The Global Quarter
Franke Fellowship in Global Business Law
The W. A. Franke Fellowship in Global Business Law allows students to participate in the Global Quarter; a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience in international business, law, and policy—available exclusively at SLS.
This is a unique opportunity for anyone interested in global business, transactional or international work, or a general counsel position. Through a combination of conceptual training and real-world exposure, Franke Fellows gain the expertise needed to navigate an increasingly globalized legal and business landscape. Through participating in the Global Quarter, Franke Fellows will earn 8 units of experiential learning while fulfilling SLS’s Pathway B requirement.
The Global Quarter is an intensive, customized quarter focused on global business law and policy, with particular emphasis on the regulation, financing and dispute resolution of international business ventures. Students selected as Franke Fellows will spend the first 7 weeks of the Global Quarter on the SLS campus taking required courses. Subjects taught on campus vary each year, but typically include courses like Comparative Corporate Law and Governance; a Global Business Law & Policy Seminar, and International Business Transactions.
Note: Students must have taken Corporations beforehand.
The last 3 weeks of the Global Quarter are spent on a Field Study Trip. Thanks to the generosity of W. A. Franke (’61), travel, lodging, and most weekday meals are covered. Past locations have included Europe (London, Oxford, Berlin, Geneva and Frankfurt), and Latin America (Mexico City, Bogotá, São Paulo and Rio).
2026
In 2026 the Global Quarter will take place during the Winter Quarter. The destination is Asia–Singapore, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Tokyo. Applications were due on May 16, 2025.
Spring 2025 Global Quarter Field Study Trip: Latin America
During the Spring Quarter, Franke Fellows will accompany SLS lecturers and faculty on a 3-week Field Study Trip to Latin America. The 2025 cohort of Franke Fellows will, amongst other topics, explore the startup ecosystem and trade policy in Mexico City, learn about commercial litigation and arbitration in Bogotá, Colombia, and explore the role of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing and regulation in Rio and São Paulo, Brazil. Learning exercises will include meetings, roundtable discussions, case studies and negotiation exercises with regulators, general counsels, lawyers and law students.
Announcing the 2026 Franke Fellowship
Faculty and Visiting Professors
FAQs
During the Global Quarter, Franke Fellows typically take the following courses:
- Global Corporate Governance (Milhaupt, 2 units)
- Global Business Law and Policy: LATAM (Schneider, 1 unit)
You will likely pick two from the following three offerings:
- ESG (Walter, 2 units)
- International Business Transactions (Instructor TBD, 3 units)
- Law, Geopolitics and De-Globalization (Madsen, 2 units)
Note: Courses are subject to change. Students must have taken Corporations beforehand and are advised to take Deals I and II.
Yes, students must take Corporations before beginning the Global Quarter.
Franke Fellows who take the core required courses will receive 12 or 13 units of credit for the quarter: 7 or 8 units for classes on the SLS campus and 5 units for the field study. If you have already taken one of the core courses, you may take Introduction to Finance instead.
We will select students who will benefit most from the experience, so we will consider applicants’ career and educational goals, as well as background. We are hoping for a mix of student interests and backgrounds.
Franke Fellows are responsible for their standard quarterly tuition, but SLS will cover travel, lodging, and most weekday meals.
21st century lawyers must be prepared for a transnational legal practice. This one-of–a-kind experience will give students the conceptual background, analytical tools and global exposure necessary to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world. You’ll make contacts in different parts of the world and learn about dynamic regions in the world. It is terrific preparation for students interested in business law or an in-house position.
Yes, faculty will accompany students for portions of the trip.
The 2026 Global Quarter Field Study Trip is tentatively scheduled to end in mid-March.
Yes. You do not have to participate in the Global Quarter to take these courses. They will simply end early in the quarter.
Yes! Franke Fellows will receive 8 units of experiential learning and satisfy SLS’s Pathway B requirement.
Pathway B (and the Global Quarter) satisfies the experiential learning requirement for graduation.
Yes. Franke Fellows are encouraged to enroll in a clinic in a different quarter.
The application deadline for the 2026 Franke Fellowship is May 16, 2025.
View the info session recording.
For more information, please contact Alice Schneider, Program Director.