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, or a 5-credit three and a half 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 either 3 or 5 credits by taking courses taught by Professors Miriam Lyman of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law and Giovanni Comandé of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna.

2023 Course Offerings - 3 Credit Program:

• Course #1 – International Sales Law (Taught by Professor Miriam Lyman) (2 credits)
• Course #2 – Artificial Intelligence Regulation and Risk Minimization in a Data Driven Society (Taught by Professor Giovanni Comandé) (1 credit)

Additional Course for 5 Credit Program: (2023 Additional Course Offering: TBA)

• Course #3 – Comparative Data Protection Law (Taught by Professor Giovanni Comandé) (2 credits)

Schedule

The schedule for the 2023 Pisa program is still being finalized.

Housing

The program will provide housing a at local hotel in Pisa: Grand Hotel Duomo. Hotel Duomo is located on a main bustling street just footsteps from the leaning tower – complete with an amazing view from the rooftop!

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

2023 Tuition and Program Fees

Costs Payable to Hofstra University

Additional Financial Aid Available for Related Expenses (Optional)

Please note, you may only apply for financial aid for the 5 credit program OR 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 March 27, 2023. 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 either 3 or 5 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.

Miriam Lyman

Professor Lyman teaches Contracts, Business Organizations, International Sales Law and Business Drafting.

Professor Lyman joined Hofstra in the fall of 2004, with practice experience as a corporate and securities attorney and teaching experience at law and business schools. She was previously on the faculties of Fordham Business School and Widener Law School, teaching business law topics including corporate, agency and partnership law, mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and interviewing and counseling, as well as legal writing.

Professor Lyman's research interests focus on business organization and international and domestic securities law issues. Her articles have appeared in publications such as the Arizona Law Review, Rutgers Law Journaland the American Business Law Journal, a peer-reviewed journal for which she is an Articles Editor. Before entering academia, she practiced corporate and securities law at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan in New York.

She holds a B.A. from Tufts University, a J.D. and M.B.A. from Emory University, and LL.M. in corporate law from New York University.

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 secure to 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.

The 3-credit program runs for two weeks (May 21 – June 3) and students will enroll in 2 credits with a Hofstra Professor and 1 credit with Professor Comandé (Scuola). The 5-credit continues after the completion of the 3-credit program (June 4 – June 15) – students enroll in a 2-credit course with Professor Comandé (Scuola).

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 (2023 extra cost for single room: 3-credit: $360; 5-credit: $700).

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 and one exam at the completion of the 5-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.