3 Standout European Law Schools Redefining Excellence

An LLM degree expands your knowledge and skills as a legal practitioner in many ways. You can specialise in an area of law you’re passionate about. Along the way, you’re set to grow personally and professionally, developing the traits that firms and organisations seek in recruits, such as tenacity, drive and self-direction. And like many postgraduate programmes, an LLM is great for networking as you’ll have a ready set of academics, practitioners, graduates and also peers to learn and make important connections with.

For those going abroad for an LLM, there’s an additional perk: taking your knowledge and skills global. International expertise and a global perspective are no longer nice must-haves on a resume but key requirements at a time when many firms and organisations often work across national borders. The rewards and returns of an LLM are plenty, especially if they’re awarded by any of the three best European law schools below:

At SOAS School of Law, Gender and Media you will challenge disciplinary boundaries and explore the law in its varied context on a global scale. Source: SOAS

SOAS School of Law, Gender and Media

At SOAS School of Law, Gender and Media, you will take a plural approach to law, learning that context is everything. You will challenge disciplinary boundaries, be exposed to a vast array of knowledge traditions and explore how law is understood and practiced across the globe. Master’s programmes here — such as the LLM (Master of Laws), MA Law (MA Legal Studies) and MA International Law — focus on decolonising law’s encounter with (as well as situating law within) the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Students who come to SOAS are dedicated to understanding the legal systems and legal challenges of the developing world. You will benefit from unrivalled expertise, world-leading research in comparative law, and rich insights from a handpicked cohort of students, predominantly from the Middle East, Asia and Africa and their diasporas across the globe.

Such legal education anchored in and focused on the Global South can only be found here. It’s ideal for anyone looking to begin a career supporting a cause they care about, transition from corporate law to human rights activism (or combine the two as a consultant), learn more about environmental law and the planetary challenges of climate change, or obtain a first-class law degree that can prepare them for working in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa or right in the bustling heart of London.

Whatever your aspirations, earning a degree here is a bespoke, community-oriented experience. Everyone knows each other and you and your professors are on a first-name basis —  even those working at the highest levels of government and international organisations, such as Professor Fareda Banda (keynoting at the World Bank on their Gender Policy), Dr. Nimer Sultany (leading expert on Israel’s war on Gaza), Professor Emilia Onyema (part of Africa’s 20 Arbitration Power List 2022) and Professor Philippe Cullet (head of major environmental projects with sizeable grants).

As programmes are customisable, you can create unique pathways towards becoming a civic-minded and critically engaged individual with a skillset fit for your chosen career and causes. Programmes can be curated to include components of comparative law, international law, law and development, Islamic law and dispute resolution. These can be combined with world-leading options in languages, cultures, arts, humanities, politics, economics and finance and beyond. Centre such as the Centre for Human Rights Law, Centre for Development, Environment and Policy, Centre for Palestine Studies, Centre for Law in Asia, and the Centre for Islamic and Middle Eastern Law offer more specialised research and connections.

The University of Luxembourg is ranked among the top universities in the world. Source: University of Luxembourg

University of Luxembourg

The University of Luxembourg’s Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF) is focused on cutting-edge research, innovative teaching and community-driven outreach initiatives. Ranked among the top universities in the world, the school is determined to give the next generation of professionals and researchers exactly what they need to make a real and positive impact on the world. To ensure this, FDEF works with public and private partners to innovate and participate in the change. 

As changing the world is certainly a priority, the institution has started ambitious initiatives like the virtual, cross-disciplinary platform, the House for Sustainable Governance and Markets (HSGM) and the development of the Chair and research programme in Sustainable Finance. You can benefit from the unique and multilingual academic and research environment. 

If you are looking for a programme that will let you explore the fast-growing field of European criminal law, opt for the Master in European Economic and Financial Criminal Law. This programme has a special emphasis on economic and financial criminal law. Not only will you gain in-depth knowledge and skills, but you will also complete it in just two years. This master’s has been accredited by FIBAA, an internationally-recognised agency for quality assurance and quality development in higher education.

A highlight of the programme is the mandatory internship, which takes place in one of Luxembourg’s  leading law firms, a national, European or international institution, a VASP, a bank or other financial institution. You will also take part in study trips to European and international institutions and have the chance to be in the Luxembourg team at the International Criminal Law moot court. 

University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Law features practical oriented courses. Source: University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki

The University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Law aims to make students qualified and ethically responsible legal professionals for both the Finnish and global labour markets. With internationally recognised research and teaching, the school ensures students develop out-of-the-box thinking with learning outside of regular courses and seminars. 

You can participate in practical-oriented courses or Helsinki Legal Tech Lab to gain experience, network and meet potential employers. This combined with the multicultural environment will ensure you gain the key skills to compete at home and abroad. There are also student exchange opportunities with one of the university’s partners around the world, no matter which programme you choose. 

The Faculty of Law has two master’s programmes. The Master’s Programme in Global Governance Law will help you develop the skills to understand and deal with the challenges of globalising law. You will cover a range of areas including law and globalisation, public international law, European Union law, global administrative law, and advanced human rights law. Students will also examine international institutions, decision-making and governance in the EU. 

If you choose the Master’s Programme in International Business Law, you will explore business law, including contract law, company law, intellectual property law, competition law and commercial dispute resolution. This will get you sharpening your skills in analysing, legal argumentation and communication, as well as hone an interest in rarely taught topics like Chinese law. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International