Justice Clarence Thomas Headlines This Year's Nice Study Abroad Program

SAN DIEGO, CA, 9/14/16 – Over the summer, 50 students from four different law schools participated in the Nice Study Abroad Program in Nice, France at the University of Nice School of Law on the French Riviera. The program was from June 27th to July 21st.

Eight French and European students from the University of Nice School of Law also participated in the program and added a truly international perspective to the courses offered.

The featured lecturer of this year's program was U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. Justice Thomas agreed to join the program after the untimely death of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, who was scheduled to teach in the program for the fifth time.

Thomas Jefferson School of Law faculty and staff at this year's program included Nice Study Abroad Program Director and Law Professor Susan Tiefenbrun, Professor Julie Cromer-Young, Professor Kaimipono Wenger, former Thomas Jefferson School of Law Dean Kenneth Vandevelde and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Lisa Ferreira.

Dean Emeritus of Boston University School of Law Ronald Cass also taught in the program.

All the students registered in the Nice Program were able to choose 2 out of the 4 courses offered: International Human Rights, International Intellectual Property, International Business Transactions, and Comparative Constitutional Law.

Students were able to take the Comparative Constitutional Law course taught by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Dean Emeritus Ron Cass and Professor and former Dean Kenneth Vandevelde. Three of the four classes met from 8:30-10:20 am, and the Comparative Constitutional Law class met from 10:30 am-12:20 pm every day of the week except Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

"I created the Nice Program 24 years ago, and I continue to direct it and teach in it every year because I have a deep appreciation for the French language, literature, law, and culture," said Professor Susan Tiefenbrun. "For me this is a labor of love, and my mission is to impart that passion for France to all my students who have this rare opportunity to learn international law together for four weeks with French and European students in a truly international setting."

Students also took three-day weekend trips to many different countries in Europe including Germany, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and many other wonderful places in Europe. The classes all ended at 12:20 pm, except for occasional one-hour lectures by distinguished guests such as Examining Magistrate Caroline Charpentier from the highest court in Marseille, France and Thomas Jefferson School of Law alumna Christie Edwards '07, who now is in charge of the humanitarian law division of the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C.

"Tremendous program with great speakers," said Nice Study Abroad Program attendee. "This program puts Thomas Jefferson School of Law on the top in terms of summer law programs in the country. Professor Tiefenbrun is an amazing, accomplished woman for putting this together."

Thomas Jefferson School of Law offers a comprehensive legal education to a nationally-based, diverse student body. The non-profit law school is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse law schools in the nation, with 52 percent of its most recent class being students of color. Located in Downtown San Diego, Thomas Jefferson Law has evolved into an innovative, cutting-edge law school, devoted to the individual needs and success of its students. More information is available at www.tjsl.edu.

CONTACT: Thomas Jefferson School of Law Director of Marketing and Communications Edgar Hopida, 619-961-4314 or 619-913-0719, ehopida@tjsl.edu