The well-rounded lawyer: Schools creating graduates capable of running a company

The well-rounded lawyer: Schools creating graduates capable of running a company
The University of Lapland located in Finland. Source: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP

One of the first steps when starting a business is to hire a lawyer. Big or small, they have the know-how to handle the myriad of legal issues, even the most basic ones, that will arise. Self-help books or Google are handy, but no replacement to qualified, professional insight.

Good news then if the startup founder or aspiring CEO is a graduate from a multidisciplinary law school. With a feet in many worlds — legal, commercial and more — they are set to get into the business with a plan that would woo banks and investors. These legalpreneurs should be able to handle matters related to intellectual property and key contracts, in addition to competition, marketing, and cash-flow needs.

Whether you want to practise, run a company or explore other industries, a well-rounded law graduate is set for success. Become a star lawyer — get your start at these top law schools in Europe:

UNIVERSITY OF LAPLAND

A law and tech-forward approach with emphasis on sustainability in the Arctic, delivered through active research teams — these are the traits that draw more than a quarter of aspiring lawyers in Finland and international students from over 40 countries to the Faculty of Law at the University of Lapland each year.

law schools in europe

Source: University of Lapland

Aspiring CEOs can sign up for the game-like Business Law in Practice course or its practical offerings on contract law. Want to build a start-up? There are several courses related to law and technology to choose from, such as data protection, e-government, information law and IPR. At the northernmost institute of its kind globally, students can also specialise in welfare law related issues. The faculty is set to offer more international master’s programmes in the future — specifically in arctic studies, and law, innovation and sustainability.

The people behind these courses are enthusiastic faculty members who will take learning beyond classroom walls — students can expect to take part in seminars, research projects and summer schools.

Safe, cozy, happy, high-tech, hands-on, welcoming, industry-linked, international, impactful — there are plenty of non-academic reasons to study at this Finnish law school too. Find out more here.

UNIVERSITY OF FRIBOURG

The Fribourg Law Faculty at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland offers advanced studies in international business law. Internationally-renowned law professors here provide the essential knowledge and opportunities for students to gain the skills to thrive in this field. The LLM curriculum has a strong global reputation, developed through consultation with legal departments of major Swiss companies and multinational corporations, as well as leading international law firms, to ensure students get the latest industry knowledge.

law schools in europe

Source: University of Fribourg

With an emphasis on practical learning, Fribourg LLM graduates become the candidates companies and law firms are specifically looking for today. They also benefit from established partnerships the Fribourg Law Faculty has with a wide range of Swiss and multinational companies, opening doors for students to gain valuable practical experience through legal internships.

Upon graduating, students are well-prepared to work across different working environments, from private international organisations to non-governmental organisations around the world.

UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

At this well-respected institution that has produced no less than eight Nobel Prize winners, law students can expect a holistic legal education. The Faculty of Law’s LLM programme is flexible, offering a wide range of subjects to specialise in. This is in addition to its emphasis on analytical and critical thinking. With over 4,000 students in the faculty, students can expect to gain a diverse network of peers and friends from all around the world — cross-cultural understanding would be another feather to add after graduating from this law school.

law schools in europe

Source: Unsplash

The LLM programme is offered in English. Upon completion, students will be able to identify, analyse and solve theoretical and practical legal issues in a systematic way. They will be ready for a variety of jobs in businesses or private organisations, at home or abroad.

Alternatively, they can proceed with the PhD programme here. It takes the course of three years, training candidates to  undertake in-depth research at an international level, hone their teaching and communication skills, as well as acquire transferable skills for undertaking a career in the public or private sector. It’s not all work and no play here: the lively campus is conveniently situated in the city centre, allowing for easy access to a thriving, cosmopolitan environment. Additionally, students get to experience one of the world’s cleanest, safest and most liveable cities.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

With over 300 years of history, Edinburgh Law School is an established law school with a strong grounding in the open and interdisciplinary traditions of Scots law. It consistently ranks in the top tiers of global law school ranking tables: 17th in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings for Law; 25th in the world and sixth in the UK for law in the 2019 QS World University Rankings by Subject: Law; and fourth in the UK for research power (Research Fortnight Power Rank, REF 2014).

law schools in europe

Source: University of Edinburgh

Students can expect research expertise informing its extensive programmes of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and learning. This means students learn in a high-quality, research-led environment, on programmes designed to encourage them to explore fundamental issues and new perspectives.

Edinburgh Law School has one of the widest range of legal masters programmes in the UK. Its LLM and MSc programmes cater to those looking to specialise in a particular area of the law, as well as to pursue a broader perspective at a more advanced level.

Most programmes can be studied either full time over one year, or part time over two years. Hannah Frahm, who graduated with an LLM in Comparative and European Private Law in 2017, says “Studying the LLM in Comparative and European Private Law at the University of Edinburgh was a game changer for me, both professionally and personally.”

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

Like this? Then you’ll love…

4 top cities in Europe for international students

COVID-19: Heartwarming international student stories that will restore your faith in humanity