The Academy of American and International Law is sponsored every summer by the Institute for International and Comparative Law (an institute of The Center for American and International Law).

The Academy provides an opportunity for people from outside the United States to study American and international legal and business institutions, with an emphasis on American legal institutions and process. The Academy is business oriented and addresses a wide range of law-related commercial transactions.

Participants explore the role of law in the settlement of disputes and in the establishment of an orderly structure of international relations – both private and governmental.

A Certificate of Participation is given to those who fulfill the requirements during the six weeks. Additionally, a participant may choose to take a series of short exams and if successful, earn the title of Academy Fellow.

We are pleased to announce that those who attend the Academy and pass a special examination (prepared by SMU Law School lecturers) may receive 3 hours of credit towards a Masters of Law degree at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law. To receive credit, a student must also be admitted into the SMU Masters of Law program.

The program is intended for lawyers from countries other than the United States who are interested in international law. It is not a degree program and it is not as comprehensive as a Master of Laws Program. It is not intended for the highly experienced corporate lawyer or private practitioner.

Instead, it is a six-week course designed for someone who is in the early stages of a career that may now or in the future include international law. It is designed to provide a broad introduction to a variety of areas important to the practice of international business law, and to provide an introduction to the laws of the United States.

As evidenced by the list of Storey Award recipients, the Academy has attracted lawyers who have gone on to very prominent positions in their home countries. Our goal is to provide a forum for those who are among the "best and brightest" lawyers, giving them an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and experience.

The faculty includes distinguished scholars and practicing lawyers with national and international experience in legal, business and public affairs. The program emphasizes practical approaches for people engaged in transnational legal and economic relationships.

Benefits of the Academy are reciprocal. Participants acquire a deeper understanding of American institutions and of international law; at the same time, participants learn from one another, and the presence of the participants enriches the understanding of the many Americans who have the opportunity to meet them.