Overview
As the United States becomes ever more embedded in the world economy, a greater need arises for lawyers trained to confront the resulting legal challenges. Legal education alone is often not sufficient. The dual degree in Law and Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies (Lacis) aims to enhance your legal education with contextualized understanding of the political, social, cultural and economic issues to which globalization gives rise in this economically emergent region of the world. Lacis has particular strengths in anthropology, economic development, environmental studies, history, land tenure systems, Portuguese and Spanish language and literature, and the sociology of economic change.
The Lacis Program benefits from the University of Wisconsin's extensive resources and its commitment to interdisciplinary research. The Memorial Library houses one of the nation's largest collections on Latin American subjects. A unique research collection, the Land Tenure Center Collection, contains materials on agrarian reform, agricultural and rural development and land tenure. The University of Wisconsin language laboratories contain audiovisual materials for Spanish, Portuguese, Quechua, Nahuatl and Catalan. In alternative years, the program sponsors a Summer Intensive Portuguese Institute taught by a native Brazilian professor. In addition, the program sponsors publication of the Luso-Brazilian Review, an interdisciplinary journal on the Portuguese speaking world.
Lawyers with international interests may find work in the federal government or international agencies, firms providing legal advice for companies doing business abroad, international human rights, assistance to refugees and migrants, land tenure, international trade and finance, and environmental and natural resource management.
Possible Degree Combinations
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J.D. and Master's of Arts in Latin American and Iberian Studies
Admission Procedures & Requirements
For current information about admissions procedures and requirements, contact the Latin American, Caribbean and lberian Studies Program.
The Latin American, Caribbean and lberian Studies Program
University of Wisconsin-Madison
209 Ingraham Hall
1155 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1397
Phone: 608-262-2811, Fax: 608-265-5851
http://www.lacis.wisc.edu/
Contact: Associate Director, Alberto Vargas (avargasp@wisc.edu)
