The programme is structured in a way that gives you a good overview of the various (international) facets of the law under consideration.
Judith Stheins
LL.M. Student International Trade Law 2019-2020
Hi! My name is Judith and I am one of the students of the LL.M. programme International Trade Law ("ITL"), class 2020. Before I started this programme, I followed the Law pre-master at Erasmus University. As it may be challenging to choose the right programme, I hope I can help you choose by sharing my experiences.
The decision to start the ITL programme was easy for me. I have always been interested in the global trading world. The size of the contracts, the many parties involved, and the different jurisdictions make it a dynamic area of law. Moreover, I figured English as teaching language and the interaction with international peers in this programme will help me prepare for an international career.
ITL is one of the four programmes in the master Commercial Law with a focus on trade and commerce. The programme is structured in a way that gives you a good overview of the various (international) facets of the law under consideration. In addition, common law and civil law are often compared from a legal perspective, so that you get an insight into how jurisdictions relate to each other. Depending on the type of course, you will have approximately two lectures per course per week. These lectures often incorporate real-life examples, e.g. from the news of that week or (recent) striking events, and include assignments related to everyday practice. For example, during the Commercial Contracts course we wrote an advice to a client with regard to rental/purchase agreements which was best suited to his business operations. To write such an assignment, you not only rely on your academic knowledge, but also on your practical skills. The fact that attention is paid to both aspects is something I find very valuable in this programme. Furthermore, you will be supervised by lecturers with a very thorough knowledge of their field of law, and there is plenty of room for individual contact and supervision because of the relatively small class. This master is highly recommended to follow in Rotterdam. You will visit various offices and companies, including the Port of Rotterdam. In my opinion there is no better city to study ITL. I very much enjoyed following the programme!
Are you still not convinced this programme is right for you? Feel free to visit open days and approach alumni, e.g. through LinkedIn.