Master's degrees in law in Europe

General admission requirements to a master's degree in law

The access to a master's degree in law in Europe requires you are in possession of a bachelor's degree in law. If you do not hold a bachelor's degree in law, some universities may under exceptional circumstances evaluate also your work experience and consider your application based on the skills you have acquired through your experience. For some competitive programs, you should also be ready to present a personal statement, have relevant work experience, or even attend a personal interview to check your suitability for the program in law.

What you will learn in a master's degree in law

Employment law, tax law, maritime law, health law, constitutional law, environmental law, or international law, are just some examples of areas you may study at a master's degree in law.

As a result, you will not only specialize in the field of your interest, but you will also acquire general legal knowledge you can put into practice in any other area of law, as well as demonstrate that you are able to:

• Interpret a variety of legal issues
• Apply the law available to remedy issues
• Identify the steps and most appropriate course of action in a litigation process
• Communicate unambiguously your rationale to your audience
• Research independently
• Articulate persuasive legal arguments by using evidence
• Critically analyze your legal arguments

In Europe, the length of master's programs in law vary between 1 to 2 years, and are worth between 60 and 120 ECTS according to the ECTS system.

Career options after your master's degree in law

Lawyers are of value in many parts of any organization, whether public or private. As a graduate in a master's degree in law, you may progress your career to become a judge, or work in areas such as diplomacy, politics, business, NGOs, or teaching. You may also work independently by offering your services in a self-owned law firm.