LLM European Law

You will study the institutional structure of the Union (looking at the present Treaty structure as well as at proposed reforms in the Treaty of Lisbon) and the manner in which compliance with the fundamental rights within the legal order of the Union is ensured. In addition, you will learn about the position of the European Union in the world, the relation between EU law and national law, and the way in which trade and commerce is regulated by the EU.

Scope of EU law

European law is an exciting and rapidly developing discipline. There are few areas of national law and policy within Europe that remain untouched by the influence of European legislation. The scope of EU law, however, is even wider, as Europe is becoming an increasingly important actor on the international stage.

This specialisation focuses on the various aspects of European Law, as well as the European protection of human rights. You will study topics ranging from EU competition law to EU external relations law, from European social policy to internal market regulations and EU institutional law. You will gain in-depth knowledge about these aspects, while at the same time developing the professional skills needed in a EU-related legal career.

The content of the master's programme is connected with that of the Law Faculty's research programme: Securing the Rule of Law in a World of Multi-level Jurisdiction. Briefly stated, the research programme addresses the question as to how the rule of law (i.e. democracy, protection of human rights, adequate legal remedies) can be maintained when the law is formed at several levels.

International atmosphere

Our aim in this programme is to provide you with in-depth academic knowledge and to equip you with the professional skills needed in the EU-related legal career. For this purpose, teaching is done in small, seminar-style classes, with ample attention to practical skills in special privatissimum and practicum classes. Our programme attracts students from within and outside of the EU, which makes for a truly international atmosphere.

Interested?

If you would like to know more, please get in touch or visit the programme introduction page on our website: http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/programmes/european-law/en/introduction.

Among the subjects you will be taking with this programme, you may find the following:

• European Protection of Human Rights
• The Union in the World
• EU Institutional Law & General Principles of EU Law
• European Law in Practice - Practicum
• EU Internal Market and Competition Law

The programme aims to equip students with a sufficiently broad academic training to be able to pursue a career within their national legal system, in international law departments of national institutions, in international governmental or non-governmental organisations, or internationally operating business enterprises.

This master will provide students with a profound knowledge of European legal integration. It will equip them with the skills necessary for a successful legal career in the private and public sector. Our alumni have found employment in:

• European institutions, such as the Council of Europe;
• international organisations, such as the United Nations, the OECD and the OCSE;
• national and local government;
• governmental and non-governmental organisations, such as UNHCR, IOM, Amnesty International and Greenpeace
• corporate companies;
• major law firms in Amsterdam, London, Brussels and Luxembourg;
• academia.