Identify Israel’s seven largest law schools. Travel, via the Internet, to these virtual campuses to examine programs and class descriptions: Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Law, Hebrew University Faculty of Law, Netanya Academic College Law School, Shaarey Mishpat College of Law, Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law and University of Haifa Faculty of Law. Inquire about reciprocal agreements between any of the aforementioned Israeli law schools and your home campus.
Add the following institutions to your list if you are interested in applying directly to an Israeli law school that is not affiliated with a JD program in your home country: College of Management at Rishon Lezion, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) at Herzliya, Ono Academic College at Kiryat Ono or Sha'arei Mishpat at Hod HaSharon. Explore these institutions if you also prefer a small university setting to a huge one.
Plan to study in Israel during the summer, unless you are taking advantage of the Ramat Gam Winter Law Program negotiated by the Wittier Law School in California. Visit the American Bar Association site (see Resource) to find ABA-approved summer programs in Israel. Apply directly to the law school you have selected, if you can not find an appropriate exchange program.
Expect a typical summer semester in Israel to include three-credit classes focusing on the Israeli civil and criminal legal system, including family, criminal, constitutional and minority rights law. In addition are unique course offerings such as: Law and Religion and Legal Issues Impacting the Peace Process. Explore trade and investment law classes covering contract and property, comparative securities and tax law, intellectual property and the intriguing study of e-commerce law.
Speak Hebrew and increase your chances of gaining admission. If you do not speak Hebrew, do not worry. English is Israel’s second language and faculty at schools are bilingual—indeed, many of them immigrated to Israel from the U.S. or Canada. Smaller law schools may require fluency in Hebrew, so it is a smart idea to check this out before you begin completing the required paperwork associated with applying for admission.
Take advantage of the bountiful number of connections between the U.S. and Israel to make your stay a memorable one. All institutions offer help with student housing and orientation, in addition to field trips scheduled exclusively for international law students to break up intense amounts of study with cultural activities. Climb Masada. Explore the Old City. Eat falafel and learn to dance the Hora. Bring back more than a law degree when you return home.