What other people say about our LL.M.

Eeva-Liisa Raikkonen

(Edinburgh University, United Kingdom; LL.M. Leuven 2011)

The LLM programme at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven was an extremely rewarding experience for me, on many levels. On the one hand, I chose Leuven among a number of universities due to the possibility to complete a Master’s which was neither too broad nor too specialised. Highlights of the degree for me included in particular the WTO Law class, which I complemented with a practical course on EU Dispute Settlement Practice in the WTO. The latter was taught by the wonderful Mr. Christoph Hermes from the European Commission, and provided me with very useful practical knowledge. I also very much appreciated the unique chance to participate in the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) Universities Network programme through the intellectual property option, culminating in a two-day conference in Alicante, Spain. On the other hand, I was surprised by how rewarding the programme was on a personal level. One of the great strengths of the programme in my opinion is the truly international character of the class. I made wonderful friends from all corners of this world, and from various backgrounds and ages. Last but not least, Professor Geert Van Calster was not only a wonderful lecturer of WTO Law, but also a fantastic Director of Studies for the LLM. Extremely knowledgeable, yet equally approachable and helpful, he provided invaluable guidance and advice throughout the year. Professor Van Calster’s participation as well as the practical (and moral!) support provided by course coordinator Ms. Gema Rodriguez Valls created a great framework for one to complete the LLM programme in.

Mieke Dixon

(Murdoch University, Australia; LL.M. Leuven 2010)

With its options, electives and thesis the LL.M.programme at K.U.Leuven offers students the ability to specialise in two areas of law while also expanding their knowledge in other areas of law. The proximity of Leuven to Brussels and the close relationship between the EU institutions and the University mean that the lecturers are intimately involved with the daily workings fo the institutions, are abreast of the latest developments and can provide a practical aspect to the classes. The staff are enthusiastic, passionate and arrange extra curricular activities that students can take advantage of. Classes are complemented by trips to Luxembourg and Strasbourg so students can see and discuss what they have learnt in class.

  

Ilko Stoilov

(Plovid University, Bulgaria; LL.M. Leuven 2009)

The LLM program in KU Leuven gave me the chance to deepen significantly my knowledge of EU law. The great commitment and care of the professors, the assistants and the program co-coordinator in a program that balances in an excellent manner both the academic and the practical aspects of law transformed my learning effort and participation into a real pleasure. Getting together with Belgian students, Erasmus students and students from non-European countries provided me with the opportunity to experience true multiculturalism.

 

 

 

 

Agapi Patsa

(Thessaloniki University 2007, Greece; K.U.Leuven LL.M. 2008)

When making the choice of the Master of Laws to pursue, one has to weigh a number of factors; the program’s reputation, the lecturing professors and the location of the university are only some to mention. K. U. Leuven undoubtedly offers everything. Situated in the ‘heart of Europe’, a breath away from Brussels, it is widely appreciated and gathers an impressive number of teaching experts, including the Belgian judge in the ECJ and the Director General of the Belgian competition regulator. The specialization of European Law is ideal for those with an interest to remain in Brussels and work either in one of the Institutions or in a law firm. But, besides the institution’s academic excellence, it is the quality of life in Leuven that mostly amazes an international student. The city is beautiful and vibrant, with countless restaurants and cafés and various cultural happenings taking place throughout the year. I can only think of my time in Leuven with joy and urge people to experience a year doing an LL.M. there.

 

 

 
Richard Owens

(Canterbury University, N. Zealand; LL.M. Leuven 2008)

I had an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding year in Leuven . The LLM programme offers a wide range of excellent courses and considerable freedom to design your own course of study. The courses were taught by some excellent and highly respected (but still very friendly and approachable) professors and given that I had worked for some time before doing the LLM programme I particularly liked the fact that many of them had senior roles outside of the university. For example, being taught EU competition law by the Director General of the Belgian competition regulator certainly added to the course. It was also a lot of fun meeting so many people from different countries. Our class had students from all six inhabited continents and it was great getting an insight into such a variety of cultures. I also loved the town of Leuven itself and all the history that is associated with the town and the University, including the amazing buildings that house the law school and the central library, which definitely made studying in the library more interesting. I must admit that another factor in choosing Leuven was its location and the ability to easily travel throughout Europe and I really enjoyed the LLM class trips to Luxembourg and Strasbourg as well as many trips of my own during the year.

 

Liyang Hou

(China University of Politics and Law, Beijing, P.R. China; LL.M. Leuven, 2007)

Leuven is without any doubt a perfect place for students. It is located close to the European capital, Brussels, literally about 20 minutes by train. On the one hand, being close to Brussels, rather than within, makes Leuven a quiet place suitable for concentrating on studies or researches; on the other hand, the short distance also allows you never miss any academic or political events in Brussels, e.g. conferences, workshops, seminars, European public consultations, etc. Another strong point of Leuven is its international profile. You would not find your life difficult by living here without the skill of speaking Dutch (it is by the way the official language of Leuven and it is always recommended to learn it). Leuven, being a university town, is not reluctant to present you the student side of life anytime and anywhere. You will soon be part of it and fall love in it.

The Leuven LLM programme offers a wide selection of courses. Feel free to make your choice, which is nevertheless not that easy as it looks like. If you do not have experience in European law, do not worry because all the LLM courses are organised in a way that can satisfy both beginners and veterans. If you want extra, LLM tutorials can certainly meet your expectation. Moreover, the doors of friendly professors are always open for LLM students who are privileged here. Further, theoretical education is by no means the whole picture of this LLM programme. Field trips to several European institutions will draw your attention from ivory tower to real world and in many classes you will have close contact with people active in European or global affairs. In addition, it is easy to find colleagues with common interest in the LLM group and organise your study teams, which will prove its value, in particular when you suddenly find that you have dozens of cases to read every week.

Last but not least, there is no way not to mention the LLM friendship that is as valuable as the LLM study itself and is a life-time asset. After one year since graduation I am still touched from time to time by the updated information of my Leuven LLM family worldwide.

Neil Peretz

(J.D., UCLA School of Law, U.S.A.; LLM and Fulbright Scholar, Leuven 2006)

Wow, what a great experience! 
The professors at Leuven all had significant professional accomplishments to augment their very impressive academic records.  While I looked into LLM programmes throughout Europe, only Leuven gave me the opportunity to study under a sitting ECJ Justice, the head of a national Competition Authority, and a senior international arbitrator who sits on the United Nations Compensation Commission and Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Bank Accounts.  Only Leuven offered me the opportunity to co-author, under the auspices of Professor Stuyck, a legal research study for the European Commission that is actually being used to drive consumer redress policy in the European Union.  And only at Leuven could I study under negotiation thought leader Professor Bob Mnookin.  Oops, strike that.  He was just visiting from Harvard for the semester.

As result of such high-caliber faculty, the classes and exams (some of them oral) were quite rigorous.  Fortunately, the faculty took extra effort to make themselves available for LLM students by organizing extra sections, office hours, and participating in class outings to important European institutions, such as the Council of Europe and European Parliament.   

My classmates were a wonderful combination of intellectually-driven, yet fun-loving lawyers from around the world: Mexico, Spain, Mauritius, France, China, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Slovakia, Iceland, Malaysia, and beyond.  Leuven offered more than enough bars, restaurants, and cafes to support our ongoing debates about common vs. civil law doctrines and who would win the World Cup.  And while my diploma just hangs on my office wall in Washington, DC, I now have great friends to visit around the world.

Coming from California, Belgium was a bit of an adjustment: the low countries all sport gray skies in the winter.  One consolation, however, was the exhilaration of riding my clunky rented bicycle over the cobblestones to class in five minutes, which beats freeway traffic at any hour. Playing among the largest snowflakes I have ever seen and enjoying Belgian chocolate also provided a nice palliative.  Lodging in town was relatively easy to find and Brussels was a mere 30 minute train ride away.  For those from non-Europeans, Belgium offers a great hopping-off point to see the rest of Europe.  As I told family back home contemplating a visit: I guarantee that Belgium is centrally located or they wouldn’t have been invaded so often..

Christiann Hudtwalcker

(Universidad de Lima, Peru; LL.M. Leuven 2005)

When I first heard about K.U.Leuven I was not even thinking about doing post graduated studies yet. However, after two or three years, when I decided to pursue an LLM, what I heard before about the town of Leuven and its University were so amazing and fresh in my mind, that from the very beginning it was one of my first options.

After making a thoughtful research about the most important universities in Europe, I confirmed that there was only one choice, and it was K.U.Leuven. I was so sure that I wanted to go to that University that it constituted my only application, and I must affirm that I feel more than lucky for being admitted.

I loved Leuven since the first minute I spent there and from my first walk around the town. I have a lot of good friends that made post graduated studies abroad before me, and I always heard from them that the “life experience” of doing post graduated studies is as important as the “academic experience”. Well, I can only say that Leuven combines perfectly those two very important aspects of post graduated studies.

On the one hand, Leuven is a small University Town, where you have a wonderful environment full of students and young people all full of energy and willing to spend the most important year of their lives. Everything in Leuven flows around the University and its students. The number of friends you can make there and the strength of the ties you develop with them are incredible and hard to explain. You also have the opportunity to start relationships with all kind of students from all around the world in different circumstances. You not only get in touch with students from all around the world that are part of the LL.M. Program, but also with Belgium students carrying out their pre graduated studies, as well as students from all around Europe that belong to the Erasmus Program. All of them have a special spirit and a particular vision marked not only by their home country, but also with the reasons that took them to Leuven. At the end, even if it is less than one year what you spend with them, the moments are so intense that by the time you have to leave them, it feels like you are really saying goodbye to lifetime friends. The “life experience” in Leuven is by far the best you can look for.

On the other hand, the “academic experience” is as important and gratifying as the “life experience”. The level of the professors, the quality of the lectures and the importance, relevance, vision, approach and depth of the subjects constitutes a perfect combination that results in the high academic level of the Program. As if it was not enough, all of this is complemented with several activities like visits organized by the most kind and nice persons in charge of the Program that makes the “academic experience” of K.U. Leuven an invaluable and incomparable one.

I fell in love with Leuven from the very first time I saw it, and after completing the short period of time I was lucky to live in that beautiful town, I have no doubts that that was the best experience of my live, and I am really happy and proud for taking the right decision and for being part of what I call the “Leuven experience”.

Viktor Porubský

(Comenius University, Slovak Republic; LL.M. Leuven 2004)

I do not know how they do it, but the CALS office manages to bring together a small group of nice and interesting people from all over the world and to let them feel home in Leuven from the very first day. I at least felt so. I came to Leuven with a lot of expectations, having heard about the exceptional academic qualities of the Leuven professors and the reputation that K.U.Leuven enjoyed among European universities. But I must say that what I have experienced in Leuven was more than just an excellent, well organized and intellectually stimulating LL.M. programme. The thing that stays inside you is not only the knowledge and links you get into your legal brain: It is the people. Both the students and the professors.

With my fellow students we lived a very intense and inspiring time, making our student rooms and houses warm with parties and gatherings, and starting to realise that we were making friends for life. What I liked was that the spirit of our LL.M. group was not to compete but rather help each other and to enjoy the time together, which I then whished would never end. Although many of the guys live now back in their far homes again – from hot Latin America to snowy Siberia, I am sure a piece of them still lives in me.

I was also very pleasantly surprised how friendly and approachable the Leuven professors were towards us, the students. Giving lectures with sparks in their eyes, they were lively discussing with us about the latest European judgements and decisions that were sometimes not even one week old. We just found out afterwards that they themselves had been shaping these precedents as lawyers or judges. There, I realized that what I used to look at as the “big” European legal world started to look rather like one big village. What is wonderful, in Leuven you can be part of all that. Furthermore, the LL.M. programme provides you with everything you need to stay in the very same village after you graduate. Although I have never had worked with “real” law before, the Leuven LL.M. opened me the doors to enriching working experiences in international law firms in Brussels and in the European Commission.

Jason Desroches

(Otawa University 1999, LL.M. 2003)

I have only fond memories of the year spent in Leuven completing my LLM in International Business Law. The LLM gave me not only the opportunity to specialize in a field of law but also the chance to return to student life and take a break from the workforce. In addition to adding a diploma from a well-renowned institution to my curriculum vitae, the study programme gave me the tools which have since proven priceless for my current career. The variety of courses is well adapted and flexible enough to cater both specific and general interests. Leuven, although a small city, revolves around its university and provides a stimulating environment for its students : the city has a truly young heart despite its five centuries of history of higher learning. It is hard to imagine a more ideal setting for European or international studies than that of Leuven, located in the heart of Belgium and a quick train ride from the capital of Europe.

The international LLM programme is rewarding in all aspects as it brings together a relatively small number of students from just about as many different countries. Needless to say, living with students from such various backgrounds and cultures was without a doubt the most enriching experience of all. The limited number of students in the LLM programme is a definite advantage as the smaller classes allow for interactive discussions and teaching on a more personalized level. On the other hand, the programme is in no way isolated from the rest of the University as it is possible to follow the some of the same courses as other Belgian and Erasmus students.Finally, if there is one suggestion – often overlooked - that I may make to future students, it would be to take the opportunity to follow Dutch courses and better get to know the rich culture of your host city and region.

I would not hesitate to recommend the Leuven LLM programme for anyone hoping to live an out of the ordinary and exciting learning experience. The LLM programme will quickly become a second family and the friends hips forged, the learning acquired and the cultures discovered are sure to forever follow Leuven alumni.

Esther van Zimmeren

(Tilburg University, the Netherlands, LL.M. Leuven, 2002)

As I am a Dutch national, people reacted rather surprised when I announced that I would be going to our neighbor country to follow an LL.M.-program instead of f.i. the US or the UK. However, my major argument was that if you are interested in European Union Law you should study as close to the ‘European capital’ as you can get. This gives you the opportunity to follow courses with highly qualified professors with both excellent academic knowledge and experiences of day-to-day practice in Brussels (and Luxembourg). The small seminars with fellow LL.M.-students provided by the LL.M.-program next to the general lectures allow you to discuss and directly interact with the se professors. Moreover, K.U.Leuven has a very good reputation around the world, which is shown by the fact that the students in the LL.M.-program come from all over the world: Mexico, Peru, China, Poland, the US, South Africa, etc. On top of this, the LL.M.-program offers a tremendous flexibility in the courses one want to choose next to a number of obligatory courses. This allowed me to do both courses in the field of European Union Law (specialization), International Business Law and Intellectual Property Law, which is essential for my current job (academic researcher in the field of patent and competition law at Centre for Intellectual Property Rights, K.U.Leuven).

Next to these advantages regarding the LL.M.-program itself, there are numerous other advantages of living in Leuven. There is the excellent law library, the very nice and cozy but at the same time cosmopolitan atmosphere, the active student life, the good sports facilities and for those interested a big variety of different types of concerts, ballet and other performances. My dearest memories relate to the friendships that developed during the year. Especially, the trip to Luxembourg (later in the year followed by a trip to Strasbourg, Brussels and The Hague) short after the start of the academic year stimulated us to get to know each other quickly. At the regularly organized parties we had lots of fun and exchanged many national specialties, such as Polish soup, the best Mexican Tequila, German sausages, Dutch pancakes and last but not least Belgian beer. In between lectures and during the exam periods the ‘common room’ was always a safe harbor to stop by, discuss with colleagues on politics and legal traditions, share experiences and where you would be warmly welcomed by the CALS-staff.

Briefly, following the LL.M.-program at K.U.Leuven was a great opportunity to deepen my knowledge of both European Union Law and Intellectual Property Law, and develop very valuable friendships. So clearly I never felt any regrets about my decision, although it was not so obvious at the start.

Claire Morrissey

(University College Dublin, Irland; LL.M. Leuven 2001)

The LL.M. programme at K.U.Leuven offered an excellent opportunity to build on the foundation in EU law I received in Ireland. My experience at the K.U.Leuven was inspiring. The Professors not alone possessed expertise in their respective fields of law but also remarkable enthusiasm to share their knowledge and discuss issues with students. The Professors, their assistants and the C.A.L.S. office were committed to nurturing the potential of each LL.M. student.

The LL.M. programme offered a wide range of subjects from which students could build their own portfolio. The Faculty of Law also organised many seminars on topical issues in EU and International law and welcomed LL.M. students to participate. These seminars provided opportune occasions to hear and meet leading speakers from the Community Institutions, private practice and academia.

Participation in the Vienna International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court competition was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of the year. The staff of the International Law Centre devoted an incredible amount of time and energy to preparing and supporting our team. The time spent researching and writing our briefs, the practice sessions preparing for the oral arguments and the week itself in Vienna provided a valuable insight into the law of International Sales and Commercial Arbitration.

The warm welcome the staff of the C.A.L.S. office provided made me feel at home immediately. The "common room" became a daily port of call for a coffee or a chat. Class trips, parties and get-togethers, provided the foundations for friendships, which stretch the globe. Leuven itself was the perfect little city to spend a year getting to know the small LL.M. class and the many other international students. The C.A.L.S. office, K.U.Leuven, the LL.M. class 2000-01, the University staff and Leuven combined to create a wonderful setting in which to explore EU and International law.

Oliver Klaijic

(Maribor University, Slovenia; LL.M. Leuven 2000)

I learned about Leuven and its faculty of law in 1997 when I was working in Brussels in an international student organisation. Almost graduated in my home country and working closely with lawyers from international law firms and law professors from all over the world, I was carefully looking for advice on a good university to continue my studies on postgraduate level. The final decision was not so difficult. The Master of Laws programme at the K.U.Leuven Faculty of Law was the optimal choice.

I still do not regret my choice for a moment. When I talk to friends about my experience in Leuven, I do so with pride. Living in a town where everything is turning around the university and its students, where academic excellence has a pre-eminent place, where social life never ends, where different cultures of the world are delicately combined with the history and characteristics of a typical Flemish town, is just an experience not to miss!

Coming from a country that is about to enter the EU, this experience represented an important step in my professional career. This is especially true for the knowledge that I acquired in the field of EU law. I can confirm this now when I am back to Slovenia and work in this field of law. The specific advantage of the LL.M. programme in Leuven and its professors is that by addressing actual legal problems in a very critical way, it successfully combines basic legal theory with the day to day practice in the legal profession. The only thing that I miss now is an excellent library like the Leuven's Law Library.

Leuven is a lovely town. Not far from Brussels, an infinite number of social events, parties in the Oude Markt (the longest pub bar in the world!), the delicious Koninginnen Hapje at Notre Dame, salsa dancing clubs, cantus parties and so on. It has everything that bigger cities have, the only difference is that people are nicer.

The only thing that I regret from my studies in Leuven is that the exam period was just in the middle of the EURO 2000 Football Championships and that because of that I had to miss most of the matches of my national team!?!

Laura Alvizar Ceballos

(Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Mexico; LL.M. Leuven 1999)

Studying at the K.U.Leuven was a very enriching experience. I was particularly pleased with the wide range of course subjects I could choose from to design my own course programme. The lectures are given by well-respected professors, all specialists in their fields, many of whom can call on valuable experience as seasoned lawyers, government administrators or judges. They were very accessible and supportive throughout the academic year. Further, the Leuven LL.M. programme brings together a very diverse and interesting group of students from all over the world, which often leads to engaging in-class discussions.

The law library was a rich resource of information for my principal paper on telecommunications and competition law in Europe. Besides the large selection of books and periodicals in various languages and from all over the world, it offers easy access to national, European and international on-line resources through a number of modern computer terminals: an invaluable tool for serious, efficient research.

The Law Faculty of the K.U.Leuven also has the advantage of being located in the heart of Leuven, a vibrant student town rich in history and culture. Many of the other K.U.Leuven faculties are conveniently situated within a few blocks of the "Valk", the main law faculty building. I enjoyed taking a break from my studies once in a while to visit some of Leuven's many shops, restaurants, pubs and cinema's. Interacting with the locals, you quickly pick up a few words of Dutch, but virtually all are otherwise able to help you out in English or French. I very quickly felt at home here.

Krzysztof Kuik

(Warsaw University, Poland; LL.M. Leuven 1998)

Leuven. Academic year 1997-1998. LL.M. programme. I think these words and dates will evoke many emotions and memories for all of us who attended the courses at the K.U.Leuven. These memories, of course, will not be exactly the same for each of us. The programme, the university, the library, the town, the cafés and the great atmosphere were the same. But not the individual expectations, the ways of studying and mingling with people, or the effort devoted to learning both the letter and the spirit of the law - they differed, as did the characters and nationalities of the participants.

In my opinion, this is where the greatest strength of the programme organised every year by the C.A.L.S. for a very diversified group of people of many nationalities lies. Coming from such different backgrounds, each with our own little habits (sometimes prejudices), we were given the chance to "make a change". For myself, although perhaps none of the world's wounds were healed, Leuven (here I must again thank Prof. Vanistendael) enabled (read forced!) me to take a break from the busy world of international law firms and live the life of a normal student, i.e. coping with at least a 6-day a week, 10-"pintje"-a-night party house full of the Erasmus crowd and Belgian students (exaggerated?). And in my opinion it was this particular mixture of academia and entertainment which offered us a chance to focus, often differently, on the things that really matter.

These days I work in Brussels, and come to Leuven to visit my girlfriend and other friends enjoying the ups and downs of the life of the postgraduate law student. During such visits, I wonder where the other graduates of the year 1998 are and what "karaoke" songs they sing.

Elizabeth Van Wyk

(Stellenbosch University, R.S.A.; LL.M. Leuven 1997)

Leuven is an ideal place to complete a Master of Laws programme: on the one hand you have an excellent, challenging programme of study; on the other you will spend a year in the perfect student town. The LL.M. programme offers a wide and interesting selection of courses. Students wishing to specialise in European law are especially well catered for. The Professors are recognised experts in their fields. Moreover most of them are practising lawyers and can offer students insights into practical applications and the most recent developments. Leuven must be one of the friendliest and liveliest student towns in Europe. Although it is a small city, it has a cosmopolitan atmosphere; you are likely to hear a dozen different languages on the streets of the city and meet people coming from all over the world. The city offers something for every taste: the nightlife in the countless cafés carries on till dawn, there are good sports facilities and culture lovers can attend a variety of concerts and other performances in Leuven, and also in nearby Brussels and Antwerp. Leuven also makes the ideal base for exploring Western Europe during the holidays. But most importantly you will share your experiences with a small group of other LL.M. students. You will learn much about foreign cultures, but also about the common bonds between all people. And you will make friends for life.

Ingrid Breit

(Vienna University, Austria; LL.M. Leuven, 1994)

After I had followed a course in European Community Law at the University of Vienna and recognised its importance for and influence on the national law of the Member States of the EC (now European Union) I wanted to deepen my knowledge in this subject matter, also with regard to the Austrian application for membership to the Union. Participating in an exchange programme organised by the European Law Students Association, I got the chance to work for a German Law firm in Hamburg, where I first heard about the LL.M.-programme at the K.U.Leuven from one of the lawyers, a participant of the programme during the academic year 1992-1993.

When I first came to Leuven, I found myself warmly welcomed by the staff of the C.A.L.S. The programme offered a variety of interesting courses, not only in EC law but also in international and comparative law, and in legal culture, which gave each student the possibility to choose her/his most favourite subjects. The professors of the K.U.Leuven are recognised world-wide for their excellent professional qualifications. Most of the courses were appreciated for their actuality and practice-orientation. The visits to Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, organised by C.A.L.S. formed an important part of the programme by giving the students the opportunity to discuss a pending case with judges and law clerks at the Court of First Instance or to follow a plenary session of the European Parliament in the morning and "to explore" the social life in Strasbourg in the evening. Although the programme is quite demanding (10 courses and a seminar paper), we had enough time to use the numerous sport and leisure facilities and to enjoy the students´ life in Leuven.

In my opinion the most fascinating aspect of the programme is, however, the experience of studying together with a small group of people coming from all over the world. The intellectual exchange, the friendship and the establishment of personal relationships do not cease to exist with the end of the programme but form an essential part in the life and personal development of each student. The foundation of the "Club of Leuven", as an association of persons having studied or taught at the Faculty, and the "LL.M. Alumni Association" will help us to stay in contact and to provide the alumni with the necessary international support and information.

Ingrid Breit works for the Commission of the European Communities.

Alexander Schröder-Frerkes, Germany

(Köln University, Germany; LL.M. Leuven 1993)

After working on EC matters for my doctoral thesis, I considered further specialisation in the field of European Community law. Researching the possibilities to study EC law lead me directly to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, which is highly recognised, not only in Europe, but also in the United States and Japan.

My high expectations with regard to the reputation of its professors and the quality of its education were fully met. A big advantage of the K.U.Leuven is its close relationship to the Community Institutions. A Judge of the Court of First Instance and an Advocate-General of the Court of Justice of the European Community are regular professors and teach in the LL.M. programme. In addition, several lawyers who specialise in EC law and an internationally known tax specialist teach at the K.U.Leuven. Hence, the programme also has a practical approach. Working now as a lawyer with Wessing Berenberg-Gossler Zimmermann Lange, mainly on EC and international matters, I realise the big advantage of having obtained not only academic knowledge, but having discussed practical aspects with representatives of European Community institutions.

In addition, I became a member of a new family, the "LL.M. family". We were a group of students coming from twelve countries from all over the world, who became not only friends but also family members. For that purpose, I founded the "Club of Leuven", an association to make sure that the LL.M. family keeps its contacts and builds up an international network for legal information. All future LL.M. students are welcome to become members of this club.

Dr. Alexander J.H. Schröder-Frerkers is a Partner in the German law firm of Wessing Berenberg-Gossler Zimmermann Lange. His areas of practice consist of mergers and acquisitions, national and international business and corporate law, banking, finance and arbitration.

Takao Suami, Japan

(Tokyo Univesity, Japan; LL.M. Leuven 1993)

As a person who has had the experience of studying at the universities in three major areas of the world, Japan, the United States and Belgium, I strongly suggest that students who want to gain valuable international experience consider joining the LL.M. programme of the Leuven University. The LL.M. programme is one of the best organised programmes in Europe and provides students with a comprehensive background in European Community Law. Since most of the professors have practised or continue to practise European Law, students will obtain not only academic knowledge but also a sense of the practical aspects of the practice. The campus is located in the beautiful town of Leuven, just 20 kilometres from Brussels, the heart of the European Community. Needless to say, the LL.M. programme attracts students from around the world. Students in the programme have the opportunity to develop friendship with students from countries from the Far East to the Americas. Last but not least, students should consider the hospitality of people at Leuven. In particular, thanks to university staff at the C.A.L.S. office, students are likely to spend a very comfortable and enjoyable time in Leuven.

After his LL.M. in Leuven, Takao Suami taught as an Associate Professor of law at Yokohama National University, School of International and Business Law (1994-1996). Since March 1996, he has been a Professor of Law at Waseda University, School of Law.

 

Maria Cecilia Cañals de Cediel, Colombia

(Bogotá University, Colombia; LL.M. Leuven 1992)

I was considering graduate studies in law at a European University when I heard about the LL.M. programme at the K.U.Leuven. I found the programme interesting from the start, primarily because it offers a wide variety of courses both in the field of European Community Law and in International Comparative Law and because it is offered in English which makes it particularly attractive to foreign students. My expectations were high and they were fully met. I consider my year of studies at the K.U.Leuven as one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences I have had. Above all I value the opportunity I had to study law in a European context, as well as in a wider international context, taught by professors who enjoy wide recognition in their field of expertise. In addition, the truly international character of the programme which brings together students of many different nationalities, languages and legal cultures offered a unique learning environment. No less important is the fact that the University has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, that the Centre for Advanced Legal Studies (C.A.L.S) took a personal interest in all participants in the programme and that the professors were accessible and receptive. The K.U.Leuven has a world-wide reputation for academic excellence. I value my Leuven degree because it is acknowledged internationally and will be an asset in my career.

Paul R. Dubinsky, USA

(Harvard Univesity, U.S.A.; LL.M. Leuven 1991)

After receiving a brief introduction to the law of the European Community during my last year at Harvard Law School, I came to the Leuven LL.M. program with the goal of immersing myself in EC law. What I found was both an excellent place to research a thesis on comparative law and a warm community of students and scholars. My classmates and the visiting researchers and faculty came from Africa, Asia, North and South America, and from all over Europe. The many small classes and seminars allowed us to discuss the course material with each other. In the process, we also learned a good deal about the different legal traditions each of us had been trained in. Even now, after most of us have returned to our home countries, these friendships continue, providing each of us with a valuable resource of ideas and experience. As for the faculty of Leuven, I found many doors wide open, inviting the foreign student to stop by for a conversation and coffee. I found professors eager to experiment, excited about comparing legal systems, and helpful in pointing me toward valuable resources in Leuven and Brussels. And the people of Leuven - the students, shopkeepers, the University officials - greeted us with open arms.