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2003 | 2001

Students tell us ...

Nicolas Diebold (2003 participant, lic. iur., University of Geneva, Duke LLM student)

Undoubtedly, the Duke-Geneva Institute provides most favorable conditions for studying comparative law in many different fields, varying from corporate law to human rights. But what makes the Institute so special is that it offers the possibility to interact with law students and professors from literally all over the world, thus encouraging cultural exchange. The very rich program of extracurricular and social activities, such as visiting the international organizations and going on a boat cruise, as well as on various excursions, certainly contributes to making the program a unique experience. For me, the Duke-Geneva Institute was also an excellent preparation and introduction to the LLM program at Duke.

Yuri Matsui (2003 participant, Duke LLM student)

The Duke-Geneva summer institute was a rewarding and unforgettable experience for me. You can easily imagine how exciting to spend a whole summer in a nice place like Geneva with your new friends from all over the world. This program offers not only the high quality classes taught by the renowned professors but also a lot of opportunities to explore your interests - visiting international organizations, hiking alps, joining the special lectures by various speakers, etc. For LL.M. students, this is a great opportunity to prepare for your studies at American law school and interact closely with law students and professors.

Matt Christensen (2003 participant, Duke JD/LLM student)

The Duke-Geneva summer institute is one of the few institutes which is truly comparative. Every class is taught from the perspective of two professors, so you get divergent views on all the issues. The institute is famous for having world-renown professors and practitioners work with the students in their fields of study. In addition to the wonderful teaching, the program allows its students to network with other students and lawyers from around the world. After attending the Geneva program, I now have contacts in Asia, South America, Europe, Australia, and across the United States. Without this program, I wouldn't be able to say that. Finally, the program is just plain fun! Boat cruises on Lake Geneva, hiking in the Alps, Montreaux Jazz Festival, short trips to other European cities, and visits to headquarters of various international institutions are but a few of the highlights to this wonderful program.

Kano Watanabe (2003 participant, Duke LLM student)

The Duke-Geneva summer program gave me a precious experience. The lectures are superb, the subjects are topical and international, and the professors are interesting and entertaining. There are numerous fun events almost every day, including visits to various UN organizations, and a cruise on the lake, where you can enjoy a beautiful view and a balmy breeze. On weekends, you can go hiking or visit the Montreux Jazz festival. You will become friends with people from all over the world. I couldn't expect before attending this program that I could have such a variety of experiences within one month. I'll always remember the wonderful days at the Duke-Geneva Institute.

A. William Banwo (2003 participant, Duke JD student)

The Duke-Geneva Institute was an amazing experience both in regards to the world-renowned faculty and the relationships I formed with other students. I highly recommend it to any student wishing to further their erudition of concepts and ideas relating to international law, especially in the area of trade policy.

Mark Unger (2003 participant, Duke LLM student)

I will always fondly remember my experience at the Duke-Geneva Institute in Transnational Law. I started the LL.M course at Duke attending this program where I was exposed to facets of Law previously unimaginable to me. The highly relevant and contemporary subjects not only expanded my knowledge in International Law but also helped me prepare for studies at the Duke campus. The Duke-Geneva program provided unrivaled opportunities - I attended a week-long WFUNA Seminar as an NGO on the UN Commission on Human Rights, and participated in tours of the U.N and WTO buildings with private seminars. A truly enriching experience, I highly recommend the Institute to any person interested in a career in law.

Rebecca Marques (2003 participant, Duke JD/LLM student)

The Duke-Geneva summer program was a great opportunity to study transnational law with professors and students from all over the world--not to mention a great excuse to be in Europe. Together the professors, the students, and the very place contributed towards a enriching educational and cultural experience.

Henrik Hoffmann (2001 participant, University of Copenhagen)

The 2001 Duke-Geneva Institute was a challenging and rewarding academic experience, but the part that made it the perfect way to spend a summer vacation was the personal friendships that were made. The atmosphere at the Institute cannot be described in words, it has to be experienced. Being part of a group consisting of more than 50 students from 16 different countries made this summer an experience that has marked me for life.

Gregori Zharov (2001 participant, Belarusian State University)

I greatly enjoyed the 2001 Duke-Geneva Institute because it had a terrific combination of four factors: an excellent level of teaching, highly intelligent students from all over the globe, perfect organization of the program (school, accommodations, tours, etc), and wonderful sites in Geneva. This all created a great atmosphere for studies and for enjoying a month at the beautiful European center. The program provides impressive academic opportunities as well as an unforgettable personal experience.

Regan Waller (2001 participant, University of Iowa JD student)
[in photo, second from left]

I had a wonderful experience attending the Duke-Geneva program. As the European headquarters of the United Nations, Geneva is a great city in which to study international law. I was impressed that the program offered courses in both public and private international law. However, the most impressive asset of the program is the people it attracts. While in Geneva, I had the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world. We all came from different backgrounds and brought very different world experiences with us. Because the program focuses on international law, my classroom experience was enhanced by having people discuss the role that international laws and practices have played within their home countries. I often found myself engaged in intriguing conversations both inside and outside of the classroom that challenged my own beliefs and forced me to think outside the box. When I went to Geneva, I knew that it would be a great networking opportunity; but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was also a great opportunity to forge new friendships.


Kevin Paul (2000 participant, Duke JD/LLM student)

The most rewarding aspect of the Duke-Geneva Institute is the interaction with students from other countries. In class, they added diverse perspectives to the issues that we were studying - often challenging our traditional American beliefs. Outside of class, we became great friends and explored Geneva together. I left Geneva with future professional contacts across Europe, and more importantly, friends that I still keep in touch with today.