The Catholic University of America

 

 
L-R: Dean Veryl Miles, Wojciech Jarosinski,  Vincenzo Senatore,
Rafal Kos and Professor Leah Wortham.

LL.M. Students Return to Walk for Commencement

 

Three graduates of the LL.M. degree program run jointly by the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University and The Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, returned to the United States to take part in the law school’s commencement on May 27, 2011.
 
Vincenzo Senatore of Italy, joined by Wojciech Jarosinski and Rafal Kos of Poland, flew in from Europe to participate. A fourth student, Chinwe Chinemerem Onuoha, had planned to join them but was unable to make the journey.
 
The four were part of the Class of 2010, a total of eight students who earned their academic postgraduate law degree by completing coursework in both Krakow and Washington, D.C. They graduated last October, but are listed in the law school’s commencement program and are eligible to participate in the ceremony. Given the time and expense of a trip to the U.S., most LL.M. program graduates cannot return for the May graduation.  
 
The three that did return this year were honored at a lunch on May 26th hosted by Dean Veryl Miles and Professor Leah Wortham, the American director of the LL.M. program.
 
“This is the first year we’re been able to lure someone to graduation. You’ll be the last students to cross the stage!” said Wortham.
 
Other faculty members who had worked with the students in the International Business and Trade Summer Law Program, the American Law Program, and the CUA Summer Law Program were also in attendance, as well as the seven students from the class of 2011 who are fulfilling coursework requirements at Catholic University this summer.
 
Senatore, Jarosinski and Kos (who heads one of Poland’s leading law firms) were also invited to attend the law school’s Institute Certificate ceremony later in the day, as well as the annual breakfast on commencement day for the commencement speaker and graduates with alumni ties.
 
The joint LL.M. degree program provides lawyers educated outside the U.S. with a foundation in American law and the American legal system. Such studies are useful for lawyers representing American clients doing business abroad and lawyers who deal with American entities in other regards.