CUSL Information sheet - Lehrstuhl für US-amerikanisches Recht

University of Cologne<br />

Chair of <strong>US</strong>-American Law<br />

Professor Dr. K. W. Junker<br />

CERTIFICATE IN UNITED STATES LAW (<strong>C<strong>US</strong>L</strong>)<br />

Since the winter term of 2009 the University of Cologne Law Faculty has been offering an<br />

optional qualification in American Law. This qualification can be completed part-time while<br />

studying for the regular German law degree.<br />

The program is taught by Professor Kirk W. Junker, who holds the Chair of <strong>US</strong>-American Law<br />

at the University of Cologne, and Dr. Keith Wilder, LL.M., who is a lecturer at the University.<br />

Through seminar-type classes the students will be introduced to the American legal system.<br />

Students will be able to get an overview of many of the subjects taught at American Law<br />

Schools. The program especially wants to convey American legal thinking and culture, while<br />

also ensuring that students acquire the necessary language skills to communicate effectively<br />

in an Anglophone legal environment.<br />

In order to obtain the certificate, students will have to pass sixteen semester-hours of <strong>C<strong>US</strong>L</strong><br />

classes, ten semester-hours of which will be covered by the compulsory subjects. An<br />

additional six semester-hours can be chosen from the optional modules.<br />

We attempt to coordinate the classes on offer each semester so that students can complete<br />

the certificate in four semesters. Occasionally, it might be possible to do this in an even shorter<br />

time. However, there is no time limit for the completion of the program. Upon completion, the<br />

successful participants will obtain a written certificate that will also certify subject-specific<br />

foreign language skills (FFA).<br />

As the classes are held in accordance with the American Law School teaching concept,<br />

students should have a sufficient knowledge of the English language so that they will not only<br />

be able to follow but also to actively participate in the seminars. It is up to the students<br />

themselves to decide whether they meet this criterion. For the same reason the students will<br />

be expected to come prepared to each class.<br />

Students in the regular State Exam degree will have the possibility to get one semester<br />

deducted from their qualifying semesters in order to take advantage of the “Freischuss” rule, if<br />

they obtain the certificate.<br />

If you are interested in joining the <strong>C<strong>US</strong>L</strong> program, we would ask you to register at cuslanmeldung@us-recht.de.<br />

Please use the form that you can find on our homepage. The<br />

registration is merely for administrative purposes (i.e. statistics, email list to keep you updated<br />

on upcoming events, etc.) and does not oblige you to continue with the program.<br />

For further information please contact:<br />

<strong>Lehrstuhl</strong> <strong>für</strong> <strong>US</strong>-<strong>amerikanisches</strong> <strong>Recht</strong><br />

Aachener Straße 201<br />

50931 Köln<br />

Tel: 0049 (0)221 168 21 594<br />

Email: us-recht@uni-koeln.de<br />

Web: www.jura.uni-koeln.de/usrecht<br />

As of 10/2012

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STRUCTURE<br />

CERTIFICATE IN UNITED STATES LAW (<strong>C<strong>US</strong>L</strong>)<br />

Each class generally* counts as two semester-hours so that eight classes need to be<br />

completed to obtain the certificate. The classes will be assessed by exams or<br />

academic papers, depending on the subject, at the end of each semester. In order to<br />

pass an assessment, you need to obtain at least the mark “ausreichend”, i.e. 4 points.<br />

Compulsory classes<br />

A minimum of ten semester-hours must be taken in the following classes to earn the<br />

certificate:<br />

- Introduction to U.S. American Legal Culture (Prof. Junker**)<br />

- U.S. American Legal Terminology (Dr. Wilder**)<br />

- Constitutional Law (Prof. Junker**)<br />

- U.S. Tort Law (Prof. Junker**) or Contract Law (Dr. Wilder**)<br />

- Law of U.S. Federal Evidence or U.S. Civil Procedure (both Prof. Junker**)<br />

The other six semester-hours can be chosen from the optional modules or can be<br />

covered through taking further compulsory classes.<br />

Optional Modules (e.g.)<br />

- Business Law (Dr. Wilder**)<br />

- Property Law (Dr. Wilder**)<br />

- Family Law (Dr. Wilder**)<br />

- Introduction to Comparative Law (Prof. Junker**)<br />

- Comparative Environmental Law (Prof. Junker**)<br />

- International Environmental Law (Prof. Junker**)<br />

- Drafting Contracts (Dr. Wilder**)<br />

- Legal Negotiation (Dr. Wilder**)<br />

- Discussing American Legal Issues (Dr. Wilder**)<br />

- Law in the Popular Media (Prof. Junker**)<br />

*Students will be duly notified about exceptions.<br />

**Guest professors may hold lectures from time to time.<br />

As of 10/2012