University of Cergy-Pontoise, France

Participating students spend two years of study at Vermont Law School and two years in France. The program is unique in two respects: it involves study at two French universities—the University of Cergy-Pontoise and the University of Montpellier—and it involves two internships at French law firms. Participants develop a solid foundation in the theoretical and practical aspects of both the common law and civil law legal systems.

The program is designed for students with a mastery of the French language who are interested in pursuing a career in international law and policy, whether involving work in the United States or abroad. Employers in the international field increasingly are seeking students with a knowledge of multiple legal systems and with a mastery of at least one language in addition to English. The double degree program was designed to meet those needs and to prepare students with the legal foundation needed to represent or to regulate international businesses.

In four years, participants in the program will earn both a JD degree from Vermont Law School and an advanced level master’s degree in business organization law from the University of Cergy-Pontoise. Graduates will be able to sit for the bar examination in each country, according to each country’s requirements. In addition, because of European Union reciprocity rules, successful bar candidates in France may have access to practice in all member states of the European Union according to the European Union reciprocity rules. The program is for students planning either to represent or to regulate business corporations.

VLS students usually apply for the program during the second semester of their first year of law school. For more information, contact Professor Stephanie Farrior, Director of International and Comparative Law Programs.

Course Work Specific to the JD/Masters I and II Program with Cergy Pointoise

1. Students participating in this program must satisfy VLS graduation requirements during the first two years of law school. (Some VLS graduation requirements may be satisfied by work completed in France, as, for example the perspective course requirement.) In addition, students must complete at least 2/3 of the required graduation credit hours at Vermont Law School. A maximum of 1/3 of graduation requirement credit hours may be earned by course work in France.
2. Students must also complete the following courses at VLS before beginning course work in France:
   1. Corporations (fall semester of second year)
   2. At least one course in each of the following categories:
      1. Corporate Finance/ Advanced Corporations or Securities Regulation;
      2. Employment Law, Bankruptcy, Sales, Secured Transactions, Business Planning, International Trade, International Business Transactions
      3. Income Taxation or Business Taxation
3. Students must also complete the following courses before beginning Masters level course work in France. These courses may be offered at VLS or in France, possibly in intensive sessions during the summer.
   1. Introduction to the French Legal Method, French Legal System, and the French Civil Code
   2. French Company Law
4. At the conclusion of two or, at the applicant’s option, three years of study at Vermont Law School, students will begin their studies in France. The first year of studies will be at the University of Cergy-Pontoise at the Masters I level, with a specialization in business law. The second year of studies will be at the Masters II level, with advanced specialized course work in business law. French course work will include contract law, tax law, labor law, company law, corporate finance, commercial law, and trade regulation. During the Masters II program, students will spend their first semester studying at the University of Cergy-Pontoise, their second semester studying at the University of Montpellier, and complete two month-long internships in French law firms. The first internship will be scheduled during the month of February and the second in July. During the period of study in France, VLS students will be subject to the same academic requirements as French students.

Application Process and Eligibility

Students will generally apply for admission to the dual degree programs in the spring semester of their first year at VLS. The exception is for students who seek to complete the Cergy-Pontoise program in five rather than four years (three years at Vermont Law School followed by two years in France). Those students may apply in the spring semester of either their first or second year of law school. Applicants must be in the top half of their class at the time of application and must maintain that academic standing. The applicants must have demonstrated a sufficient mastery of any foreign language required in order to take classes and examinations in that language. Only a limited number of students may participate in these programs. Selections will be made on the basis of multiple factors, including: educational goals; academic standing; level of language proficiency; timeliness of application; and, a student’s demonstrated interest in the country and/or the subjects in which the dual degree program specializes. Details regarding deadlines for application and the actual application process will be provided for interested students at the International Programs informational sessions held fall and spring semesters.

Degrees

At the conclusion of four or five years of study, students will earn a Juris Doctor degree from Vermont Law School and both a Cergy-Pontoise Master I degree (“Droit, specialité Business Law”) and a Cergy-Pontoise Master II-DJCE degree. Students awarded a JD degree will be qualified to take the bar examination in all 50 United States.

In addition, students awarded a Master II-DJCE degree will be qualified to take either the Paris Bar examination designed for foreign students or the bar examination taken by French students. Those passing the Paris bar examination will enter the school of the bar and be able to work as bar trainees and practice in France. Students wishing to qualify to practice in France and also in other member states of the European Union must sit for the bar exam taken by French students and must also complete the “IEJ” lectures given at the University of Cergy-Pontoise. Students must satisfy all of the bar examination and clerkship (if any) requirements of the examining bodies in both the U.S. and in France.

Curriculum

Fall semester:

Introduction to French and Civil Law
Introduction to European Union Law
Criminal Law and Procedure
Torts
Contracts
Litigation
Intellectual property - or - Corporate governance (student's choice)
French language

Spring semester:

Comparative Study of Legal Traditions
European Union Law
Civil rights and civil liberties in Europe
Dissertation or Internship Report
Company Law
Capital Marketing and Banking
Antitrust and Competition Law
Compliance - or - Taxation Law (student's choice)
Legal French

The French language classes are organized by level of proficiency, from beginner to advanced. A language assessment test is given before classes begin, so students are assured an appropriate level of language instruction.

Schedule

The first semester starts in September, with final exams in December. The second semester starts in February, with final exams in May.

Applications

This program is open only to Vermont Law students. Students generally apply in the spring semester of the first year, but applications may be accepted in the fall of the second year, depending on availability of spaces.