Today’s law graduates enter a world in which little stops at the borders between nations. International trade and tribunals, human rights and intellectual property, business deals and war crimes-there is a pervasive global dimension to the work of lawyers, judges, and legal scholars, and Stanford Law School prepares students to step up to the challenge.

The Stanford Program in International and Comparative Law is founded on the premise that law is a living body of rules and norms that both reflects and shapes the behavior of people, governments, and organizations worldwide. At Stanford Law, we believe that world-class legal scholarship and real-world developments must go hand in hand. Building on this foundation, we prepare students to make a difference in the world throughout the world.

Our international and comparative law program blends the benefits of an accessible, dedicated intellectual community with the formidable resources of Stanford University, including interdisciplinary programs and research centers focused on an array of international issues. In addition to addressing the foundations of the international legal order, our comprehensive curriculum explores the dramatic changes in the transnational business environment, the evolving global lawmaking and international judicial process, and the challenges of realizing global justice. Our faculty have produced cutting-edge research on international trade, transnational crime, refugees, terrorism, international criminal tribunals, human rights, international environmental law, comparative law, and the use of force. They bring in-depth experience to their research and are deeply committed to mentoring students. And dozens of Stanford Law events every year bring together faculty, students, graduate fellows, lawyers, policymakers, leaders of multinational corporations, NGOs, and many others to explore key issues in international legal practice.

Whether seeking a foundation in the basic principles of international law or the expertise and insight to pursue a specialty—from human rights to international trade, from international conflict resolution to the law of the European Union—students find opportunities, resources, hands-on experience, and inspiration at Stanford Law.