Celebrating 2018-19 UC Davis Law J.D. exchange students -- inbound and outbound

Every semester, UC Davis School of Law welcomes incoming J.D. exchange students from around the world. This year, we welcomed students from Ireland, France, the United Kingdom and China. King Hall also offers its J.D. students the opportunity to spend a semester taking classes at partner law schools around the world.

J.D. exchange student Sally Mac Cann, from the University College Dublin, joined the King Hall family this semester. She took the courses Death Penalty Seminar, Business Negotiations, White Collar Crime, Mindfulness and the Law, and Juvenile Justice. Sally chose UC Davis School of Law because “everyone from University College Dublin that came before really loved it, so I decided to come,” she said. She contrasts the teaching styles at UC Davis School of Law with those in Ireland: “We don’t have the same interaction or the Socratic method back at home.”

Mac Cann noted that “everyone at UC Davis School of Law has been really friendly,” which also has made her transition as an exchange student easier. She remarked that King Hall has “so much going on, and there’s so much to do.” Furthermore, she advises UC Davis School of Law exchange and international students to “take classes that you wouldn’t have back home. I was surprised to see how many different types of classes are offered here. The classes are very subject specific, and they are interesting.”

UC Davis School of Law J.D. student Dana Talant shared insights from her exchange student experience. She studied abroad this year at Paris West University Nanterre La Défense, where she took courses in International State Responsibility, Public International Law, European Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, and British Contracts Law. Talant reflected that “these are all courses that I would not have been able to take at King Hall; they are much more focused on international and European law.” While studying in Paris, Talant continued her work (remotely) as managing editor of production for the UC Davis Journal of International Law and Policy.

When asked why she chose to study in France, Talant shared that she lived in France previously and is considering working there in the future, so it made sense to select the prestigious Paris West University Nanterre La Défense for her exchange experience. Talant is committed to a thoroughly international education experience: She spent a recent summer interning in South Korea, where she worked in a corporation’s international legal counsel department alongside South Korean attorneys. Talant advises students from around the world to study abroad in a foreign country if given the opportunity. “Although I have access to a great international law programs at UC Davis, there is nothing like going somewhere and learning on-site. [It is important to] experience legal culture in another country.” Talant also advises international students studying at UC Davis School of Law that “it can be very overwhelming to be alone, especially in a whole new environment that you’re not used to culturally.”

“If you’re not comfortable, push yourself to make new connections,” Talant continued. “Everyone at Davis is friendly. Once you get over the discomfort, take advantage of the opportunities. For example, when I was in France, I really pushed myself to speak only French and make French friends.”

For information about the International Law Programs, please visit law.ucdavis.edu/international or contact Kate Asche at [email protected] or 530-752-6081.