The Leiden Law Courses
The faculty of law of the University of Leiden in the Netherlands conducts a program of courses in English for law students from other European countries and the United States. The program, collectively called the Leiden Law Courses (LLC), has been in operation since 1989. Around 250 students participate in the program each year. 
The Leiden program brings American students into direct participation in the academic life of a European law school. Its curriculum is designed and taught by the Leiden faculty as an integral part of its enterprise. The courses in the program are cross-listed with the program taken by students in the University's regular law program: Dutch students, students from other European countries, and American students take the classes together, with English as the language of instruction. Participants in the program thus are, in effect, students at Leiden University for their term of enrollment. 
We joined the program for the first time in 1995 and have received full ABA accreditation for our participation. Rutgers-Newark students join students from several other American law schools -- Boston University, Connecticut, Florida, Hastings, Michigan, and Texas. 
The LLC's offerings center on international law, comparative law, legal history, the law of the European Union, and law and economics in the international context. Our law school's curriculum does not include many of the courses taught at Leiden, some of which are of increasing pertinence to the practice of the leading American law firms. Accordingly, the program should be of particular interest to students who look toward practice in international business transaction, international trade regulation, and public international law. Copies of the Leiden catalog are reserved in the library. Up to date information can also be obtained by visiting the website of the Leiden Law courses: 
http://www.leiden.edu/studyabroadinLeiden/index.php3?m=2&c=200&garb=0.5719169518603324

Leiden University
Leiden University was founded in 1575, and for centuries has been one of Europe's most respected educational institutions. Its physical facilities are integrated into the town rather than collected on a campus, in the manner of continental universities, and include many historic buildings. The town of Leiden has a population of around 100,000, and its life is very much centered around the university. 

The Leiden Faculty and Administration
Most of the faculty of the Leiden Law Courses come from the School of Law, but members of the political science and economics faculties also teach in the program. The foreign students program is separately administered as a subdepartment of the School of Law. 
Our participation is administered by Professor Mark, Associate Dean for Institutional Affairs. Nicky Fornarotto, Financial Aid Coordinator, handles administrative matters.

Admission, Application and Selection
The law school seeks to enroll between two and five students per year in the LLC. Selection decisions are made by a committee that includes Dean Mark.
Those who wish to apply should submit a letter explaining the student's interest in the program and suggesting courses that the student might wish to take. Applicants also understand that the Leiden Committee will review the student's transcript.  Interviews may be conducted at the Committee's discretion. Application materials should be submitted to Nicky Fornarotto by September 17, 2007. Decisions will be made quickly. 

Course of Study, Calendar, and Degree Credit
The Leiden Law Courses are divided into four themes: Foreign and Comparative Law, International and European Community Law, Legal History, and Free Subjects (primarily, law and economics and jurisprudence). 
Leiden recently converted back to a semester system.  Our students are eligible for classes held in the spring semester. The semester is broken up into two terms; the first term usually runs from early February through the end of March and the second term runs from April through early June. The number of class meeting hours varies from course to course. Reading loads vary from 400 to 1,200 pages. Depending on the students' course selection, the term can end at any time from the beginning of May to the end of June.
The full Spring 2008 course schedule can also be found on Leiden's website. 
The mode of instruction at Leiden differs from the practice in American law schools. It contemplates a greater proportion of student time spent on outside reading and writing and a lesser proportion spent sitting in class than is the case with legal education here.  Professor Mark will have final say in approving a program that justifies 11 semester credits for work done in Leiden.  As a practical matter, our students will usually take four substantial LLC courses to earn 11 credits  In addition, in order to make up for the shortened instructional period caused by the change in academic calendar, students must enroll in at least one Independent Research credit here at Rutgers and produce a paper on a topic approved by Professor Mark.
Students will register here for a Leiden semester and then depart for Leiden and register again there for a course of study approved in advance over here; degree credit will be awarded only for courses taken with prior approval here. Programs and credit loads are separately worked out by each participating student and Professor Mark. 
Leiden grades students on a scale of one to ten, with six being the lowest passing grade. This is a tough grading system, but you should know that the Rutgers students have done very well. Indeed, the Leiden faculty generally has been pleased with the quality of the work done by American students. But there have been some failures. Their system, however, allows for second chances through re-examination. Our rule respecting degree credit and Leiden grades is as follows: If the average grade of all courses taken is 6.0, we will grant degree credit for grades of 5.5 or higher; if the average grade of all courses taken is less than 5.5, we will grant degree credit only for courses with a grade of 6.0 or higher. 

Tuition, Expenses and Housing
Students pay tuition for the LLC courses they take at Leiden in euros (the guilder having been abolished on January 1, 2002). Leiden's rate is 4600 euros per semester or approximately $6,300 at the current exchange rate (Sept. 2007).  
Students will also be required to pay to Rutgers an off-campus student fee of $100, and a reduced computer fee of $20. Students must also enroll in at least one unscheduled credit at Rutgers, which may be journal credits, independent research, etc., for which they must pay the applicable per credit tuition rate to the University. 
We have also been informed that beginning July 1, 2002, foreign students studying at Leiden are required to apply for a residence permit, and that the fee for applying for such a permit is 258 euro, or approximately $350 USD.  Leiden University advises that there is nothing they can do to avoid this new charge, so please take it into account in budgeting for your semester.
There is an estimated cost of 600 euros per month for room and board and other expenses. Northwest Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines all have direct flights between Newark and Amsterdam for under $900 (round trip). Medical insurance is arranged here through the University. The policy costs a little over $100 and pays medical expenses up to $2,500, subject to a small deductible. Students also are encouraged to enroll in an optional Major Medical Policy. Student accommodations are arranged through Leiden University's student housing office or independently. 
Expenses have not been a problem for Rutgers students at Leiden. Past experience shows that Rutgers students can go to school at Leiden for roughly what it costs to go to school here and still have some money left over for travel in Europe.