Officials from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Vermont Law School recently signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU), agreeing to collaborate on education and research programs that enhance the experience and skills of law students and faculty from both institutions.

“Vermont Law School is honored to partner with the prestigious Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, one of the oldest and most respected universities in the world, to increase scholarship and exchange opportunities for students and faculty,” said VLS President and Dean Marc Mihaly. “Our agreement is based on friendship, equality, and mutual assistance, and positions us to better serve diverse students in an increasingly global society.”

Per the MOU, Panthéon-Sorbonne and VLS will partner on research activities, conferences and seminars, publications, and student and professor exchange programs. Student exchanges may be undertaken in the second or third year of the juris doctor (JD) program at VLS, and, for Panthéon-Sorbonne students, in the third year of the bachelor’s degree, or in the first or second year of the master’s degree.

“We look forward to working with our law colleagues at l’École de Droit de la Sorbonne,” said Professor Pamela Stephens, director of the International and Comparative Law Program (ICLP) at VLS. “Our partnership further enriches the international experiences we offer students in preparing them to address global challenges, whether as civil servants or corporate counsel or human rights activists.”

Vermont Law School has partnerships with leading universities in Canada, China, England, France, Italy, and Spain. The ICLP offers more than 30 courses in international and comparative law, several study abroad options, international law externships in the United States and abroad, a Certificate in International and Comparative Law, and a Master of Laws (LLM) in American Legal Studies to internationally trained students from any accredited school. At the VLS Center for Applied Human Rights, students explore real-world issues of human rights theory and practice, interact with international organizations and grassroots advocates, and build their professional network. VLS alumni work in 50 states and 23 countries—in government, nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations (NGOs and IGOs), corporations, and humanitarian relief organizations. For more information about international studies at VLS, visit vermontlaw.edu/ICLP and like on Facebook.

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Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, is home to the nation’s largest and deepest environmental law program. VLS offers a Juris Doctor curriculum that emphasizes public service; three Master’s Degrees—Master of Environmental Law and Policy, Master of Energy Regulation and Law, and Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy; and four post-JD degrees—LLM in American Legal Studies (for foreign-trained lawyers), LLM in Energy Law, LLM in Environmental Law, and LLM in Food and Agriculture Law. The school features innovative experiential programs and is home to the Environmental Law Center, South Royalton Legal Clinic, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, Energy Clinic, Food and Agriculture Clinic, and Center for Applied Human Rights. For more information, visit vermontlaw.edu, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.​