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 Sheraton Resort Hotel in 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 Hotel. 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 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 deGravelles
(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.
The Edge of the Financial Abyss: Greece and Argentina
Professor Wessman- Tulane University Law School
(one credit)
When sovereign states incur excessive debt and fall into financial crisis, there is no legal mechanism (comparable, e.g., to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code) for adjusting the rights and liabilities of the various stakeholders. Some combination of negotiation, contract modification, legislation, intervention by international organizations, and simple leverage must substitute for a formal legal regime. This course explores the techniques employed in two relativeley recent financial crises, those in Greece and Argentina.
Vessel Documentation and Finance
Professor Neal Kling- Tulane University Law School
(one credit)
Students in this course will study the documentation (flagging) and financing of vessels. The course emphasizes regulatory issues, documentation mechanics and debt financing for vessel owners and operators.
Introduction to the Law of the Sea
Professor 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 Sheraton Resort, 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 Vessel Documentation and Finance (Prof. Kling)
12:00 p.m. - 12:55 p.m. The Edge of the Financial Abyss: Greece and Argentina (Prof. Wessman)
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 Hotel where all classes are held. The hotel is located outside the city of Rhodes (10 minutes by bus). The Sheraton is a true 5-star hotel, with its private swimming pools, beach facility, 24-hour gym, health club, tennis and squash courts, etc. Tulane has negotiated special room rates and free access to the internet.
The estimated rates per person, which include breakfast, are:
These rates are for 19 nights, checking in on Sunday and checking out following exams on the last day of the program (Friday). The exact housing rates will be determined in January 2019 on the basis of prevailing economic conditions and the dollar-euro exchange rates.
Please note that the hotel also offers a half-board (buffet dinner) option for € 20.00 per person/day. However, for those who seek to minimize expenses, this option may not be the most cost-effective way to take care of daily meals.
For Students who have accommodation out of the hotel, a fee of $200 per person will be charged for use of the facilities of the Sheraton Hotel.
If you wish to arrive earlier than the first Sunday or depart later than the last Friday, you can extend your reservations at the Sheraton Hotel by contacting them directly.
Please note that it is not possible to fly from Rhodes or from Athens to the United States on Friday because transoceanic flights depart in the morning hours. If you plan to return to the United States immediately after the end of the summer session, you should make reservations for departure from Athens on the Saturday following exams and secure hotel accommodations for the night of the last Friday in either Rhodes or Athens.
To connect with other students and possibly coordinate roommates, join the Program's Facebook group 2020 Tulane Law Summer in Rhodes!
In addition to regularly scheduled classes, there are social and educational activities organized by Tulane. In the past years, these have included museum tours and court visits. A calendar of all activities will be given to you when you arrive in Greece.
Students should plan to arrive in Rhodes mid-day on Sunday, May 24 and depart no earlier than the evening of Friday, June 12 after exams are completed. Exams cannot be rescheduled. Please note, there will be a banquet dinner for all program participants at the Sheraton Resort following the final exam. 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 by contacting them directly, please see the Rhodes Housing section.
Students are responsible for all travel arrangements. We recommend researching ticket prices early from a few travel search engines to find the most competitive prices.
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.
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