Cambridge Summer Law Institute

August 3–15, 2026

The purpose of the Cambridge Summer Law Institute (CSLI) is to provide students with the opportunity to study law at one of the pre-eminent institutions for international legal studies and bring Cambridge minds and ideas to students in an ideal learning atmosphere. For two weeks, students will explore the origins of the common law and how the legacy of English law plays out in contemporary legal, political and human rights contexts. The program will take place at historic Trinity Hall College (the Law College) located along the banks of the river Cam in Cambridge, where students reside, dine and participate in lectures. Enrollment in this class is limited to students enrolled in the College of Law.

Estimated Program Fee: $2750 (Includes accommodations for two weeks, classroom and IT rental fees, breakfast each day, ïŹeld trip travel by train in and out of London, taxi fare for short excursions in Cambridge area, Inns of Court and UK Parliament entrance fees. Does not include airfare, most meals, UW tuition/fees, $325 study abroad fee, and personal spending money.) 

  • Upon your acceptance of a position in this program, you are financially committed to at least $1000 of the program fee.
  • The full program fee (which includes the $1000 initial financial commitment) and $325 education abroad fee will be billed to your UW student account in the semester the program takes place.

Cambridge Summer Law Institute will be held in Cambridge, England, August 3-15, 2026

Main Page

Program Details, Cost and Registration

 

CAMBRIDGE SUMMER LAW INSTITUTE: FOUNDATIONS OF THE COMMON LAW, Summer 2026

Instructors: Professors Klint Alexander & Noah Novogrodsky

Credit Hours: 3  

Class Meetings: August 3-14, 2026; M-F 9:00 am – 2:30 pm (Trinity Hall College)

E-mail: klint.alexander@uwyo.edu or nnovogro@uwyo.edu

 

I. WHY CAMBRIDGE?

Cambridge, England is home to one of the world’s great universities – the University of Cambridge.  Nestled in the heart of the United Kingdom near London, Cambridge offers an unparalleled learning experience in a Harry Potter-style environment that will inspire and motivate you.  The town of Cambridge straddles the historic Cam River and is home to medieval and modern buildings, pubs, theaters, museums, restaurants, shops, bookstores, and coffee houses.  The Cambridge community is made up of multilingual faculty and students from all over the world who partake in academic and social life in a collegial environment.  Cambridge is well-known for its great minds and contributions in the sciences (Newton, Darwin and Hawking) and law (Coke, Lauterpacht and Crawford) and is the ideal venue for study and discussion of the history of English common law and the American legal tradition.

II. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the Cambridge Summer Law Institute (CSLI) is to provide students with the opportunity to study law at one of the world’s pre-eminent institutions and bring Cambridge minds and ideas to law students in an ideal learning atmosphere.  For two weeks, students will explore the history and foundations of the English common law system that have influenced the American experience under the tutelage of leading experts. The program will take place at historic Trinity Hall in Cambridge, where students reside, dine and participate in lectures.  The program will include short train rides into London to visit the U.K. Parliament and the renowned Inns of Court to observe first-hand the life of Barristers and the practice of law at the Royal Courts of Justice.  One of the unique aspects of the CSLI is the opportunity it provides for interaction with English judges, lawyers and students   

CSLI is organized by ĂÛŃżTV College of Law.  CSLI’s courses are taught by international and constitutional law experts and alumni of the University of Cambridge.  Formal attire is not necessary but you want ‘business casual’ clothes for the Inns of Court.

III. 2026 COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course has three basic objectives: (1) to introduce students to the English common law system, including its history, constitutional background, sources and institutions (2) to broaden the student’s knowledge of the historical foundations and linkages of our common legal heritage, and (3) to examine several pressing issues of constitutional governance and jurisprudence, and individual human rights that are currently posing challenges to the Anglo-American legal framework.  Accordingly, we address foundational questions of an independent judiciary, the separation of powers, the rule of law, and individual rights.  The aim of the course is to provide a forum for discussion and the exchange of ideas among students and scholars about legal history and theory, constitutional law, and human rights jurisprudence in the UK and beyond.

Some of the readings for the course assume an introductory level knowledge of the case method, legal research, and comparative and international human rights law.   Students with a limited background in the subject may need to supplement the required readings with outside material.

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

A. Participation

Your participation is important to the success of the class.  Accordingly, we expect you to be present for each class.  Because classroom discussions are a key component of the course, we will ask for volunteers and/or call on students to answer questions.  We reserve the right to raise or lower your grade based on class participation and attendance.

B. Grading:  There will be no final examination.  Grades will be determined as follows: (1) 75% for the written paper; 25% for class participation, including attendance, contributions to class discussions, and a class presentation.

Standards for Papers:  The Paper should represent a rigorous effort by the student.  It should go beyond simply reporting what the law is and should include some critical analysis of the legal issues and/or public policy implications of subject matter relevant to the course.  The paper should be thoroughly researched, well written, and fully documented.  It must be an original work for this course only.

Each paper must be at least fifteen pages in length (but not more than 18 pages), exclusive of title page, table of contents, footnotes, and appendices.  Each paper must conform to the most recent edition of a Uniform System of Citation (e.g., the Bluebook).

**The paper is due by 5:00 pm on August 31, 2026.  NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS TIME.  If your topic addresses week one topics, please email your final paper to Professor Alexander; If your topic addresses week two topics, please email your final paper to Professor Novogrodsky.

C. Honor Code 

The Honor Code governs all work in this course.  If you have any questions, please ask one of the professors.

V. REQUIRED READINGS

Due to the fact that this is a two-week intensive course, a binder or pdf of reading materials will be circulated to each student several weeks before the start of the course.  You are expected to read most of the material prior to August 3, 2026, in preparation for the course and be prepared to cover different topics in class each day.  The emphasis during the first week of the course will be on legal history and foundations of the English common law system and the role of this system in shaping global legal frameworks.  The second week of course will focus on case studies in human rights law, including the migration of law in and among Commonwealth states.  

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

WEEK 1            Foundations of the English Common Law System and American Legal History and Development 

August 3         The Legacy of the Anglo-Saxon World – Foundations of the Common Law

August 4         The King, the Law, and Parliament

August 5         The influence of UK law on the U.S. and the Commonwealth

August 6         Legal Education and the Regulation of the Legal Profession – attorneys, barristers, solicitors, the Inns of Court and apprenticeship

August 7         Class Field Trip to the Inns of Court and UK Parliament, London

 

WEEK 2           Case Studies in Human Rights Law and Challenges to the Rule of Law in Europe and the United States

August 10        Somerset, Zong, Bury the Chains

August 11        Nuremberg, East West Street

August 12        Current UK Human Rights Cases (Including LGBTQ rights developments)

August 13        Treatment Action Campaign (S. Africa)

August 14       The Skripal case and Extraterritoriality