New Academic Agreement Forged with Universidad Escuela Libre de Derecho

Representatives from Duquesne and the Universidad Escuela Libre de Derecho of Costa Rica participated in a signing ceremony on Oct. 6 during which an academic cooperation agreement was established between the two institutions.

President Charles J. Dougherty and Ricardo Guerrero Portilla, rector of the Universidad Escuela Libre de Derecho, signed the agreement. Witnesses included Law School Dean Ken Gormley; Duquesne Distinguished Professor of Law Robert Barker; and Dr. Jacob Rooksby, assistant professor of law.

The agreement establishes a framework for professional and academic cooperation necessary for lectures, classes, research and exchange programs between Duquesne’s School of Law and the Universidad Escuela Libre de Derecho. The agreement is for a five-year term and will be renewable for additional five-year periods.

“We are excited to solidify our existing partnerships with top governmental and educational institutions in Costa Rica by signing this new cooperation agreement with one of that nation’s leading law schools,” said Gormley. “Our students and faculty have benefited directly from our partnerships in Costa Rica, sharing important scholarly interests and practical experiences relating to our respective legal systems.”

The signing also strengthens existing ties between the University and legal scholars in Costa Rica. The School of Law and the Supreme Court of Costa Rica’s Judicial School began working together more than 20 years ago, through the work of Barker, to develop opportunities for legal research and exchange programs for faculty and students.

This past summer, the Supreme Court of Costa Rica hosted a Duquesne law student for an internship. Faculty and administrators also have served as visiting professors at both institutions.

“For several decades now, the law school has enjoyed a special academic and professional association with Costa Rica: first, with the Costa Rican Supreme Court, and now also with one of Costa Rica’s outstanding law schools, the Universidad Escuela Libre de Derecho,’ Barker said. “I am confident that this new relationship will lead to exchanges of great benefit to all of us at Duquesne and in Costa Rica.”