Announced this week, Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law will begin a collaboration with the Dubai Judicial Institute. The Dubai Judicial Institute is a law school located in the United Arab Emirates. The agreement between the two schools will allow them to hold joint conferences, create research partnerships, allow for faculty exchanges and practice opportunities for students from both schools.
“For example, Penn State law students and faculty will be able to create a study visit to the DJI to learn about law and legal institutions of the UAE and to experience a unique commercial hub in the Middle East,” said Penn State dean Philip McConnaughay.
Al Sumaiti, the director general for the Dubai Judicial Institute, said that the agreement will support the mission of his institute. The mission of the institute is to properly train attorneys and judges and to conduct research. Founded in 1996, the institute offers training for private and public sector agencies and prosecutors.
“We are committed to fostering and adopting initiatives to build on the potential of law students and welcome the opportunity to work with Penn State Law in what will most certainly be a successful and beneficial partnership,” Sumaiti said.
The associate dean of graduate and international programs at Penn State, Karen Bysiewicz, said that the students at the school continue to show an interest in the Middle East. “Moreover, Penn State Law is well-positioned to be involved in trainings of lawyers and judges internationally,” she said. “We have a number of judges or former judges on our faculty. We also have faculty members with significant international research, as well an extensive collaboration with the Penn State School of International Affairs.”