Summer Program in Pisa

The Hofstra Summer Program in Pisa is an intensive introduction to the domestic and international laws affecting global trade and technology. With a focus on laws regulating technology, data privacy, and international contracts.

Students will have the option to enroll in a 3-credit two-week program.

Classes are held at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, a top research university located in the heart of the charming Tuscany region of Italy.

Participants earn 3 credits by taking courses taught by a Professor from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law and a Professor from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna.

2024 Course Offerings - 3 Credit Program (for reference only):

• Course #1 – International Civil Litigation in U.S. Courts (2 credits)
  Professor: Kevin McElroy, Hofstra Law School
  Description: The expansion of international trade and investment in recent years has greatly increased the significance of civil litigation involving foreign parties and transactions in U.S. courts. Such litigation raises concerns not usually present in civil litigation between domestic parties: the application of international and foreign law, the proper role of courts in resolving disputes that might affect foreign policy, and the possibility of conflict between state and federal regulation of foreign commerce. In addressing these concerns, courts have attempted to balance competing domestic and foreign interests and to minimize judicial intrusion in foreign affairs. This course examines selected topics in international civil litigation. Topics may include jurisdiction of U.S. courts over foreign defendants including foreign nations, venue and forum selection, choice of law issues based on common law concepts and international contractual agreements, arbitration agreements, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, extraterritorial application of U.S. law, and the recognition and enforcement of judgments. 
• Course #2 – Artificial Intelligence Regulation and Risk Minimization in a Data Driven Society (1 credit)
  Professor: Giovanni Comandé, Scuola Professor
  Description: AI is already embedded in or sustain most products and services around the globe. It also powers most of cybersecurity and cyberattacks. In the coming years its role will increase  steadily.  With the Artificial Intelligence Act approved and applicable to any AI provider placing on the market or putting into service AI systems or placing on the market general-purpose AI models in the Union, irrespective of whether those providers are established or who are located within the Union or in a third country in the EU, this 1 credit course is a must for any attorney willing to assist any client potentially across all markets in the US and abroad.

Schedule

The Schedule for 2025: TBA

The schedule for the 2024 Pisa program is below (for reference only).

Download the Schedule (PDF)

Housing

The program will provide housing at a local hotel in Pisa.

The rooms may be either double or triple. You will be asked to fill out a “Room Selection” form, but the Maurice A. Deane School of Law reserves the right to make the final decision of placement in the housing.

All rooms will have students of the same gender, unless you specifically request to have a person of a different gender as your roommate.

Note: Single rooms may be available upon request for an additional fee.

Students From U.S. Law Schools

2025 Tuition and Program Fees: TBA

2024 Tuition and Program Fees (for reference only):

Costs Payable to Hofstra University

Additional Financial Aid Available for Related Expenses (Optional)

Please note, you may only apply for financial aid if you are enrolled in 5 credits for the summer session (3-credit program + additional summer courses).

Financial Aid Availability

In addition to the tuition and program fees, financial aid is also available for transportation, expenses, books and miscellaneous expenses.

Download the Application (PDF).

Application Deadline

The application deadline is Friday, March 28, 2025.  Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Upon submitting your application, complete with a statement of interest, and scanned passport you will receive a decision letter. If accepted, a link to make the $500 nonrefundable deposit will be sent to you and you may move forward with the financial aid process.

Note: If you are accepted and cancel your participation after the application deadline, you may be required to pay the full program balance and tuition.

If you apply for financial aid but do not receive the aid by the deadline, the Maurice A. Deane School of Law will accept a letter from your school stating that you will receive financial aid for the program. The balance must be paid as soon as you receive your financial aid funds

Eligibility Criteria, Academic Requirements and Grading

Eligibility

The program is open to all law students who have completed all first-year day courses and who are in good academic standing at an ABA-accredited law school. (Hofstra Law students must have at least a 2.2 GPA.)

Note: If you attend a law school other than Hofstra Law, you must submit a letter from your law school verifying that you meet the above requirements.

Academic Requirements

All students are required to enroll in 3 academic credits as part of this program. There will also be required field trips to local legal institutions.

Grading

Hofstra Law’s grading standards apply, and Hofstra transcripts will be sent out. Acceptance of credits earned during the program is subject to the determination of your home school.

Grades are based on an examination in each course. The grading policy in the program is the same as in the regular course of study at Hofstra Law. The grade scale is: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D and F.

*If you attend a law school other than Hofstra, you must submit a letter from your law school verifying that you meet the above requirements.

Faculty

Giovanni Comandé
Professor of Private Comparative Law, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Director of the International and Comparative Law Research Laboratory (Lider-Lab)
Attorney at Law

Main fields of interest

• Comparative law
• Information society law (mainly privacy and e-commerce)
• Algorithm’s regulation and Artificial Intelligence
• Data protection
• Tort law
• European private law
• Insurance law
• Health law

Scientific director of several research projects funded by the Italian Ministry of Instruction, University Science and Education, the Italian National Council of Research, the European Science Foundation, the EU, Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Administrations, public and private companies and organizations, full list available at www.lider-lab.org.

Publications

• Author of four monographs.
• Editor or co-editor of 14 collective works diffusing research results.
• Author of more than 60 articles and notes published in major law reviews.
• Contributor of 68 chapters in collective publications in Italian, English and Spanish.
• Publications main subjects: tort law, information technology, data protection, artificial intelligence, health law, medical malpractice and insurance, privacy and e-commerce.

Kevin McElroy

Kevin McElroy joined the faculty in the summer of 2006 initially teaching Appellate Advocacy. Since then, in addition to teaching the required first year Legal Analysis, Writing and Research classes each semester, he has taught a number of courses including Federal Civil Procedure and Selected Problems in New York Civil Procedure. Kevin also teaches a variety of courses designed to give the students instruction and practical experience in both writing and litigation skills such as the written discovery stage of a lawsuit and the taking and defending of deposition. In both 2015 and 2020 he was selected as the law school’s Teacher of the Year.

In addition to teaching at Hofstra he serves on a pro bono basis as a court appointed arbitrator in fee disputes between attorneys and their clients. He has consulted with New York State Board of Law Examiners on potential future essay questions by providing input on the appropriateness of proposed essay questions.

Kevin serves as the law school’s representative in the Hofstra University Senate. He has judged the Moot Court competitions on a regular basis for a number of years and has lectured to third year students on preparing for specific areas of law covered on the Uniform Bar Examination. He is also the Faculty Advisor for the Irish Law Society.

Prior to teaching at Hofstra Kevin represented clients before federal and state courts across the country since being admitted to the New York Bar in 1987 including a significant number of cases involving employment law matters, contracts and toxic torts. He has also served as an Administrative Law Judge on matters arising under state and local health laws.

His writings have been published in a number of legal periodicals including The National Law Journal, The New York Law Journal and The Fordham Environmental Law Reporter. He has spoken on litigation topics at events sponsored by the Defense Research Institution and the New York State Bar Association and recently delivered a lecturer at the Nassau County Bar Association on the developments in the last year in the field of New York State Court Practice under the Civil Practice Law and Rules.

He holds a JD, 1986, St Johns Univ Jamaica; BA, 1980, SUNY Univ Cntr Albany.

Administration

Jessika Pineda, Associate Director of International Law Programs and Student Affairs
Send an Email | (516) 463-0417

Joanne Masci, Senior Support Specialist
Send an Email | (516) 463-4547

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries about the program to internationalprograms@hofstra.edu or (516) 463-4547.

The program is open to all law students who have completed all first-year day courses and who are in good academic standing at an ABA-accredited law school. (Maurice A. Deane School of Law students must have at least a 2.2 GPA.).

We require the application, a non-refundable $500 deposit, a statement of interest AND a copy of your passport. If accepted, the deposit will be applied to your program costs.

Along with materials listed above, visiting students must submit a letter of good standing from their institution.

TBD

Yes, there will be some readings assigned by the professor prior to the first class.

Hofstra does not provide airport transportation, this is the responsibility of the student.

No, participants are required to secure their own travel and arrive on the specified start date.

Yes, participants may arrive early or leave late. Accommodations must be secured and funded by said participant for any extra days/nights.

All breakfasts will be included at the hotel, all lunches Monday-Friday will be provided at the campus canteen and some group dinners will be provided.

Classes will be held at the beautiful campus at Scuola Sant’Anna Superiore. It is about a 10-minute scenic walk from our hotel.

Unless specified on application, students will receive either one or two roommates. If you would like a single room, you will incur extra costs (2025 extra cost for single room: TBA).

The exams will take place in class at the completion of the program. There will be two exams at the completion of the 3-credit program.

Yes! We do require documentation from your institution certifying and describing the nature of your accommodations but we will work to get as close as possible to what you are offered at your home institution.

Of course. We recommend it for the ease of taking notes electronically and working through real life situations during class. You may or may not take your final exams on your computer – this is decided by the professor.

All students will receive a letter grade on their Hofstra transcript – these courses cannot be taken Pass/Fail.

Students can expect to see their grades reflected on or before August 1st.

Once accepted and admitted to the program, any specific questions about financial aid, please contact Hofstra Law’s Office of Financial Aid. Please call or email: (516) 463-6706 or lawfinaid@hofstra.edu.