STUDY ABROAD IN ASIA
Akron Law offers the only dual-country study abroad program in Japan and Korea involving U.S., Japanese, and Korean law students. Both Akron Law and non-Akron Law students are invited to enhance their knowledge and further distinguish their background through our Asia Study Abroad Program.
Gain insight into global legal careers
The University of Akron School of Law has combined forces with Nagoya University (Japan) and Kyung Hee University (South Korea) to offer an innovative dual-country, tri-city study abroad experience at a very affordable price.
Professor of Law and former University President Matthew Wilson teaches during the 2017 Study Abroad in Asia experience.
Experience Tokyo, Seoul, and Nagoya during the summer semester with practical guidance and instruction from Professors of Law Sarah Cravens and Matthew J. Wilson, experienced international lawyer and Asian law expert. Distinguish yourself and enhance your resume by taking international courses from leading experts. Create lifelong memories by embarking on field trips to legal institutions, interacting with students in Japan and Seoul, making new friends, and exploring Asia. You can also gain valuable insights into global legal careers, as well as acquire a better understanding of the practice of law across political, legal and cultural boundaries.
NEWS
10 best reasons to study abroad this summer
The National Jurist quotes Maggie Krajcer, who attended our Study Abroad in Asia program in 2017. She says the program helped her better understand what international law entails.
Our study abroad program is the only one of its kind in offering law courses in both Japan and South Korea. Our scheduling offers flexibility in several respects. You can earn anywhere from one to six credits towards your law degree. In fact, you can participate in the entire four-week program (Japan and South Korea, or only one of the two-week segments (Japan or South Korea). We offer 3-credits of coursework in Japan, and 3-credits of coursework in Seoul. Additionally, because the program does not start until mid-July, you have flexibility to work or take other law school courses during the first two months of the summer. You can then join us in Asia for the last month of the summer.
The program is approved by the American Bar Association meaning that non-Akron Law students can participate in the program and transfer earned credits back to their home institution.
STUDY ABROAD CLASSES
A total of six credits worth of courses will be offered during the Summer Study Abroad program. U.S. federal financial aid depends on taking at least five credits during the summer semester either in this program, or in a combination with other summer semester courses at your law school. The following are the courses we anticipate offering in Summer 2019.* Please note that acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the program is subject to determination by your home institution.
Cross-Border Practice: Essentials for the International Lawyer (2 credits) (July 15-26 – South Korea)
This course will combine aspects of international jurisdiction, conflicts of law, and cross-border civil litigation to give students a grounding in the doctrine, practice, and ethics essential for the toolkit of any international lawyer. In an intensive team-taught two-week session, we will address a wide range of issues from skills in listening, strategy and cultural competency; to the relevance of critical issues in comparative law (both substantive and procedural) for transnational civil litigation; to a wide array of ancillary issues that closely affect the everyday realities of the practice of law in a cross-border or transnational context. Ethical issues will be woven into the discussion as they play a distinct and vital role in the work of the successful international lawyer. The class will call upon students not only to take active part in discussions of assigned readings, but also to engage in functional skills exercises to cultivate and deploy the tools of the international lawyer in practice. Grades for the course will be based on class participation and performance in a variety of practical skills exercises.
Co-taught by Professor of Law - Matthew Wilson
Co-taught by Professor of Law Sarah Cravens
International Commercial Arbitration (1 credit) (July 15-26 – South Korea)
This course provides an introduction to the field of international commercial arbitration, which has become the default means of settling international disputes. The course will cover the cross-border elements of arbitration from an Asian and American perspective. It will provide an introduction to the field of international commercial arbitration, agreements to arbitration, the selection of arbitrators, the arbitration process, and arbitral award.
Taught by David MacArthur - Partner at Bae, Kim & Lec, llc.
Global Issues in Tort Law (2 credits) (July 29 to Aug. 9 – Japan)
This course gives an overview of essential global issues in the field of Tort Law. Readings and class discussions cover major topics such as: (1) comparisons of the substantive law of particular Torts in different countries; (2) the implications of International Law (e.g. Conventions, Treaties, etc.) for the substantive law of Torts in a given country; (3) the effect of specific statutes that attempt cross-border influence on tortious conduct; (4) issues specific to the practice of cross-border Tort litigation, such as Conflict of Laws, Remedies, Attorneys Fees, etc. Substantive course coverage draws on recent, high-profile examples, and while on the whole truly international in its approach, there is emphasis at various points on comparisons between the law of the U.S. and Japan.
Taught by Professor of Law Sarah Cravens
International Contracting Strategies (1 credit) (July 29 to Aug. 9 – Japan)
Negotiating and drafting international contracts is a risky business. It is also one of the most difficult tasks confronting a young lawyer. This course focuses on understanding the particularities of international contracts. It extends beyond the textbook and bridges the gap between contract theory, contract negotiations and drafting. It also offers practical insights into international contracts such as licenses, distributorships and joint ventures. It will principally focus on developing skills in negotiating and drafting these types of contracts.
Taught by Professor of Law - Matthew Wilson
* If changes become necessary, those will be posted on this website as soon as they are known. If changes are made after students are already enrolled, those students will also be made aware by email.
STUDY ABROAD FACULTY
Matthew J. Wilson
President Wilson was named the fifth president of Missouri Western State University in 2019. Between 2014-2019, he served in various capacities at the University of Akron including Professor of Law, Dean of the School of Law, and University. He has 30 years of international experience in legal, business and educational matters in the United States, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Professor Wilson specializes in international business law, intellectual property law, commercial litigation, international dispute resolution, comparative law, and Japanese law. His publications include articles and books in both English and Japanese regarding jury trials, trial advocacy, cross-border litigation, and comparative law, among other things. Professor Wilson earned both a B.S. in Political Science and a B.A in Asian Studies from the University of Utah, and his J.D. is from Temple University School of Law. He has both law firm and in-house practice experience and has a wide range of academic experience, including having served as the first director of the law program at Temple University's Japan Campus (also serving as Associate Professor of Law, General Counsel, Associate Dean and Senior Associate Dean). Professor Wilson has also served as an international scholar for several years at Kyung Hee University Law School and has taught international negotiations there on several occasions.
Sarah M. R. Cravens
Professor of Law, Sarah Cravens has been with The University of Akron since 2005. She was previously Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Interim Dean of the Williams Honors College. Having previously served as Director of Faculty Research & Development as well as Assistant Dean for Global Engagement, Prof. Cravens also served in the roles of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Interim Co-Dean of Akron Law. She earned her A.B., magna cum laude, from Princeton University, her M. Phil from Cambridge University, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Washington & Lee University, where she was Senior Articles Editor of the Washington & Lee Law Review. Prior to joining the law faculty, Dean Cravens was a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and an associate at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, D.C., where she specialized in products liability litigation. She is admitted to the bar in both Oklahoma and the District of Columbia. Prof. Cravens teaches Torts, Professional Responsibility, Remedies, and Judicial Ethics. She writes in the areas of the judicial role, legal ethics, and theology & law.
David MacArthur
David MacArthur is a Senior Foreign Attorney (partner equivalent) specializing in international arbitration and litigation at Bae, Kim & Lee. BKL is a full‐service law firm with over 500 professionals and offices in Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Min City, Hanoi and Dubai. Named a “standout lawyer” in the Dispute Resolution category by Legal500, David has been praised by clients for his “tremendous energy” and “aggressive advocacy style combined with brutally honest yet balanced advice.” With a background in US commercial litigation and international IP disputes, David has built his career over the last decade in international arbitration. He has represented clients from various countries in dozens of arbitrations in automotive, shipbuilding, telecommunications, online gaming, medical devices and other industries, under the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB, JCAA, ICDR (AAA), UNCITRAL and ICSID rules. David now helps to lead BKL’s 25‐member team of lawyers in one of the largest, most diverse and active international arbitration practices in Asia. David also acts as arbitrator and has been appointed to the Roster of International Arbitrators of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) and the List of Neutrals of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Relying on his experience in the field, David often teaches, speaks and publishes on international arbitration‐related topics, and was the author of several chapters of Arbitration Law of Korea: Practice and Procedure (Juris Publishing, 2012), the only comprehensive English‐language treatise on the subject. Fluent in Japanese, David is also a member of the firm’s Japan Practice Group. He holds memberships in the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) and the Utah Bar Association. He is not registered under the Foreign Legal Consultant Act.
Vicki Beyer
>Professor Vicki Beyer teaches employment, corporate and business law at Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law in Tokyo, Japan. Prior to joining Hitotsubashi, she spent 17 years working as an in-house lawyer, specializing in employment law and employee relations, much of it covering not only Japan but other Asian jurisdictions as well. She has also been an active leader in the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and does occasional consulting work on employee relations and employment policies. She holds a J.D. from the University of Washington and an LL.M. in Corporate and Commercial Law from Bond University, as well as Bachelor's and Master's degrees in International Studies. Earlier in her career she was on the faculty of Temple University Japan Campus and Bond University in Queensland, Australia.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Itinerary
Updated information for Summer 2019 will be available in November.
SOUTH KOREA
| July 14 (Sun.) * | Arrive in Seoul by this date |
| July 15-19 (Mon.-Fri.) | Orientation/Classes in Seoul |
| July 20-21 (Sat./Sun.) | Free days (sightseeing/study) |
| July 22-26 (Mon.-Fri.) | Classes in Seoul/Final exam/exercises Program concludes with dinner on Friday evening |
| July 27 (Sat) | Travel to Nagoya/Return to the U.S. |
JAPAN
| July 27 (Sat.)**/July 28 (Sun.) |
Arrive in Nagoya by this date |
| July 29-Aug. 2 (Mon.-Fri.) | Orientation/Classes/Legal Institution Visits in Nagoya |
| Aug. 3-4 (Sat./Sun.) | Free days (sightseeing/study) |
| Aug. 5-7 (Mon.-Wed.) | Classes in Nagoya/Farewell dinner in Nagoya |
| Aug. 8-9 | Travel to Tokyo/Classes in Tokyo/Legal institution visit/Final exam |
| Aug. 10 (Sat.) | Return to the U.S. |
- * You will need to depart from the U.S. on July 13 to arrive in Seoul on July 14.
- ** You will need to depart from the U.S. on July 26 to arrive in Nagoya on July 27.
TUITION, FEES & FINANCIAL AID
TUITION & FEES
The courses offered in the summer study abroad program will be priced at the standard, affordable Akron Law rate of roughly $712 per credit hour ($4,275 for 6 credits/$2,136 for 3 credits). Students who are not residents of Ohio will be charged an additional tuition surcharge of $50 for the semester. Naturally, this rate is subject to periodic adjustment as determined by the University’s Board of Trustees. In addition, the fees will consist of a $500 program fee to cover some extracurricular activities and other program-related costs.
A non-refundable seat deposit of $200 will be due on May 15, 2019 to guarantee enrollment if you are accepted into the program. This amount will be credited toward the cost of tuition. Exact deadlines for final tuition payment may vary based on course registration dates. Information will be posted during Spring Semester with details on course registration process, enrollment, tuition, etc.
TOTAL COSTS
The total cost of participating in our innovative Asia study abroad program is outlined below. Naturally, the estimated costs will vary depending on the prevailing exchange rates as well as your own personal preferences. For example, if you would like to save money on housing costs, it is possible to reduce the estimated cost of housing by 50% if you were to stay in local hostels. The anticipated costs are as follows:
Tuition: $4,275 (6 credits)
Program fee: $500
Airfare to Japan/South Korea: $1,500-$2,000
Total housing costs: $1,100-$1,600
Food: $850 for program (about $30 per day)
Local transportation: $500
Personal expenses: (varies according to person)
TOTAL COST: $8,725-$9,725 (for 6 credits)
FINANCIAL AID
Students from other schools will pursue financial aid through the Financial Aid Offices of their home institutions by procuring a “consortium agreement” and submitting it to Kathryn Vasko (contact information above).
Limited assistance in the form of scholarships is available. Based on the availability of funds, we anticipate that scholarship awards will range from $500-$2,000. Scholarship awards will be made based on the application submitted. Students are encouraged to seek out additional scholarship assistance from private sources. Study abroad scholarships focusing on Japan and South Korea do exist.
HOUSING & LIVING
General housing information
The program does not provide housing. To make your journey easier, though, we will be making reservations at one or two hotels within reasonable distance of each university, and we expect to make arrangements for dormitory rooms at Nagoya University as well. We anticipate that most program participants will stay at these hotels or dorms. These accommodations have been selected based on location and price. You will have the option of selecting one of these accommodations or making your own arrangements. If you choose one of the options arranged through the program, payment will ultimately be made directly to the accommodation provider. We anticipate sharing more information about the specific hotel options and reservation details in the late Spring to early Summer via email, at which point program participants can confirm their intentions about staying in these accommodations.
Housing in Seoul, South Korea (14 nights)
In Seoul, we anticipate arranging hotel accommodations for interested students at an affordable business hotel either in walking distance to campus or with easy shuttle service to the law school campus where classes will be held. The hotels at which we have made arrangements in the past are also conveniently located with respect to the Seoul subway system, and taxis are very affordable in Seoul as well, for purposes of exploring the city further.
Rooms in the hotels are equipped with wi-fi and typically both single and twin rooms are available. Laundry service is available for a fee or laundromats are available nearby. Depending on the hotel, breakfast may be included in the rate or may be added on for a small fee. Details on the arrangements with a particular hotel will be available soon via email. Students are also free to make their own lodging arrangements.
On the Kyung Hee University campus, the students will have access to the libraries, classrooms, restaurants, and outdoor study areas to prepare for class.
Housing in Nagoya, Japan (12 nights)
The Japan portion of the program will begin with classes on Monday, July 29. In Nagoya, we expect to have access to the University dormitories once again this summer. For those who wish to stay in the dormitories, check-in will be on Saturday, July 27th by 3:00 PM. For those coming from South Korea, we will send information to make travel arrangements so that you can arrive together with the group. For those coming from the U.S., we will provide information on how to meet up on that date. For those coming either from South Korea or the U.S., if you prefer to arrive in Nagoya on Sunday, you may stay in a Nagoya area hotel and check into the dorms on Monday. In Nagoya, all classes will be held on the Nagoya University campus. During your time on campus, you will have access to the libraries, classrooms, cafeteria, Starbucks, and the international student lounge.
Each room in the dorms has a bed, dresser, book-shelf, chair, desk-lamp, trash can, and air-conditioner. Bedding is provided, but you must provide your own towel. Bath facilities are shared, as are kitchen facilities. The total cost for the 12 night stay is roughly 26,000 yen, plus a small charge for utilities. The dorms are close to campus where classes are held, and a 5 minute walk from the subway. Dorm facilities are available in groups of 8 rooms (grouped by gender), so we will allot these on a space-available basis in the spring (more information to come).
For those students who prefer a hotel option, we will arrange for one or more options conveniently located near the subway line that stops near Nagoya University where classes will be held. One possible option is the Washington Plaza Hotel, which is a short walk from the Sakae subway stop. This is a comfortable business hotel with wifi in all rooms, near many shops and restaurants. The total cost would be roughly 50,000 yen.
Housing in Tokyo, Japan (2-4 nights)
Tokyo is Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolis. Formerly known as Edo, Tokyo was essentially a small castle town until it became Japan's political center in 1603. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world’s most populous cities. Today, Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture, and dining to its visitors. The city's history can be appreciated in districts such as the historical Asakusa district, excellent museums, historic temples, and gardens.
In Tokyo, the program will provide suggested lodging options for your convenience. Our target price for a reasonable business hotel in Tokyo is $75-100 per room per night, or less than $300 for our full stay in the capital. We will stay in Tokyo for 2-4 nights (depending on your departure date) before returning to the U.S. You are also welcome to make your own lodging arrangements in Tokyo. Hostels or capsule hotels start at about $25 per night, while larger Western-style hotels cost start from around $125 per night.
The option for accommodations in Tokyo will be selected for convenient proximity to the site of classes. It will offer rooms with private baths and wifi included. More information about the selected accommodation will be forthcoming by email in the late Spring for program participants.
Total projected housing & living expenses
Lodging*
Tokyo hotel: $200-300
Nagoya dorms or hotels: $250-500
Seoul hotel: $700
* All costs are approximated. These depend on the currency exchange rate and your choice of lodging. For example, you could save about $800 if you decided to stay in hostels instead of business hotels. Conversely, the cost of lodging could double if you wanted to stay in more upscale hotels throughout the trip. Although the program will provide lodging options for all program participants, it does not guarantee quality.
Living expenses**
Food: $850 for program (assuming $30 per day - it is easily possible to spend less)
Local transportation: $500 (again, this assumes you will want to do some sightseeing and other local travel on weekends)
Personal expenses: varies according to person
** Please note that the above costs are estimated expenses and vary depending on the student.