What does it mean to be a lawyer? It is a broad outlook, the ability to think analytically, to structure information, and to get to the bottom of it. A legal education means prestige, internships in large companies, development of intellectual abilities, and a good salary in the future. Diplomas from foreign universities are highly valued, both in Europe and around the world. There are good prospects for employment for professionals in this area. This article, prepared by experts at https://essaysadvisor.com/, will tell you which universities and programs are best for learning the law abroad.
Structure of education and requirements for applicants
It is necessary to prepare in advance to be admitted as a lawyer abroad. Work on increasing your GPA if it is not high enough. You need to tighten up those disciplines in which you fall behind.
To get into some universities, you need to take professional exams, such as the LSAT. This is a special test on how to read texts, as well as analyze different points of view and defend their position on various issues.If you are not confident in your knowledge and skills, it is better to hire a tutor.
Also, some universities have preparatory courses. After graduating from which you can enter the chosen university.
You also need to decide on the degree of legal education. There are five degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree (Undergraduate). The period of study: 3 years. Requirements: knowledge of the language, exams in one or four fundamental subjects.
- Postgraduate. Training lasts from 1 to 3 years. To enter, you need a bachelor’s degree and knowledge of the language, as well as work experience in some cases.
- Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma. Duration of training: 5 to 12 months. Requirements: knowledge of the language and higher education in law.
- Doctoral degree (Doctor of Philosophy). Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.) studies start at 3 years. Requirements: higher education and knowledge of the language.
- Doctorate (Juris Doctor). This is an analogue of the Doctorate in the USA, Australia and some other countries. Duration: 3 years. Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree and knowledge of the language.
The necessary documents for admission:
- A high school diploma and other academic documents (information about courses taken, education). GPA must be at least 3.5.
- Certificate of achievement in English Language Proficiency Test. Requirements are higher than for other majors.
- Letter of recommendation.
- Letter of Motivation.
- LSAT scores (not required everywhere).
And lastly — you need to think in which country you want to study. Because tuition prices are very different. For example, in the UK, the price can go up to $50,000 per year. In Italy, the minimum price for tuition is just over $1,000. In Greece — from $6,000 to $13,500 per year.
Let’s take a look at three law education programs from these countries.
Bachelor of laws at the City University of London
This program is the first stage of professional training for future lawyers. The training lasts for 3 years. The cost for British students is £9,250. For EU and other nationalities: £15,700.
Requirements for students:
- High school diploma.
- Completion of one of the university foundation courses.
- Proof of knowledge of English (TOEFL iBT: 95 points, LanguageCert ESOL International: C1 Expert Pass, PTE Academic: 65 points or higher)
- You must apply for a visa or permission to enter.
Students will take the core courses required for a bachelor’s degree. For example, constitutional law, foundations of contract law, criminal law, and delinquency law. And that’s not all the disciplines. Some modules in the program will improve students’ employability skills. They will be taught how to conduct themselves properly in an interview, how to mediate, and how to set up a law practice at home, if they ever decide to do so.
In addition to a general bachelor’s degree, advanced degrees in specialized areas of law are available. Such as:
- human rights;
- business law;
- international law;
- professional training.
Training takes place in the format of lectures, seminars, and tutorials.
Students consolidate their knowledge in practice. This is participation in legal debates, in court hearings, advising real clients, volunteering. That is, providing services to those who cannot hire a lawyer for financial reasons.
City University also has a mentoring practice. A special person will support and advise on various issues during the course.
Students have access to a library of 250,000 publications and 25,000 online journals. So there will definitely be no shortage of study materials.
It is possible to apply for a student loan. The British company Future Finance offers loans from £2500 to 40,000.
You have to remember: during the training there may be additional costs. These are related to the program, accommodation, travel, membership in various student organizations, for example.
Master of European Law and Politics LUISS School of Law
During their studies, students learn what the political process of the European Union consists of and how its legal framework works. They also learn about the legal structures within which political decisions are made. Duration — one academic year. Cost — €8,500 per year.
To enrollб you need a Bachelor degree or an equivalent degree from a foreign university.
Required documents:
- passport copy;
- detailed resume with a list of academic courses taken and possible professional experience;
- original and translated into English copies of academic transcripts and certificates with information on examinations, grades and academic credits;
- curriculum vitae (CV);
- motivation letter;
- recommendation letter;
- proof of English proficiency (if applicable);
- study permit or student visa from the local consulate in Italy.
The academic program is divided into three parts. General basic courses, where legal base and main directions of EU politics are studied. The names of some disciplines are economic policy and governance of the Eurozone, EU institutions in action, the EU judicial system. There are specialized courses covering the most important areas of the EU. For example — criminal law, law and technology, economic and monetary union law. Also, there are courses for professional development and employment — how to submit a project for funding, antitrust law, internal market law and EU state aid.
The final course of study is a thesis on a topic that must be related to core or elective courses.
Students can register for a professional support program, in which the university provides opportunities to meet with major Italian and international employers.
Metropolitan College Bachelor of Laws
The program is offered in collaboration with the prestigious Oxford Brookes University. It is one of the most up-to-date law courses. Students study English, Greek, European and international law. Term of study — 3 years. Cost — €6,150 per year.
Documents required for admission:
- ID card
- High school diploma
- Diploma/certificate at an English university (if any)
- application for admission
- letters of recommendation from teachers or employers
- photos for the personal diary
- Document with proof of other university degrees (if any).
Admission ends with an interview. The academic program consists of many disciplines. Such as criminal law, public law, contract law, land law and European Union law, as well as international human rights, international trade law and corporate law.
Graduates can pursue careers as:
- legal counsel for large private and public companies;
- self-employed lawyers;
- members of arbitration commissions and mediators;
- professional lawyers in European multinational organizations.
Seminars are sometimes held by prominent lawyers and business leaders who share their experiences with the students. Students hone their theory in practice. They take part in real court cases.
Getting into law, you need to realize that you have to prepare well first, and then study long and hard. Specialists in this field often overwork, studying a bunch of regulations. But in the end, the efforts made will be justified by good job prospects, prestige in society and a decent salary.