2026 Munich Germany

War is horrendous and intrinsically evil. At least on one side of the equation, political leaders are sacrificing the lives of ordinary men and women for their place in history. But that being a given, the atrocities of WWII were particularly evil. Normally, lawyers are trained to seek justice when confronted with crimes of this nature. But what is justice in the face of such war crimes? We’ll evaluate the legal and moral obligations of attorneys when confronting such unprecedented crimes.

CLE Focus: International Law, Human Rights Law, Ethics

As WWII was winding down, the victorious nations had to address – how would the war crimes of Germany and the Nazi party be treated? Here, we explore the range of legal proposals considered for handling Nazi war crimes. From on-the-spot executions to public trials, we analyze each approach’s merits and implications and consider why a courtroom was chosen over a firing squad.

CLE Focus: Criminal Law, Legal Ethics, Government Law

Have you ever heard someone say that a politician is Hitler? Or a Nazi? Ironically, I have heard it said about politicians on both sides of the political aisle. In this class, we will look at the various legal institutions in Nazi Germany that lead to the rise of Hitler and WWII. How did the system of checks and balances collapse? We’ll look at laws, decrees, and enforcement mechanisms that transformed a republic into a dictatorship.

CLE Focus: Constitutional Law, Comparative Law

In America, we get tunnel vision thinking our judicial system is the only advanced legal system in play. But amongst the first world countries, there are various legal systems. And when trying a case before an international tribunal, what legal system should be used? Civil law? British law? Should defendants get a presumption of innocence? In this class, we unpack the various legal systems in place worldwide, and the system chosen for the Nuremberg Trials. We will also unpack the various players who will try and decide these cases. Finally, we will look at the laws to be enforced.

CLE Focus: Comparative Legal Systems, International Criminal Procedure

The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site visit includes one hour of legal education, offering a profound reflection on Germany’s history. This experience deepens understanding of human rights, law, and justice through an educational and historical lens.

Continued visitation of the site will end at 5:00 p.m.

We dive into the prosecution’s case. Due to the German’s need for regime, everything was documented. Should this case be tried solely based on the mountains of German documentation detailing all that occurred? Or should a personal touch be added of eye witness testimony? In the end, the prosecutors believed this was a trial to the world as well as the court and opted to present its most compelling case.

CLE Focus: Trial Advocacy and Evidence

The Nuremberg trials occurred not that far after the advent of motion pictures. Which makes this trial all of the more compelling as we can see for ourselves how it went. We will dive into American Prosecutor Justice Robert Jackson’s opening statement and how the case was postured. We will also explore the defense strategies. What makes this case most compelling is that this was a real trial – which meant the defendants could go free if the prosecution didn’t prove its case.

CLE Focus: Litigation Strategy, Legal Writing, Oral Advocacy

With over 20 defendants, there were multiple powerful moments in court, ranging from a feigned dementia condition, to playing a video of the discovery of the concentration camps, to the epic dual between Justice Robert Jackson and Hermon Goring. We’ll review pivotal testimony, cross-examinations, and judicial decisions.

CLE Focus: Trial Practice, Evidence, Criminal Law

Most people know of the first trial, but there were twelve total. While the Major War Criminals trial stole the headlines, there were many others, including the Doctors Trial and the Judges Trial. We will dig into these various other trials to get a complete picture of the Nuremberg Trials. Probably of most interest is the Judges Trial. This became the subject of the widely acclaimed movie Judgment of Nuremberg, starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Maximillian Schell and Judy Garland, among others. We’ll discuss the key lessons from these trials – demonstrating how professional ethics were placed under the microscope.

CLE Focus: Ethics, Health Law, Judicial Responsibility

Take part in an insightful afternoon walking tour focusing on the history of the Third Reich, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. The tour includes a visit to the NS Documentation Center, providing a deeper understanding of the era through informative exhibits and historical context. This thought-provoking excursion offers a chance to reflect on one of the most significant periods in history. 

Join an impactful excursion to Nuremberg, where you will explore key WWII sites, including the Nuremberg Trials Memorial in Courtroom 600 at the Palace of Justice. Learn about the historic trials that shaped post-war justice. Visit the Documentation Centre at the Nazi Party Rally Grounds to gain further insight into the rise of the Nazi regime and its impact on the world.  

This tour offers a deep, educational experience of one of history’s most significant events with one hour of CLE on-site. 

Enjoy a full day of freedom to explore Munich at your own pace. Whether you prefer visiting historic landmarks, indulging in local cuisine, shopping, or discovering hidden gems, this day allows you to experience the city on your terms. 

 After breakfast transportation will be provided to the airport.