Stanford Comparative American/German Criminal Law Seminar

Intensive Overseas Field Study Trip, S-Term 2025

September 5-20, 2025

The Stanford Criminal Justice Center is organizing a two-week S-Term class in partnership with the University of Göttingen in Germany. During the first week of the course, Stanford Law School students will travel with Stanford Law School instructors to Germany and meet up with University of Göttingen instructors and students. Together with their German counterparts, SLS students will visit a prison, participate in police ride-alongs, observe criminal court proceedings, and meet with prosecutors, defense attorneys, and formerly incarcerated people. During the second week, the Stanford and German students and instructors will replicate those experiences in Northern California at county, state, and federal criminal law institutions. Throughout the course, the SLS students and their German counterparts will jointly analyze and discuss differences between the German and American criminal legal systems. SLS students will be partnered with German students to help lead the discussions. Seven SLS students will be selected to participate in the course.

Economy class airfare between San Francisco and Germany, seven nights of lodging in Germany, and meals in Germany will be covered.

Students are required to attend every session of the course, including two Zoom sessions that will take place prior to the German portion of the course, to co-lead course discussions, to participate actively in discussions, and to write a 10-page paper. Students who successfully complete all requirements of the course will earn 3 units of academic credit. Grading for the course will be Law Mandatory P/R/F.

Rising 2Ls and 3Ls are eligible to apply and should use the portal below. Applications are due by Wednesday, May 7 at 5:00 pm. Questions can be directed to Debbie Mukamal at dmukamal@law.stanford.edu.