Hello,
I am looking for an LLM program starting next year (2017)

I would like to do my LLM in Europe and focus on Civil/Private Law. These are the schools/programs that I am interested in:
1. Leiden University - International Civil and Commercial Law
2. Amsterdam University - Master's European Private Law

Which one would you suggest? Or can you suggest any other schools/programs that concentrated on these directions.

Hi Ibrahim!

Maybe I can help you? I was looking for something similar a few years ago and chose the European Private Law Master in Amsterdam. I enjoyed it a lot and can really recommend it! I should disclose that I stayed at the UvA to write my PhD at the institute which runs the master (CSECL), but I will nonetheless share my subjective opinion:)

The focus of the program is to view private law in a cross-border and EU perspective. In many of the mandatory courses, like comparative law and European private law, you get the tools to review what EU legislation is in place and what the comparative differences across European systems are. Next to this “core” I really liked that the master gives a lot of room to choose what direction to take in applying these tools. I did European property law, company law and consumer law. My impression is that the Leiden master is geared more towards commercial law than private law in the classical sense.

The classes are always quite small so you will get to know your classmates well and have plenty of chances to talk to your teachers. In my year (and every year, I think) there was a good mix of students from all over Europe and the world, which I really enjoyed. I made good friends from China, Belgium, Ireland, Serbia etc., who I still travel to visit!

Hope I could be of help! Let me know if you have any questions.

-Karoline

Hi Ibrahim, Hi Karoline ! :-)
I picked up the other suggestion you ‘ve made lucky you (the Advanced LLM Program in International Civil and Commercial Law offered by Leiden University). I was part of the program during the year 2015 – 2016. It has led me to a great job in Brussels, where I am working as a lawyer, focusing on commercial law, litigation (and dispute resolution) and insurance law. I must say Karoline is right : the program proposed by Leiden focuses a lot on commercial law, adopting an international and EU perspective.
Nevertheless, it is also very private law oriented. In the end, it combines these two aspects very well and to my opinion, reaches a very nice balance. I must say I was quite surprised to see how far reaching the International Property Law class was and this is why I am convinced you won't lack any skills or tools re property law if you choose to go to Leiden. I am sharing with you this example: Belgian insurance law is basically private law and it has not been a week for me without finding something helpful in my notes or reading materials since I have started working as a lawyer.
Beyond that, the program will provide you with great opportunities. We ve made a lot of visits and excursions with the staff and our professors, I have been one of the coaches for the Leiden team which was involved in the Willem Vis Moot competition, we were lectured by first class lawyers and academics I could never get the chance to talk with without being part of the course.
A bit more subjective but still very important to me: Leiden is the most charming city I have every seen. It is very student friendly and provides a great environment to study and to live. I am still visiting my friends in Leiden or in other parts of the Nl. Most of them who wanted to found a job or an internship in the Netherlands. It is a lovely country and as Karoline said, during such a year, you will definitely make friends for life.
Hoping this could help, I wish the best to both of you ! Ibrahim, please contact me if you have further questions.
Samuel

[Edited by Samuel De on Nov 10, 2016]