LLM in European Law

Today’s Europe demands lawyers who possess a thorough mastery of European law. The European Union increasingly affects all areas of law and the national legal systems of its member states have reached a high level of integration. EU law teaches a great deal about the relationship between law and economics, history, politics, and international relations. This makes EU law of interest not only to lawyers but also to anyone trying to understand one of the most ambitious attempts to get different states to work together. Our LLM program will immerse you in this challenging and dynamic field while opening up many new opportunities for you both during and after the program. It provides a thorough grounding in European law, covering areas such as internal market law, competition law, social law, judicial protection, refugee law, criminal law, and public law.

What is the EU banking union, for example? Why do they say that the EU features a democratic deficit and how can we enhance democracy and the rule of law in the EU? How is legal protection afforded in cases where decisions are made by both EU and national enforcement authorities? Our unique program will help you build both substantive and institutional knowledge of European law.

The Program

Learning by doing is key to this program and, as such, knowledge and understanding gained through theoretical modules is complemented by training in legal analysis, argumentation, and research. Your professors take a supportive role in this self-created, individualized approach to your studies. In the Capita Selecta modules, you will be trained in essential skills, such as quickly deepening your knowledge in a current, specialized legal topic. From the very beginning, you will also take part in the Research and Thesis Training that prepares you to write your master’s thesis, the culmination of your LLM program.

If you have the drive to go the extra mile in your studies, there is – the LLM's Honours Programme – an additional (extra-curricular) honors program for the best and most highly motivated students. Master’s programs within Utrecht University’s School of Law are based on multidisciplinary research conducted by the Faculty of Law, Economics, and Governance. This research takes into account socio-economic and sociopolitical perspectives, as well as the impact of European law on national laws.

The Master’s in European Law is a rigorous, customizable program of study that will enable you to develop your academic, practical, writing, and oral skills through a combination of case studies, moot courts, research, and visits to European legal and professional organizations. By the end of the program, you will be able to reflect critically on legal issues and to recognize, understand and analyze the relationship between the laws of member states and the wider European Union. You will gain an excellent foundation for your career of choice, whether you aim to build a career in a law firm or major multinational company or work for a European institution, an international organization, or a local or national government. Read more about the career prospects.

Tracks

In the Master’s program European Law, you select one of the specializations/tracks listed below. Alternatively, it is also possible to combine your master-major with a master-minor. You can choose one of these specializations:

• General Track
• European Criminal Justice
• Law and Sustainability
• Law and Technology

General Track

The two major courses are complemented by the following two courses of the specialization General Track:

• Judicial Protection and Enforcement of EU Law: The course centers on the rights of the EU citizen and the enforcement of EU law.
• European Competition Law: This course presents an overview of the most important aspects of European competition law, including the basic principles of competition and the market principle.

European Criminal Justice

The two major courses are complemented by the following two courses of the specialization European Criminal Justice:

• Transnational Law Enforcement Cooperation
• Supranational Enforcement

Law and Sustainability

The two major courses are complemented by the following two courses of the specialization Law and Sustainability:

• EU Natural Resources Law
• EU Climate Protection

Law and Technology

The two major courses are complemented by the following two courses of the specialization Law and Technology:

• The Law of Market Technologies
• Consumers in a Digital Society

Towards a Professional Career

Even before you graduate, the LLM in European Law gives you a good introduction to professional practice through moot courts, visits to major European organizations, and the chance to speak with top-ranking professional lawyers. As a result, you will be well prepared for a legal career either in your home country or internationally.
In previous years, graduates from this LLM have gone on to do well in a range of areas including:

• Corporate and private law practice;
• National public service as a diplomat or civil servant;
• Legal or policy analysis with governments, international political organizations, and NGOs; and
• Academic or legal research.

After finishing your study, you can work:

• As a legal assistant in many different areas of the national government including local authorities, executive, and supervisory bodies that deal with European issues and must implement or monitor compliance with European law, in European organizations, and non-governmental organizations;
• As a lawyer with large, transnational law firms, in the legal departments of corporations, or in other organizations that are affected by the workings of European law; and
• In professional legal practice in local national or EU member state courts in the broadest sense, given the impact of European law on the national legal system.

Towards an Academic Career

On average, Utrecht University School of Law has 40 Ph.D. students who are working under the supervision of a professor towards the title ‘Doctor of Law’. A Ph.D. program typically takes four years, during which you will produce and submit a thesis. We also encourage you to establish yourself as a researcher during this time by publishing articles related to your research and contributing to seminars and conferences. We have an international reputation for excellence in research and teaching and our academics are at the cutting edge of scholarship.