Rhodes Program

The legal and cultural traditions of Greece in general and the history of the island of Rhodes in particular, including its legendary sea laws, make summer study in Rhodes an ideal experience for law students seeking to learn about maritime legal affairs. With the objective of serving those interests, Tulane Law School has sponsored summer sessions in Greece every year since 1980. All classes will be held at the Rhodes Bay Hotel on the island of Rhodes.

Rhodes is a fascinating island, rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. It boasts rolling green hills that reach the emerald waters of the southeast Mediterranean Sea and hundreds of miles of beaches and coves. Ancient Greek temples, Byzantine churches, and medieval palaces speak of the glories of the past. As described by a former student, the program gives an “in-depth understanding in short time” and provides “efficient teaching, beautiful island, [and] friendly faculty.”

Program Co-Sponsor
The Aegean Institute of the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law has been a co-sponsor of Tulane’s Summer Program in Rhodes since 1994. The Institute, an independent research center affiliated with the University of the Aegean, is located in the center of Rhodes, has a specialized library and documentation center on the law of the sea and maritime law. The Institute organizes or participates in research projects, seminars and conferences related to the law of the sea and maritime law; it publishes the Aegean Review of Law of the Sea and Maritime Law. Each year the Institute grants scholarships to students from Greece and other countries to attend the Tulane summer session.

Follow the adventure on Instagram at #TulaneLawRhodes.

Students may earn a maximum of four credit hours in the three week session. Courses will be held Monday through Friday mornings at the Sheraton Rhodes Resort. Each course will have 13 meetings for 55 minutes. Exams will be held on the last Friday of the program during the regularly scheduled course times. Exams will be one hour, anonymously graded, written examinations, subject to the provisions imposed by the Tulane University Law School Honor Code.

Course Descriptions

International Conventions and Maritime Law
Professor Martin Davies- Tulane University Law School
(one credit)
There are many international conventions (multilateral treaties) that govern aspects of maritime law. As a consequence, there is considerable international uniformity of the principles governing maritime law disputes. However, some conventions are amended by subsequent protocols, which are not uniformly adopted by the countries that adopted the original conventions. The United States is party to some, but not all of the international conventions, having chosen to follow its own path with domestic legislation on such matters as oil pollution and limitation of liability. Differences between versions of international conventions create the possibility of forum shopping by claimants or defendants seeking the most favorable country for their dispute to be heard. This course will consider the most important international conventions on maritime law (in outline), the differences (where they exist) between U.S. domestic maritime law and the international conventions, and some of the forum shopping techniques commonly used.

Maritime Personal Injury
Judge John deGravelles – US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
(one credit)
Comparative analysis of laws governing maritime torts with emphasis on seamen's remedies for personal injuries and death. The course covers the three main seamen's remedies: maintenance and cure, unseaworthiness and the Jones Act. In addition, attention is given to the tort remedies of those covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act as well as the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and of non-workers. Maritime jurisdiction, conflicts of laws and the rights of foreign seamen in American courts are also addressed.

Maritime Arbitration of Charterparty Disputes
Professor Andrei Kharchenko - Tulane University Law School
(one credit)
This course deals with arbitration of disputes about the so-called “defense cover” provided by P&I Clubs, which are the liability insurers of trading ships. Claims of this kind are usually called FD&D claims: freight, demurrage and defense. The course will explain how ships are chartered and the difference between the various types of charter contracts, before considering how a series of typical disputes arise and are resolved.

International Sports Dispute Resolution
Professor Gabriel Feldman - Tulane University Law School
(one credit)
Tulane’s Sports Law Program enables students to understand and deal with the challenging legal and business problems regularly confronting people in the sports industry.

Introduction to the Law of the Sea
Professor Günther Handl- Tulane University Law School
(one credit)
This course reviews the public order of the oceans, i.e., the basic principles of international law, both customary and treaty-based, that apply to maritime spaces, such as the high seas, continental shelf, seabed and ocean floor. It analyzes the allocation of jurisdictional powers among individual states and the international community at large over the various maritime zones involved; the use and management of ocean resources, including fisheries and seabed mineral resources; marine environmental protection and pollution control; military uses of the oceans and navigational safety.

Course Schedule
All courses meet at the hotel, Monday through Friday, at the following times:

8:00 a.m. - 8:55 a.m. Introduction to the Law of the Sea (Prof. Handl)

9:00 a.m. - 9:55 a.m Maritime Personal Injury (Prof. deGravelles)

10:00 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. International Conventions & Maritime Law (Prof. Davies)

11:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m International Sports Dispute Resolution (Prof. Feldman)

12:00 p.m. - 12:55 p.m. Maritime Arbitration of Charterparty Disputes (Prof. Kharchenko)

Please note that this schedule is tentative and subject to change based on scheduling conflicts.

Course Materials
Login information for course materials are sent to students prior to the program.

Applications for the Rhodes Program will be taken on a first-come basis, with an estimated 30 spaces available. Please apply early to ensure your place in the program.

Faculty and most students stay at the Sheraton Rhodes Resort, where all classes are held. The hotel is located outside the city of Rhodes (10 minutes by bus). The hotel is a true 5-star hotel, with breakfast included, private swimming pools, a beach facility, a 24-hour gym, a health club, tennis and squash courts, etc. Tulane has negotiated special room rates and free access to the internet. Please see the Sheraton Rhodes Resort website for more information.

Students may change their Rhodes housing selections until May 1, 2025. Please email lawabroad@tulane.edu to make changes.

• Classic Room/ Mountain view/ Triple Occupancy: $1,480
• Classic Room/ Mountain view/ Double Occupancy: $1,740
• Classic Room/ Mountain view/ Single Occupancy: $3,285
• Premium /Sea view/ Triple Occupancy: $1,845
• Premium /Sea view/ Double Occupancy: $2,200
• Premium Room/ Sea view/ Single Occupancy: $4,205

These rates are for 20 nights, checking in on Sunday and checking out after the last day of the program (Saturday). Please note that unless you extend your reservation dates, you will need to check-out of the hotel after exams and find alternative accommodations for that evening. The Sheraton Rhodes Resort rates include breakfast.

If you wish to arrive earlier than the first Sunday or depart later than the last Saturday, you can extend your reservations at the hotel by contacting them directly.

In addition to regularly scheduled classes, there are social and educational activities organized by Tulane. In past years, these have included a Rhodes cultural city tour, a day trip to the beautiful island of Halki, and a day trip to the historic town of Lindos. A calendar of all activities will be given to you when you arrive in Greece.

The estimated dates for the 2025 Rhodes Program are May 25 - June 13. Students should plan to arrive in Rhodes on Sunday, May 25 and depart no earlier than the evening of Friday, June 13 after exams are completed. Exams cannot be rescheduled. Program accommodations include checking in on the first Sunday of the program and checking out on the day of the final exam. You may extend your accommodations at the Sheraton Rhodes Resort by contacting the Sheraton Rhodes Resort directly, please see the Rhodes Housing section.

Faculty, staff, students, and non-affiliates planning Tulane-related travel are required to book their travel through the World Travel Service. Please refer to the Tulane Travel Management website for travel booking procedures. 

Effective January 1, 2025, all Tulane faculty, students, and staff traveling abroad for university-related purposes will be covered by Chubb international travel health insurance (Account No. GLM N186660489R). Enrollment is automatic, and no payment is required for medical coverage during Tulane-authorized travel abroad. The university fully covers the cost of the policy, which includes comprehensive benefits such as emergency health insurance, medical repatriation, and medical and security evacuation. Medical insurance and emergency evacuation support are provided by Tulane, with services coordinated by Crisis24. For further details on policy benefits and how to access support abroad, please visit Tulane Global's website: https://global.tulane.edu/international-health-insurance.

Bringing Family
Family members and friends are cordially invited to participate in all activities except the academic course.

Visas
U.S. citizens do not require a visa due to the short time period you will be abroad. International students should check with the appropriate embassy or consulate to ascertain whether a visa is necessary.

Language
The Rhodes Program is conducted entirely in English. Fluency in English is a prerequisite for all students. Students are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to acquire basic Greek language skills before arriving in Rhodes.

Overall

• I'd 100% recommend. Getting to know the professors and Ms. Patty outside the classroom was fun and always entertaining.
• Life changing experience
• Go on this trip. It is an incredible opportunity to gain knowledge about the shipping industry - where we get 90% of what we own. The professors at Tulane are incredible, and have specialized knowledge of this field. The materials are enlightening, but the reading load is reasonable - giving you time to explore the island.
• I would recommend the program to anyone interested in maritime law.

Courses

• I really enjoyed studying Maritime Arbitration, Maritime Personal Injury and International Conventions, very complex matters well explained in a very short time. The Professors gave another perspective of these matters that I can apply in my law practice.
• The courses opened my eyes to an entire new industry and field, which I have found incredibly intriguing. Every course I attended was well taught, and incredibly informative.
• I received a great foundation for my future maritime law studies. Professors were top notch.
• The courses were fantastic and provided a great entry point to start learning about maritime law. You couldn't ask for a better group of professors to learn from.
• The courses covered subject matter that I was seeking exposure to. This program allowed me to learn about topics that would have otherwise remained unavailable to me. There were review sessions offered in some of the classes that proved very helpful and the professors were very receptive to questions.

Beneficial to Career?

• Yes and yes because you are able to interact more personally with the professors, practitioners, and justices since there are fewer students in each class and more opportunities for one-on-one time outside of the classroom than you get during on-campus office hours.
• Yes, this was a great introduction for the area of law I’m going to specialize in
• It was very beneficial in my academic career because I needed the credits for my LLM and it was also beneficial in my professional career because what we learned is what you see on a daily basis when you practice maritime law.
• I have an interest in the water and Energy sectors, and this material will be beneficial to an understanding of both fields.
• Yes. It allowed to me ask pertinent questions about pursuing a legal career. It gave me the opportunity to make connections with a broader range of law students and professors.
• Yes - gave me a primer in maritime, which I did not think I would be interested in. Gives me an added advantage as I am focusing on international business, and 90% of goods are shipped via water.

Liked Most About the Program

• The atmosphere in regards to both the academic and the recreational side.
• The level of expertise the professors possess, the opportunity to study with and connect with lawyers from abroad and experiences of being wonderful historic country!
• The materials were fantastic.
• The housing.
• Studying with other students from other countries
• I really enjoyed the classroom work. Discussions were engaging and the material interesting.
• The courses, professors, and location in Rhodes.
• Pretty much everything.
• Being in Rhodes! Also, the accessibility of the professors; it was an unique experience to talk with them outside the confines of the classroom.

Location

• I found the classrooms very comfortable with a very relaxing sea view.
• The best place to study Maritime Law is where it was born, Rhodes. Amazing destination.
• I loved the location- Rhodes was amazing and I would love to go back.
• The location is impossible to beat, and that showed in how happy everyone was to be there which made all the professors happy to discuss and explain any material either in or outside of class.

Student Recommendations

• Definitely take the public bus system to/from old town. It's so much cheaper than a taxi, and sometimes you can get dropped off right at your destination depending on the driver of the bus.
• Da Romeo Restaurant is an excellent place to eat at. It is fairly priced, the staff/service is friendly and excellent, and you'll get your money's worth in regards to your food. No meal was ever below "decent tasting."
• I recommend if you want to try local food to visit any of the little restaurants near the hotel. They are very cheap and offer the same thing. If you get bored of local food you can go to Amalfi Restaurant which is a very nice place close to the hotel and it has a very relaxing atmosphere. Also I recommend to visit tsambika beach if you can.
• DaRomeo has the best schnitzel on the island (I ate a lot of schnitzel...). The bus is cheap, but the island is also fairly easy to bike. Bicycles are supposed to stay on the right side of the road, off of the sidewalk.
• Ideal (restaurant) had good food, didn't cost too much, and was super close.
• The buses are easy to understand - ask the front desk about it.
• Tsampikas Beach - Lindos & its beach: spend more time there than the 3 hours you get from the mandatory tour
• Marco Polo & Dinoris - treat yourself at least once to dinner here, locals eat here, not just tourists
• Macao & Mozaik - if you're going out, go here.