‘I fell in love with the law studying at Ono Academic College,” says Dr. Yehonatan Shiman, the recently appointed head of the new International Law Program at Ono’s International School, scheduled to open this November.
Shiman, an alumnus of the Ono Academic College Hebrew-language law school, who teaches corporate tax law and antitrust law in Ono’s Hebrew program, hopes to instill the same passion and enthusiasm for the law that he experienced at Ono in the incoming international students in the program.
>> To learn more about the International Law Program at Ono Academic College, click here
Ono’s International Law Program has been specifically designed to meet the needs of English-speaking students in terms of language, content, and scheduling. The program features an intensive, full-time ulpan to accelerate students’ Hebrew fluency, complemented by dedicated instruction in Hebrew legal terminology. The first year of the four-year program is taught in English, and courses in the following years shift to Hebrew.
“It’s important that the transition be gradual,” says Shiman, “so that students can study advanced courses in both languages. Whether the course is in Hebrew or in English, our staff and our faculty are all English speakers, and most of them have studied in the best law schools in the United States, so communicating with the staff in English is always available.”
Students in Ono’s International Law Program will receive personalized guidance from a dedicated English-speaking adviser, along with one-on-one support, guiding students with documentation, mentoring, and a smooth integration into the program. Shiman notes that the students in the program will remain a homogeneous group with its own professors, classes, and dedicated schedule, which allows for both consistent study and visits to their families overseas.
“We understand that many of our students will have families abroad, probably in the United States, so we’ve planned our schedule in a way that would allow people to travel and visit their relatives and to have a set schedule and agenda.”
The Law program at the Ono International School, which grants the LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) degree, focuses on international commercial law and prepares graduates to integrate easily into firms in this field.
“When we look at the Israeli market, we see many English-speaking lawyers leading the best international commercial departments in Tel Aviv, and we think that this is where a lot of our graduates will have added value. To enable them to go into these departments, we want to give them a little bit more understanding and have them step into their first day in the office with a little bit more than what a normal graduate would have on their first day on the job.”
Shiman adds that graduates of the program will be able to practice law in both the US and Israel. While the program emphasizes international commercial law, students will be fully qualified to pursue specialized or general law.
The program is designed to provide students with the doctrinal foundation of an Israeli law degree while developing the practical skills needed to work in global markets. It is ideal for international applicants seeking a rigorous legal education taught in English, with a strong foundation in Israeli law and a clear global orientation.
THE ONO INTERNATIONAL LAW PROGRAM is a four-year program based at Ono’s main campus in Kiryat Ono, just 22 minutes from Tel Aviv. Designed with sustainability and climate-conscious planning in mind, it offers a modern, innovative learning environment and is accessible by both public transportation and private vehicles.
Learning facilities, classrooms, and equipment at the Kiryat Ono campus are designed to combine innovation with maximum comfort. Beyond academic excellence, students enjoy a wide range of premium amenities, including a fully equipped gym (free for students), shopping and entertainment centers just steps from campus, recording studios and a video podcast room, individual and group study spaces, an advanced simulation center, on-campus dormitories, a trading room, and an ecological park adjacent to the campus.
The workout room features innovative, state-of-the-art equipment, as well as a strength-training studio and a Pilates studio, where students can work out before and after classes.
International students at Ono receive comprehensive academic guidance, assistance with documentation and exemptions, mentoring, and support with all aspects of student life. “We have an entire support system for English speakers – olim, English-speaking Israelis, and students from overseas who are studying here – that is focused on the international audience,” says Shiman.
Graduates of Ono’s International Law Program will be equally competent in both Israeli and US legal settings. For that reason, the program will offer targeted preparation for both the New York State and Israeli bar exams. These preparatory courses are fully integrated into the program and included in tuition fees.
“We’re providing the preparation for the New York State bar at the same time that students are studying for their course requirements for the degree in Israel,” Shiman explains. “This gives them the opportunity to sit for the bar immediately after they finish and not have to take more time off to study.”
Ono’s law program is the largest in Israel, producing more graduates than any other law school in the country, and it combines academic excellence with a practical, career-focused approach and strong industry connections. Shiman says that the English-language program will enable it to expand to a new group of potential lawyers.
“Opening an English program aimed at an international audience that enables graduates to practice both here and abroad,” says Shiman, “is a wonderful opportunity to expand our reach and to expand our influence and create a more diverse graduate class and more qualified graduates.”
Another important aspect of the international law program at Ono will be its focus on the real-world, practical aspects of the legal experience. “What we’re envisioning and planning,” says Shiman, “is to make this program stand out in the experiences that we provide, beyond teaching the law. We are very focused on students meeting early on with industry leaders and practitioners from both Israel and abroad. We have practitioners on our roster who practice at the US Attorney’s Office, and we will also include visits to the Israeli Supreme Court. We want the students to see how things look in practice very early on.”
“Since my background encompasses both legal practice and academic work, I feel like this is essential to understanding the law. It’s not just theorizing about doctrines and ideas and statutory interpretation but seeing how things translate in practice.” Study tours and workshops at local law firms will offer networking opportunities and an introduction to positions in international departments.
One of the most practical aspects of the international law program at Ono is its legal clinic, designed exclusively for International School students. Legal clinics enable law students to provide free legal services to underserved individuals under the supervision of qualified attorneys. Shiman explains that the legal clinics at the international school are highly diverse.
“Some of our students spend their time actually assisting judges at the Magistrate’s Court or at the Tel Aviv District Court, essentially performing a type of internship, where they sit with the judge and help them locate case law and draft rulings. Other legal clinics at Ono are designed to help injured soldiers, assist poor clients, or work in consumer rights, which provide students with hands-on legal experience.”
Summing up Ono’s International Law program, Shiman says, “It’s very exciting for us to create these new ambassadors for Israeli law who come with a very multidisciplinary approach to practicing law. We’re trying to build a program that gives our graduates as many opportunities as they want, and they can be our ambassadors here in Israel or abroad.”
>> To learn more about the International Law Program at Ono Academic College, click here
This article was written in cooperation with Ono Academic College.