. The professors really care about the students and are accessible most of the time. 

"Apart from the academics, Bond is great about constantly having activities for the students. I participated in a surf camp this past weekend, I will be attending a school-organized Halloween trip to Sydney this coming weekend, and a handful of my friends joined the Scuba Club and received their scuba certification. There is definitely a social atmosphere on campus and the school sponsors weekly parties and events and provides buses and transportation to get to and from the event locations. I would definitely recommend the exchange program to anyone who wants an international experience that still feels somewhat like home."

— Blair Perkins '14
Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia

"My experience studying abroad has been one of the best of my life. My biggest regret from my time as an undergrad was that I never studied abroad, so I’m glad Duke Law has such a wide variety of programs from which to choose. Weekend travel has been convenient and relatively inexpensive. Thus far I've visited the south of France, Paris, London, Berlin, and have trips to Amsterdam and Turkey planned for the near future. I have also made trips to meet up with European LLM friends in Paris, and others are coming to visit in Barcelona, which really reflects the worldwide network that Duke Law fosters. The strong alumni network here at ESADE is an added benefit as well."

— Neil Wali '14
ESADE Law School, Barcelona, Spain

"My experience abroad has been liberating in ways that I never could have anticipated; I can say with confidence that I've gained more cultural awareness in these past eight weeks than I have in my entire academic and professional career. I have never regretted my decision to go to law school and now, having had this experience, I feel more fulfilled - both academically and personally - than I could have ever imagined. I highly encourage all students to consider studying abroad, if for no other reason than to get out of their comfort zones - to learn, to grow and to explore."

— Larissa Boz '14
University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Larissa Boz ’14 (left) enjoys Copenhagen’s Oktoberfest celebration.

"Studying abroad in Barcelona has turned out to be a great decision. I have been able to take classes that are not traditionally offered at Duke, mainly in the area of European Union law. I have met many people with different backgrounds and experiences and I have been able to travel to many other European countries in my free time. I would highly recommend studying abroad to anyone!"

— Julian Veshi '14
ESADE Law School, Barcelona, Spain

"Studying abroad has been an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend it to everyone!  We have taken interesting classes with an international focus, met great people, and been able to travel pretty extensively.  Overall, an amazing experience and a great way to spend a semester."

— Ashley Eisenberg '14
ESADE Law School, Barcelona, Spain

Students who want to study law in a different context have options all over the globe, thanks to Duke Law's partnership with 21 universities offering a variety of international exchange opportunities.

“We frequently hear from alumni that studying abroad for a semester had a profound effect on their careers,” says Associate Dean for International Studies Jennifer Maher. “They learned new subjects and perspectives, they improved their language ability, and they developed ‘cultural competency.’  Those extra skills opened new avenues for them, allowing them to move to overseas offices or be brought into transnational cases in their practice, or to join international organizations or governmental offices.  Study abroad is one of many ways Duke Law helps students prepare for international legal careers.”