FAQs

This website is designed as a brief general introduction to the North American Consortium on Legal Education for persons interested in being a NACLE exchange student. It should not be considered a replacement for statements of regulations, course requirements and other detailed information. You are encouraged to contact your home university and the host university of your choice for more information.

1.	What is the North American Consortium on Legal Education?
2.	What is the purpose of NACLE?
3.	Why was NACLE formed?
4.	What is the length of a student exchange?
5.	Can I go to a school in my home country?
6.	How much will it cost?
7.	Will I need health insurance and immunizations?
8.	How many years of law school must I have completed to be NACLE exchange student?
9.	Must I speak a foreign language?
10.	Can students take courses at the Instituto de Investigaciones Juridicas at UNAM?
11.	What is the application deadline?
12.	What are the admissions requirements?
13.	What grade point average must I have?
14.	Is there a limit on the number of exchanges any one university will accept?
15.	Will I recieve credit for the courses I take?
16.	Can I work while I am attanding the host university?
17.	What are the visa requirements?
18.	Will I have a faculty advisor?
19.	Is housing available?
20.	How can I find out more about the member universities?
1.	What is the North American Consortium on Legal Education? The North American Consortium on Legal Education (NACLE) is a group of thirteen law schools and research institutes from the NAFTA countries.
2.	What is the purpose of NACLE? The purpose of NACLE is to increase the capability of each member law school to provide a quality education and research opportunities to its students. The member universities recognize that lawyers are increasingly confronted with complex legal issues as a result of the interaction between institution and individuals in North America. NACLE’s goal is to prepare future lawyers to meet this challenge.
3.	Why was NACLE formed? The member universities were motivated to create NACLE due to their complementary academic programs, their shared areas of strength, and their interest in issues involving North American legal interaction. NACLE seeks to promote long-term cooperation in academic programs conducted at the member schools. Student exchanges are an important part of the NACLE vision.
4.	What is the length of a student exchange? Most exchanges will be for one semester, although shorter periods may be possible as NACLE becomes fully operational.
5.	Can I go to a school in my home country? Presently all NACLE exchanges must be international. However, students may apply to attend U.S. members of NACLE as transient students, and if accepted, will pay out-of-state tuition to the host school.
6.	How much will it cost? You will pay your usual tuition and fees to your home university. There will be no additional fees or laboratory charges paid to the host university. You will be responsible for your own travel costs and living expenses.
7.	Will I need health insurance and immunizations? Obviously, it is important to have health insurance. In many instances, having health insurance is a mandated by the host university’s government. The cost of the insurance ranges from approximately $200 to $600 a semester. Additionally, each country has immunization requirements. If you are selected to be a NACLE exchange student, you will need to verify the insurance and immunization requirements with your host university.
8.	How many years of law school must I have completed to be NACLE exchange student? All law students must be in their last or next to last year of legal studies.
9.	Must I speak a foreign language? Fluency in the language used to conduct the courses is required. Your home university will make the initial determination regarding whether you are sufficiently fluent. The final decision on your fluency will be made by the host university and you may be required to take a language test. Contact the host institution for specific language requirements.
10.	Can students take courses at the Instituto de Investigaciones Juridicas at UNAM? The Instituto is the premiere research center in law in Latin America. The Instituto does not offer law courses per se, but has a large corps of research fellows, including many of the most distinguished law professors in Mexico. The Instituto also has the most complete law library in Latin America. The Instituto will participate in NACLE as a center for cooperative research. For instance, students studying at the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City may take advantage of this opportunity.
11.	What is the application deadline? Currently, each member university sets its own application deadline for incoming students. Please contact the host university for more information.
12.	What are the admissions requirements? First, you must make application with your home university. If your application is approved by your home university, you will then make application to the host university. Each member university has set its own exchange and admissions requirements.
13.	What grade point average must I have? Again, each law school sets its own standards. The home law school will screen applicants, and will take into account academic considerations (GPA, etc.), as well as experience, career plans, etc..
14.	Is there a limit on the number of exchanges any one university will accept? The American Bar Association accreditation requirements do not permit a U.S. Institution to send more than four students per semester to each foreign member school. Additionally, each host university may set limitation on the number of students it will accept in any one year.
15.	Will I recieve credit for the courses I take? Yes, you will receive credit for the courses you take. The courses will be graded by the host university and those grades will be transmitted to the home university. The grades will be recorded at the home university as either pass or fail and will not be computed into your grade point average.
16.	Can I work while I am attanding the host university? Depending on the type of visa you obtain, you may be eligible to work. Generally, the jobs will be on campus. You are cautioned that such positions are of limited availability and should not be relied upon as a means of financial support. Additionally, a variety of non-paying internships will be available to acquaint you further with the culture and business climate of your host country. You are encouraged to participate in an internship program while studying at the host university.
17.	What are the visa requirements? The host university can supply you with the visa requirements for its country.
18.	Will I have a faculty advisor? Each NACLE exchange student will be assigned a faculty advisor by the host university to offer counseling on course selection. Additionally, you will be assigned a peer mentor to assist you in acclimating to your new environment.
19.	Is housing available? Your host university can assist you in locating housing, but the responsibility for finding housing is ultimately yours. Some of the universities have limited housing available on or near the campus.
20.	How can I find out more about the member universities? Please see the NACLE Campuses section of this website for information specific to each university. If you have further questions about an individual university contact the NACLE representative located on that university's respective NACLE Campuses page.