Catholic Law students at various externships in Poland

This summer, Catholic Law students immersed themselves in international business and trade law while living and studying in Kraków, Poland—a city where centuries of history meet a thriving modern legal community. Sixteen Catholic Law students joined peers from across the United States and the European Union for the International Business and Trade Summer Law Program (IBTSLP) at the historic Jagiellonian University, one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious institutions.

For almost 35 years, the IBTSLP has offered students a chance to learn from both American and Polish faculty, explore comparative perspectives on international business law, and build lasting friendships and professional connections. “The program’s course offerings meet a variety of interests,” said Clinical Assistant Professor Christopher S. Ross, faculty director of the IBTSLP. “Students explored the legal mechanisms undergirding the European Union, examined international investment treaties, and analyzed how complex civil litigation unfolds in the U.S. They also had the unique chance to study recent Supreme Court decisions with Judge Kyle Duncan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, who taught a course on separation of powers and international business.”

Beyond the classroom, Catholic Law students could extend their stay through externships with leading international law firms and corporate legal offices across Poland—many of which are supervised by alumni of the program. These placements allow students to gain practical experience while deepening their cross-cultural understanding of the law in practice.

Anna Wascovich (2L) participated in this summer’s program and completed an externship at Olesiński i Wspólnicy, a law firm located in Wrocław, Poland. As the only American student at the firm, she noted, “the experience profoundly eye-opening. The team was exceptional; every partner and associate went out of their way to make me feel welcome and graciously took time to help me understand both their culture and legal system, while showing genuine curiosity about mine.”

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity,” Wascovich added, “which not only expanded my understanding of Polish law, but also allowed me to view American law from a fresh, outside perspective.”

Another highlight of the summer was the U.S.–Central and Eastern Europe (US-CEE) Weekend Conference, held June 13-14, 2025, at Jagiellonian University’s Collegium Novum. The annual event brings together leaders in law, business, academia, and government from the United States, Poland, and the broader EU to discuss issues of transatlantic importance. This year’s conference featured the theme, “Safeguards or Barriers? EU & U.S. Perspectives on Regulation,” and drew more than 400 participants.

US-CEE Weekend Keynote speakers have included:

• SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce
• Honorable Summer K. Mersinger, CEO Blockchain Association & former US Commodities Futures Trading Commissioner
• Honorable Phyllis Borzi, former US Department of Labor Secretary for Employee Benefits Security
• Jurand Drop, Polish Ministry of Finance Undersecretary of State
• Polish Financial Supervisions Authority Chair, Professor Jacęk Jastrębski
• Eric Pan, Chair International Investment Funds Association and President of the Investment Company Institute
• Erin Nickerson, US State Department Consul General, Krakow, Poland
• J.C. Boggs, Partner King & Spaulding, & Chair, Catholic Law Board of Visitors
• Professor Jim Mazurkiewicz, Polish-American Chamber of Commerce of Texas

Applications for the Summer 2026 International Business and Trade Law Program in Kraków will open in December. Learn more at law.edu/summer, or contact Prof. Ross (rosscs@cua.edu) or Associate Director Monica Allston (allstonm@cua.edu ).