International
Combine law with a language
Deutsch, Francais, Espanol…
I am currently in my second year of Law at the University of Exeter in England and perhaps my experience of studying law is a little different. I remember back in sixth-form when I was applying for Law: having studied German at A level, I knew that at university I wanted to continue and improve my knowledge of the language whilst also knowing I wanted to study Law.
Several universities around the country offer such a degree where not only can you study for and obtain an English LLB, but broaden your horizons and study for a legal qualification in another jurisdiction, in my case Germany.
In the competitive skirmish for training contracts it really counts having something to set you apart from thousands of other graduates, knowledge of another language and legal system being a clear advantage – in view of the rapid globalisation the business world is seeing nowadays and the great competitiveness that comes with a career in law – this combined with my own desire to work abroad upon graduation, I felt that studying a course such as this would give me something to stand out from those with just a degree in English law.
There are only a handful of similar programmes around the country, and every year those who graduate with a qualification like this you could count on the droplets of a 100-bead abacus. It really sets them in a class of their own.
To date my experiences of this degree have been nothing but positive. Each year I study a module of German law, in German, and in the fourth year I study the Masters programme in Law at the University of Saarbrücken in Germany. Not only is it extremely interesting – it has provided me with the proper acumen of what the legal system is like in another jurisdiction than England as well as made me fluent in German!
It is unique amongst standard ‘year abroad’ degrees in that I will spend my fourth year at a university in Saarbrücken, before returning to Exeter to graduate. The year in Germany is divided into two semesters like it is here, and is spent studying German civil law (i.e. property law, procedural/legal process etc.) and then two elective modules which can range from public law and criminal justice to competition or commercial law.
As it is a Master’s degree, I’ll also have to write a dissertation and sit several exams, both oral and written. It’ll be a huge challenge not only to settle into a new country and get to grips with speaking the language everywhere I go but doing a Masters degree in law will be an amazing trial of wits.
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Whether you’re a keen German student interested in Law or a native German interested in having the opportunity to be qualified in both Germany and England then it is really well worth considering doing a degree such as this. If you’re considering going into the commercial side of law, or even living and working in Germany, then this degree will definitely set you on the right footing. I am not too sure about other universities but Exeter also does a French version of the course. If it’s your aim to eventually work abroad, then your employability would be immeasurably enhanced by not only being able to speak a foreign language, but being fluent in the law of the jurisdiction, and the same if you’re native to that country and wanting to work over here. The legal world is really expanding nowadays, even in spite of the recession but nonetheless competition for jobs remains high – anything you can do to stand out from the rest is beneficial.
Duncan Gorst
Proprietor of http://www.totallylawsome.com, a legal eagle’s repository of miscellanea.
