CILS Benefactors Inc.
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The internship experience I had with the CILS was truly a most unique and exciting experience. I was able to contribute to a variety of tasks that were as academically intriguing as they were rigorous. As an American law student, I found the opportunity to revise and contribute to ongoing treaty commentary of European Union Law particularly rewarding. My experience with the CILS exceeded my expectations of an overseas internship. Working with an NGO not only provided me with unique opportunities, such as attending UNCITRAL sessions at the UN Vienna, but also critical lessons on networking and business practice I am certain I would not have experienced anywhere else.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the finished work product of legal publications.
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The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
outgoing and professional which created a relaxing work environment.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
provide more law students with the opportunity to work with CILS.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I can honestly say that my participation in the CILS senior visiting professor program has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my 37+ year legal career. The training provided by CILS was just what was needed to prepare me for my teaching assignment in Budapest. The faculty and students at the Gaspar Karoli Portestant University Law School were simply fantastic -- such that I'm returning again this fall. I endorse the CILS programs such as this, as well as its other educational programs (one of which I attended in Salzburg roughly 8 years ago), as valuable additions to any practitioner's personal and professional growth and development. Jeff Aiken, Milwaukee, WI, USA
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I've seen the results of this organization in the interest generated amongst other US lawyers in their interest in participating.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
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The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
The CILS staff are extremely accommodating and supportive in all respects -- a real pleasure to work with.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
If CILS had tons of money, it could broaden its reach even more by reducing the senior visiting professor training expense and thereby enticing more US lawyers to volunteer their time.
Ways to make it better...
My experience would have been better if I had done it before so I couild have tailored my presentation to elicit more student participation.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
The biggest challenges facing CILS are in obtaining program participants who are willing to part with valuable time.
One thing I'd also say is that...
In conclusion, CILS is in my opinion one of the most effective organizations I've encountered in sharing with former Eastern Block countries the values and character of our country.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
My internship, set up through CILS Benefactors, was amazing! I worked with an environmental-NGO in Patna, India, and couldn't have had a better experience. I not only gained a new perspective on non-profit work, but I was able to make contacts with government officials and people who work with the United Nations. I never would have found "Tarumitra" without CILS.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my International business transactions class. Also, in interviews, it's a great conversation piece.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
not change a thing.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
that I've kept in touch with my "family" in India.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
very devoted to environmentalism, and very creative in their work.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
have a huge influence in India.
Ways to make it better...
I had worked closer with lawyers. The time I was able to spend with lawyers was helpful.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
the way the government functions, but that is true anywhere. Working in a developing country was helpful because there are many of the same problems as in the US, just on an exaggerated scale- so the issues were more obvious.
One thing I'd also say is that...
this was a great experience!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2008
I participated in the Senior Lawyers Program through CILS in the fall of 2008. My assignment was Kazan State University in Kazan, Russia, Republic of Tatarstan. I was fortunate to combine my orientation with my first assignment and this is truly one of the best experiences of the last many years. I had an opportunity to use my experience as a lawyer and share my knowledge with students eager to learn about the law and about America and to prepare themselves for a better future. The orientation program in Salzburg, Austria was well designed with some very engaging professors who conducted their classes in a friendly atmosphere in a most pleasant environment. I can’t say enough about the Schloss Leopoldskron or Salzburg, Austria. Our weather during October was magnificent and not only the experience and the professors of the program but the fellow lawyers we met were a rewarding experience in itself. My wife was able to join me and I feel we made many lasting friends I look forward to seeing again in the future. The orientation program prepared me well for my experience abroad both in a practical sense and in preparing me for the techniques of teaching and the level of substantive matter to cover. After the wonderful stay at the Schloss Leopoldskron, I departed from Salzburg to Frankfurt and then a direct flight to Kazan. Even at my age in the late 50’s I had a certain degree of fear and trepidation of traveling by myself to a foreign country where I did not speak the language. Arriving at 6:00 a.m. I was an hour before my academic liaison was to meet me and my first experience was with the taxi drivers of Kazan, Russia. I survived and was on my way. I had wonderful accommodations at the Shalyapin Hotel. The real experience was the teaching at Kazan State University and engaging the students. They took wonderful care of me and I enjoyed the experiences outside the classroom, particularly the ballet, a college basketball game, a trip to the Volga and several museums. The weather in Kazan also cooperated. I didn’t see snow until the day before I left Russia on November 12th. It was also an interesting time to be there during the Presidential election. Aside from the students, I was able to also have a lecture for practicing attorneys, which I thoroughly enjoyed although there was a bit of a stumble at the start as I began speaking in English which was familiar to all my students but none of the older attorneys spoke any English and my professor did not advise me and was not there at the start of the lecture. Luckily, a translator arrived in 5 minutes and everything went smoothly thereafter. I have many stories, some of which I compiled in a journal, but for the purposes here, teaching abroad was a rewarding experience.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
interacting with the professors
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
continue the programs in place
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
teaching foreign students
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
well-informed and friendly
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
provide materials, books and more programs
Ways to make it better...
I had mastered the Russian language
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
coordinating all the programs and providing sufficient funds
One thing I'd also say is that...
I thoroughly enjoyed my teaching experience
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2008
In 2007 spring, I participated at the Senior Lawyer Orientation program as a young scholar. First of all I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to CILS that gave me wonderful opportunity to participate at the program and advance my knowledge and “open” my eyes. I met many outstanding senior lawyers from USA. They really interested about Mongolia. Therefore I did short presentation about Mongolia and Mongolian legal system. This presentation was my first presentation in front of senior lawyers and first time in English. I shared with them my opinion about Mongolian legal system. For instance, Mr.Stephen B.Hrones interested about Mongolian criminal law. That time I really surprised that many US lawyers wanted to know about Mongolia. CILS provides an opportunity for senior lawyers to teach short courses on certain aspects of law students abroad. For example, Mr. Joseph Matthew visited to National University of Mongolia in 2006. He taught arbitration law to the 4th grade students. Even his class was only within 2 weeks the students learned many interesting things on arbitration law and Professor Matthews’s class was very fruitful. In 2005 September, I have started to work at the University as an Assistant Professor. I have learned the teaching method and using of relevant cases to each topic. Also teaching the class in English for students was the big chance to improve their English skill. I have had wonderful travel experience. I have made many wonderful friends.
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
provides an opportunity for senior lawyers to teach short courses
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
More feedback...
Ways to make it better...
do internship at the CILS
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2007
I spent three wonderful weeks teaching criminal law in Maribor Slovenia. I was well prepared for my experience by attending the one week CILS orientation program in Salzburg . I was well received by the law school staff and students . If you have the time and a desire to professionally interact with people of a different culture I highly recommend joining the hard working volunteers of CILS.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the orientation program in Salzburg and while teaching in Slovenia.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
make an effort with US state officials to get CLE credit for the orientation and teaching program.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
interacting with the students and staff in Slovenia.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
very well prepared and helpful.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
work for it full time .
Ways to make it better...
he cost to the volunteer was less.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
a lack of funding.
One thing I'd also say is that...
I will come back.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I taught in Kosice, Slovakia as part of the volunteer effort of CILS. It was one of the best professional experiences I've ever had. The students were excellent, the faculty and administration were wonderful colleagues for my short visit and I undoubtedly learned as much as I was able to teach. I asked to attend court one day and that proved to be a fascination, perhaps for all of us. It was difficult for them to persuade a judge to allow me to observe, but once I was there the judge warmed to the experience and we had a good exchange. I came away with more questions than I realized I had when I began--and I am still most interested in knowing how Slovakia and other "new" EU nations will incorporate this jurisprudence that is so different from their tradition.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the other CILS vounteers I met--talented people who love(d) practicing law and so thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of sharing that in a setting so foreign to us.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2007
I taught law school in Ukraine in the fall of 2007 through the CILS Program after attending their orientation in Austria. I met wonderful people to include my host, a young law professor, who recently received a Fulbright scholarship to Georgetown Law where he received his LLM last month. The experience was extremely rewarding as a learning tool and in helping young people in a developing country with gaining the knowledge to help lead their country in the future.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
helping with the intellectual growth of young lawyers in developing democracies.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Spend more time trying to retain those who have volunteered in the past.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Working with young lawyers in a country with a constitution which is only 12 years old.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Very helpful and quick to try and resolve problems.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Assist in deferring the out of pocket costs of the volunteers.
Ways to make it better...
the host organization had been better organized in planning the program.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Coordination of the volunteers and the projects for which they volunteer.
One thing I'd also say is that...
This program needs money because it can't survive in today's economy with volunteers having to pay huge out of pocket costs.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I am a 1973 graduate of the Temple Univsersity School of Law and a practicing lawyer as a member of the Business and Finance Department in the Philadelphia law firm of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel; in 2004 the Center for International Legal Studies(CILS) advised me that I had been recommended to be an initial participant in the CILS Sr. Lawyer Visiting Professor Program (CILS was originally established to bring students, scholars, lawyers and government officials to Salzberg for conferences; after 1989 they received requests from Universities to send experienced lawyers to them.) After application, submission of a brief and paper, recommendation by the Dean of my law school, and interview by CILS, I attended a week long seminar at the Schloss Leopoldskron (home of the Salzberg Seminars) with other Sr. Lawyer Visiting Professors, for lectures by leading government and academic figures, and to meet law students from some of the countries we were going to, and to discuss what and how we would teach. I subsequently delevoped a seminar, entited "American Entrepreneurship, the Lawyer's Role; the Function of the Attorney-at-Law in the U.S. Economy", which I conducted at the University of Szczecin in Poland in May and June of 2006. I subsequently arranged for one of my students to be an intern at a law firm in the U.S., and arranged for one the other professors in Szczecin to visit the Temple University School of Law. It was a tremendously positive experience, and I strongly recommend full financial support and participation in the Center for International Legal Studies and its programs.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
increased understanding of the American Legal System by professors and students in Eastern Europe.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
make it better known.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the opportunity to teach and to learn.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
responsive.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
expand its programs into Asia, Africa and South America.
Ways to make it better...
it was easier to communicate with Universities in developing countries.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
the tendency of other legal systems to view lawyers primarily in the judicial/litigative/prosecutorial context.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
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