Thomas Jefferson School of Law Goes Global Once Again
An agreement signed recently between the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and Far Eastern National University (FENU) in Vladivostok, Russia will allow San Diego law students to study abroad in Eastern Europe. 
Thomas Jefferson Dean Rudolph Hasl says he is “extremely pleased about the continuing relationship with University President Vladimir Kurilov” that began in 2001 when Dean Hasl was associated with Seattle University.
In 2003, their educational partnership established a link between the legal communities in the state of Washington and Primorsky Krai to exchange information relating to jury trials, security in judicial proceedings and other rule of law topics. This partnership was built through exchange visits to the state of Washington and Vladivostok, development of distance education facilities and creation of a website. Dean Hasl also earned an Honorary Doctor of Laws from FENU.
FENU President Kurilov recently visited the Thomas Jefferson campus in Old Town, San Diego to sign the new agreement, which will allow two law students from each school to spend one semester studying overseas while participating in the Collaborative Legal Education Project known as CLEP. The goals of the CLEP program are to provide students with more study options and resources, and to promote understanding and cooperation between Russia and the United States.
In an effort to further the development of this academic relationship, Thomas Jefferson School of Law also will allow two FENU graduates per year to enroll in its Juris Doctor program. They will receive financial support for their educational expenses from FENU. Participants in the program are required to file an application, submit a transcript of academic work taken at FENU, provide academic references, submit a TOEFL score and receive the endorsement of the CLEP administrator.
This new exchange program with the Russian university is just one of several study abroad programs which Thomas Jefferson School of Law offers to its students. This summer Thomas Jefferson launched its inaugural study program in Hangzhou, China, where students studied International Law. Other Thomas Jefferson programs allow students to study abroad in: Nice, France: Ontario, Canada: Pristina, Kosovo: and Dijon, France.
"This new collaboration with Far Eastern National University is another important step taken by Thomas Jefferson School of Law to further enhance the opportunities we provide to our students who are seeking a global legal education," noted Dean Hasl. "We have made significant investment in this area with our Center for Global Legal Studies, our extensive International Law curriculum taught by experienced scholars and teachers and our growing number of study abroad programs. Thomas Jefferson students have an enviable array of choices from which to enrich their educational experience and to prepare them for successfully practicing law in the international arena."