Exchanging Knowledge with Law Faculty in the Balkans

Professor Manoj Viswanathan (in orange tie, center) lectured to Master’s students on U.S. tax policy at the University of Prishtina in Kosovo in early 2024 as part of a grant-funded international project.

In 2023-2024, the International Development Law Center continued implementing a multi-year grant from the U.S. State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in Kosovo on “Expanding and Improving Practical Legal Education in Kosovo.” The center has partnered with University of Prishtina Faculty of Law for this program, which seeks to improve skills training and share best practices in clinical legal education.

In the last quarter of 2023, Professors Prithika Balakrishnan, Teresa Wall-Cyb, and Keith Hand of UC Law SF each had a fruitful visit to Kosovo. During their stays, the professors delivered lectures on subjects including Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, International Business Transactions, and Administrative Law. They also exchanged views with members of the University of Prishtina Faculty of Law, the Kosovo government, and NGO representatives. The objectives of the visit were to support the Prishtina Faculty of Law as it seeks to further integrate practical skills training into its curriculum, which currently skews theoretical. The Prishtina Law Faculty also sought inputs and support for their new LLM program in Transitional Justice.

Professor Gyljeta Mushkolaj of the University of Prishtina in Kosovo gave a guest lecture in Professor Blaine Bookey’s International Human Rights class during a visit to UC Law SF campus in October 2023.

Dean Avni Puka, Professor Gyljeta Mushkolaj, and Professor Visar Morina of the University of Prishtina paid UC Law SF a visit in October 2023. They remarked on the academic culture of UC Law SF, especially our practice-heavy approach to legal education. Professor Mushkolaj, who formerly served on Kosovo’s Constitutional Court, gave a guest lecture on human rights to Professor Blaine Bookey’s International Human Rights Law class, which was met with keen interest and detailed questions by UC Law SF students. The visitors also toured the UC Berkeley School of Law campus during their stay in the Bay Area, visiting several legal clinics and meeting with clinic leadership.

In early 2024, Professor Manoj Viswanathan from UC Law SF travelled to Kosovo. In addition to exchanging views with University of Prishtina faculty, he lectured to Master’s students on U.S. tax policy. Professors Andrea Lollini, Alina Ball, and Jessica Vapnek also took part in the program in Kosovo this year. Professor Lollini discussed and taught on issues of transitional justice and European Union law, whereas Professor Ball focused on corporate clinical work. Professor Vapnek, faculty director of the International Development Law center, shared her expertise in legislative drafting, American legal writing, and grant management.

In March 2024, UC Law SF hosted Professor of Criminalistics Haki Demolli and Professor of International Law Besfort Rrecaj in San Francisco. They met with Chancellor & Dean David Faigman and Provost & Academic Dean Morris Ratner and observed several UC Law SF classes and clinics, including the Medical-Legal Partnership for Seniors. They also spent a day at University of San Francisco School of Law, where they met with Associate Dean Amy Flynn and presented at Professor Dana Zartner’s Comparative Law class.