Testimonials

Goedendag! I am Antonia Solini, a 26-year-old LL.M. student in Commercial and Company Law, and  from the beautiful and always sunny Greece. Studying at Erasmus School of Law has been an experience better than I could ever have imagined! Let me explain why. 

During my prior studies in the Faculty of Law at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, I realised that I wanted to specialise in Commercial and Company Law. I believe this is a fascinating field with many perspectives, and it has a significant impact on most important aspects of society. Following the advice of one of my professors, I began to look into the Erasmus School of Law. I knew immediately that I was closer to my goal of becoming an outstanding lawyer, and that this Master Programme would be an excellent starting point.

First of all, the high standards of research programmes at Erasmus University present a perfect opportunity to fulfill your professional ambitions. Meeting esteemed faculty members will turn your journey into an extraordinary period of learning. In addition, the wide range of modules on offer will greatly enrich your studies and help you in your prospective career.
In my opinion, the best part consists of the visits to law firms where you can see in practice all the theory that you have learned. It is also a tremendous opportunity to expand your networking even further. 

Rotterdam is one of the most important economic centres in The Netherlands, hosting some of the biggest multinational corporations and shipping industries in Europe. There is no better place to study this discipline. Moreover, studying in an international environment will give you the privilege of creating new bonds with people from all around the world. It is amazing how similar we are, even if we grew up in countries as far from each other as, for example, Greece and Ecuador. 

Rotterdam has many parks and lakes to visit on those lucky days when it happens to be warm. It is also the best city in which to ride a bicycle, as every street has a cycle path, and there are many bicycle parking spots around the city. All in all, cycling is an easy and a cheap way to explore the modern city of Rotterdam.

A quote that I particularly like, and that gives me strength in difficult situations, is this: ‘If you dream it, you can do it!’ To all prospective students, I recommend that you apply to Erasmus University now, and do not miss the chance of having the most exciting lifetime experience. And make the most of all the many fantastic opportunities that the University offers. 

My name is Niccolò, and I am a 25-year-old Italian. After completing my 5-year LL.M. programme in Italy, I realised that I wanted to focus my career on Business Law. Once I started looking for LL.M. programmes in Italy and abroad, my choice soon fell on the Commercial and Company Law programme in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I chose it because of the excellent level of education as well as its affordability. Another reason for choosing Erasmus School of Law was one of the LL.M.’s most distinctive features: namely, its double focus on both the corporate and the trade aspects of EU and international law.

I found education in Rotterdam to be more practical than the education I had followed in Italy. The Commercial and Company Law  LL.M. really gets ‘down to business’, and the lectures are frequently based on cases and on problem-solving. The lecturers often have wide experience in the field, and that is an invaluable quality. The courses are challenging, and they require commitment, but the opportunities you get are incredible. Together with three other students from different Master programmes, I represent the Erasmus School of Law in the prestigious Willem C. Vis Moot on International Commercial Arbitration. We have already attended preparatory sessions at universities and international law firms in Amsterdam, London, and Paris. In April, we will go to Vienna for the real deal: to compete against students from 270 universities from all over the world, under the watchful eye of legal experts in this field. We have already met countless amazing people, and what we learn from this experience, both personally and professionally, goes beyond what I could have imagined.

There’s no doubt that the LL.M. in Commercial and Company Law is tough. So my advice to prospective students is: Be ready. You will be expected to invest a lot of effort into your studies, but as always, the more you give, the more you get. And what you get here can prepare you for whatever career you may want to pursue in the future. As they say: Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

In March 2019 I completed the LL.M programme Legal Theory and Socio-Legal Studies. This LL.M. programme pays attention to fundamental topics of contemporary legal theoretical debate, as well as the knowledge needed for taking your own (critical) stance within these debates. The programme stands out by its special notice for interdisciplinarity in which philosophical, sociological, anthropological and legal (doctrinal) approaches complement and reinforce each other. Also, the LL.M. programme offers plenty possibilities to incorporate your own interests and insights into your curriculum. I followed several courses with a philosophical, anthropological and international legal perspective, as well as courses that enhanced my methodological skills. Because of the the wide range of elective courses, I have been able to place an accent on (the philosophy of) international human rights during the programmme. In the end, all of this came together in my master thesis, in which I conducted a critical legal-theoretical analysis of the legitimate authority of the international human rights regime.

Right after my graduation I was able to get a job as a (peak) lecturer in legal theory at Utrecht University. I was alerted to this job opportunity by one of the professors from our section. As a peak lecturer you fulfill a short nomination as a teacher, usually for the duration of a block or semester. In Utrecht I was mainly concerned with giving lectures, supervising students in writing legal-theoretical annotations and checking exams. Although it initially felt like a pretty big step (from the position of a student to a position of a lecturer), but this real life “aptitude test" demonstrated that I was well prepared due to the LL.M. programme Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies on such a position. The latter is fortunately also confirmed by a positive assessment in the student evaluations at the end of the course.

At this moment I have decided to prolong my time as a student for a little longer by embarking on a second master programme on moral and political philosophy.

Altogether I’ve had positive experiences with the LL.M programme Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies. I can recommend it to all law students who are interested in legal-theoretical approaches that go beyond the pure application of law, and students who like to formulate their own critical view on law or the legal system.

Create your own Future.

Recently a lawyer said to one of our teachers: "Not only do our trainees must have academic knowledge and skills, but also a certain personality". As an alumna and employee of Erasmus School of Law, I find this understandable, and I hear this more and more. No matter what job you will have, it is essential to be confident, to be able to take criticism, to stay committed and to keep calm in stressful times. Not everyone has these skills naturally. We all have a different personality. And that's a good thing. So, in addition to getting your diploma, you also have another challenge. The good news is: MyFuture will help you with that!

The MyFuture program is an excellent side dish to the Erasmus School of Law curriculum. While MyFuture in the master focuses on the approaching step to the labour market, the program in the bachelor focuses on your personal growth. You start by setting some personal goals. What do you want to achieve this academic year? To pass all exams of course, but you may have more specific ambitions. Rest assured, you will not be judged by it. The academic journey is full of side roads and unexpected encounters. You might even discover new passions, ambitions or surprising talents. That would be excellent!

It is good to have some direction in life. Or, as the former top football player Johan Cruijff said: "Make sure you always have a plan; otherwise you cannot deviate from anything". Dreams are not one size fits all. Your goals in life, in your education and your career, can differ enormously from the people around you. And that's good. Dreams are personal. Ambition is personal. MyFuture helps you to tailor your journey and destination.

By participating in the workshops, you will have more success in your studies, the step to the labour market will be more comfortable, and you will be more successful in your (future) job. MyFuture helps you to grow both personally as well as intellectually. These skills will come in handy both during your studies and in your step to the job market.

If I may give you one tip, I would say: drop by and join one of our workshops or programs. Invest only a few hours in yourself and notice the difference yourself.

How democratic is ‘Brussels’? What can the international community do when multinational corporations are infringing environmental and human rights? (Why) do we need the European Union? What rights do refugees have? Do you want to develop a founded answer and opinion on this wide-range of questions? Then choosing the LL.M. in International and European Union law might be the right choice for you!

During the first two blocks, you will get an insight in these – and a bunch of other – international and European Union law-related topics. Thereafter, it is time to specialise. Me myself, have chosen to specialise in European Union law and I am more than happy with my choice! Not only have I developed a strong knowledge on the technicalities and foundations of European Union law – such as the fundamental freedoms, the right of standing before the Court of Justice, and competition law – but now I also understand the (highly important) role of European Union law in national legal systems. The European Union law track is particularly academic, but with several guest lectures from practitioners – e.g. attorneys and judges – the academic and the practical world come together. After following this track, I am more than convinced to being able to put my gained knowledge into practice as a future lawyer!

What also appealed to me, was that the LL.M. in International and European Union law is relatively small in terms of students, which really adds value both academically and socially. There is always room for discussion and debate between students and lecturers and, last but not least, it contributes to a strong bond between you and your fellow students. For example, in my year, we had a Christmas dinner together, regularly went for after-class drinks and we will have a summer farewell activity!

“I am a curious person, I always want to gain more knowledge. When I graduated from high school I just had too many interests. So I went to America to do a liberal arts programme. You just pick and choose the courses you liked. I found out that I generally was not satisfied with superficial questions, but always asked myself: Why is it like it is and why do we think this way? So I chose to study Philosophy.”

One of the more pure academics
“At Amsterdam University I quickly realised that it would be wise to combine Philosophy with some other field of science. I was interested in ethics and politics, the values of society and things like that. Since my father was a lawyer, I knew a little bit about the law. I was interested in questions like ‘How can we organise society in a fair way?’ and ‘What ís justice in fact?’. These questions all come back in law. So in the second year, I created my own double degree programme and started to study Law simultaneously. I wrote my final thesis for Philosophy about property law.”

“After my studies, I was lucky to be offered a PhD position at Tilburg University. I wanted to write a dissertation on the neutrality of the state but was directed in another way. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research was funding a project on Philip Selznick and the role of ideals in law. That sounded interesting too. For this PhD project, I got the opportunity to spend a semester in Berkeley and interview the renowned author Philip Selznick, whose works I was studying. This was a true highlight for me. So you have to have some talent and work hard, but you need a bit of luck as well. I guess I am one of the more pure academics, so I chose to stay in the academic world.”

Look behind the letter of the law
“What actually drives this master, is the idea that if you really want to understand the law, you need more than one perspective. As a student, you develop a broad view of the law by combining theoretical, sociological and methodological perspectives. The education is really close to the research that our scientists do in the research programme Rethinking the Rule of Law.”

“In the first semester, you take the required courses including a skills seminar. After Christmas, you specialise. There are a Legal Theory and Philosophy Track, a Socio-Legal Track and an Individual Track. But whatever your choice may be, this master is basically meant for those who want to look behind the letter of the law. If you want to contribute to urgent questions in society, particularly from a legal perspective, this master trains you really well. Many of our former students have stayed in the academic world, but career opportunities are more ‘practical’ than you might have thought. Indeed, law firms are also interested in sharp thinkers, people with a much broader perspective. And one of my former students is a member of the Dutch Parliament at this moment.”

Studying International Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam goes beyond either the Erasmus University or Rotterdam. As a city beside The Hague, “the legal capital of the world”, one gets the best of both worlds — the university’s academic prowess, and the opportunities that lie within and beyond the city, including lectures and events at the Asser Institute and The Hague Academy of International Law. I regularly made use of these opportunities and had an opportunity to speak to Prof. Martti Koskenniemi. By choosing to study International and European Union Law at Erasmus, it opened more doors than I could imagine.

The curriculum of the International and European Union Law LL.M. Programme is bleeding-edge and you are exposed to all ongoing issues of International Law, including those topics and issues currently being debated or under negotiations. Combined with a foundation of European Law and the option to pursue a European Law track, it makes for a great academic-professional balance in this LL.M. programme. Some opt to combine both International Law and European Union Law elective courses.

What also appealed to me was that we frequently had guest lectures from professors of other universities, including those from other disciplines as well. In short, we had as much a diverse set of lectures as we had a diverse set of students, who could expose us to different concepts, crucial to a critical understanding of the law.

Lastly, the academic environment, comprising of both the teachers and the students, is conducive for intellectual stimulation as I feel constantly motivated to do better.

‘Goedemorgen allemaal’ (Dutch for: Good morning, everybody!). I am Ottavia, a 26-year-old student from Italy, who is currently enrolled in one of the unique LL.M. programmes offered at Erasmus School of Law in Rotterdam.

After graduating in law in my country of origin, I started working as a trainee lawyer. I coincidentally ended up in in Genoa, in one of Italy’s most internationally orientated Maritime law firms. My work experience there motivated me to pursue a master’s degree in Maritime Law in the city where Europe’s most important port is located: Rotterdam!

If I could name one place to obtain a master in Maritime Law, it would be Erasmus School of Law. You will not only study the theories on which Maritime and Transport law are based, but you will also gain a practical insight into how they apply. Moreover, because of the organisation of monthly visits to different companies, you get the chance to visit the harbour’s business leaders. During my year at Erasmus University, I developed a special interest in Transport Law, and I see myself working as a claim handler in the near future.

As well as studying and visiting several companies, I am active as a volunteer for the Yearbook Committee. Together with LL.M. students from the Company and Commercial Law and International and European Union Law programmes, I am responsible for publishing the Yearbook 2016-2017. It has been a great opportunity to work on this project with other students. I have the chance to conduct interviews with prominent professors, to develop my creative writing, and to improve essential skills such as time-management and teamwork.

I have one final tip for international students: I learned that you cannot survive in a Dutch city without a bike… So actually I would change the Beatles lyrical line ‘All you need is love’ to  ‘…a bike is all you need’.

I am from China, and I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Law there. While participating in the Jessup Moot Court Competition during my bachelor programme, I first discovered my passion for Public International Law. As a result, I made the decision to apply for the LL.M. programme in International and European Union Law in order to broaden my knowledge in that field.

This LL.M. programme is unique in many respects. What I benefitted most from was the combination of International and European law. This enabled me to compare the two disciplines of law, and to think beyond the scope of international law in a wider sense. What I learned in the EU Law classes provided me with a different perspective, and inspired critical thinking whenever I considered specific aspects of international law and the research I was carrying out. Even when I was having doubts regarding the processes I was learning about, I gained many new insights into international law.

The lecturers are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their (…) fields, and they always try to inspire and encourage us in learning ‘how to think’ rather than ‘what to think’, and in moving away from rote learning.

The course also gave us the opportunity to develop numerous friendships with people from all over the world. Our group was small, but very diverse, which allowed us to experience new cultures and perspectives. We now have connections spread around the world − a great incentive for travelling to new places and for job hunting across borders.

In addition to being a law student, I am a keen amateur photographer who is obsessed with travelling. I like travelling alone to different places, without a particular purpose or a specific plan. What I love most is just picking somewhere I have never been before, and exploring that unknown land with my camera.

To be honest, I am not sure where I will be next year, or even in the next 5 years (although I do have plans). But one thing I am certain about is that I will do something related to the field of International Environmental Law. This is the area I feel most passionate about, and it also the subject of my master thesis. A motto that I live by is this: ‘Life is full of uncertainties; just enjoy it!’

I am 21 years old, and was born in Poland, but I spent the first 12 years of my life in the German city of Cologne, before my family moved to Zurich, Switzerland. After graduating from high school in Germany in 2013, I moved to London to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in Law at Kings College London.

I have chosen to join the Maritime & Transport Law programme because shipping and transport law has intrigued me ever since the beginning of my law studies. My decision to study at Erasmus University was mainly because of its location in Rotterdam, home to the largest port in Europe. There are constant opportunities to take part in visits to various companies, such as Maersk Liners, the Port Authority in Rotterdam, the Dutch P&I club, and Damen Shipbuilding, as well as plenty more companies that are active in the shipping industry. Outside of my studies, I enjoy snowboarding and playing various team sports such as American Football, Rugby, and Soccer. After completing this L.L.M. programme, I intend to take part in the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in London, with a view to working in the future as a solicitor at a legal practice that specialises in Transport & Maritime Law.

In my experience, studying at ESL has been demanding, but at the same time very interesting. Life in Rotterdam is comparable to life in Zurich, since both cities are relatively quiet, as well as being clean and efficient. My advice to any incoming students is to participate in the various company visits, as they provide tremendous insights into the operations of the many different parties involved in the shipping industry.