Law students study in Washington, D.C.

Ten ONU law students, eight from the international LLM program and two third-year concurrent JD/LLM students, spent the week of March 18-25, 2012, studying in Washington, D.C.

The trip was part of the field experience component of the L.L.M. Program in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law, an international program the University started in 2006.  The Washington trip introduced the students to many of the institutions that make and implement international development policies and programs. 

The students spent the first day at the United States Supreme Court where they attended the oral arguments in a case concerning the principles of the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. Later they had a guided tour of the Supreme Court building and met with William Suter, clerk of the Supreme Court.  The students also met with Brian D. Miller, Inspector General of the U. S. General Services Administration, who discussed the measures put in place to deter corruption in U.S. government procurement practices. 

In the course of the week, the students also had meetings at seven organizations heavily engaged in the international development process.  These included  the U.S. Department of State, United States Agency for International Development and the World Bank. They also met with four organizations playing key roles in policy implementation: the U.S. Institute of Peace, American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative, Chemonics and International Research and Development.  Thanks to the arrangement made by the office of Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, the LLM students also had an opportunity to tour the White House.  

Over its six-year history, the L.L.M. program has developed close relationships with the organizations visited, allowing for private meetings the students and key staff members.  These small groups allowed the students not only to listen to but also to ask questions, interact with experienced professionals on a more personal level and establish valuable contacts.