Hi everyone,

I just graduated from this program last month. I see that, in the past, there were some questions about the program that seem to have gone unanswered, so I wanted to provide some general information, and offer to respond to any individual questions you might have by private message.

This past year, there were 16 of us in the program. I think that the program's size is one of its greatest assets. The fact that the class was small meant that we got a lot of personal attention from the teachers; for example, we were able to ask questions whenever we had them, and that was very important to me. It also meant that we got to know each other very well, which was wonderful -- I found the other students in the program to be an excellent bunch, and look forward to keeping in touch with them for many years to come.

The professors were excellent. All of them were very dedicated to their fields. Their lectures were very well-prepared, interesting, and stimulating. They asked us questions that really made us think, and invited us to respond. The fact that class participation was not only welcome, but expected, was a real pro for me -- the professors' questions kept us engaged and resulted in us learning each subject matter better. We didn't just take notes on their lectures and memorize them before the exams -- our wheels turned in each and every class, and at the end of every session, we emerged with a deeper understanding of the topic we'd been discussing. For the intellectually curious, it was a real treat.

And as I mentioned previously, I really appreciated and enjoyed spending time with my classmates. They came from all over the world, had very interesting backgrounds, and were very open and kind. Part of the education I received this past year was learning about their respective countries' legal education systems, and also about their respective countries more generally. I know that they will go on to have very successful and fascinating careers, and I consider myself very lucky to have met them and to be able to stay in touch with them in the future.

The program also organizes several field trips, at no extra cost to the students. This past year we went to Brussels and Strasbourg for visits of EU institutions. We learned a lot at each place, and we also got to explore the cities and bond as a class. The visits were wonderful, and I have many fond memories. In Paris, we also visited many French institutions, which were similarly enriching. It was truly fascinating to visit the Conseil constitutionnel, the Conseil d'état, and the Cour de cassation, and that's only naming a few of the many we had the opportunity to see and learn about.

As you probably know, the program requires a three-month internship at the end. My year in Paris was so much richer because of the work experience that I was able to obtain. After seven months of classes, I had learned a tremendous amount, but being able to work for three months before graduating significantly added to my knowledge base. I was able to explore a field that had long interested me, and that I think I want to pursue in my career ahead. I was also able to meet several other lawyers who work in that field, and I hope to remain in touch with them in the years to come. And I was grateful for the opportunity to get to know so many fellow stagiaires, about half of whom were French, and about half of whom were from all over the rest of the world. More generally, I was able to see what it is like to work in the law in Paris, and in hindsight, I can't imagine an LLM experience without such a professional opportunity.

On the language front, the program did wonders for my French. I am writing this post in English because I have the impression that English appears more often in the LLM Guide posts, but I can assure you that my French improved significantly thanks to the LLM. I spoke French before beginning the program, but part of what I was looking for was a chance to improve my LEGAL French, so that I could work in French in the future, and feel comfortable doing legal research and writing in that language. In the course of the LLM, not only were all of our classes in French, but we also read dozens if not hundreds of French court cases in French, took several exams in French, gave presentations in French, and wrote a forty-page paper with a partner in French. We also received guidance on creating CVs and cover letters in French. And I communicated with my fellow classmates almost exclusively in French too.

As you may have gleaned from the above, I've since returned to my home country and plan to work here for the immediate future. But I plan to work in an international field, where I believe that my French degree will come in handy and be an asset. And I would not say that my case is typical -- I have the sense that at least half, if not the majority, of my classmates will remain in France, and that some will even sit for the Paris bar exam. Also, if I ever wanted to return to France someday for work, I know that my experience having done the LLM would make that move much easier -- I have a knowledge of and contacts in the French legal system, and I am so grateful for that.

That's all I can think of for now, but as I said at the beginning, if you are considering applying to this program, or have been accepted and are considering whether or not to attend, please feel free to send me a message here on LLM Guide. I had a wonderful year in the Sorbonne LLM and would be happy to talk to you more about it.

Thanks for sharing your experience! How much was the total cost for the tuition and the length of the program?

This link includes information on the cost: http://www.univ-paris1.fr/ws/ws.php?_cmd=getFormation&_oid=UP1-PROG19185&_redirect=voir_presentation_diplome&_lang=fr-FR ("Les frais d'inscription s'élèvent à 10 000 (dix milles) euros. Ils comprennent les droits d'inscription, la couverture sociale ainsi que le matériel pédagogique, mais ne couvrent pas le logement, les repas ou les dépenses personnelles.") As does this one: http://www.univ-paris1.fr/diplomes/llm/conditions-dadmission/ ("Tuition is 10 000 Euros. The tuition covers enrollment, health care provided by the social security system and study materials. It does not cover accommodation, meals, or general expenses.") See also here: http://www.univ-paris1.fr/fileadmin/diplome_07UF/plaquette-llm-web_07-2010.pdf.

As for the length of the program, we had classes and/or exams from early September until late March. In general, from April through June we did our internships, and graduation was on June 30th.

Thank you so much for sharing ! I was wondering if you had another Master's degree before you applied for this program, or if you got in right after your LL.B/J.D. ?

Thanks again :)

Hello! I have my B.A. (undergraduate degree) and J.D. (law degree) from an American university, and then I worked for U.S. judges (did clerkships) for three years before attending the Sorbonne LLM program. Several other students in the program, however, were attending more immediately after finishing their legal studies in their home country, as in without an additional master and with less work experience. I hope that helps!

Thank you !! I also wrote to them and told them the diplomas I had (Undergrad in Social Sciences, LL.B, and I'll have passed the Bar when I will apply - hopefully), and they said I should be ok to apply directly either to the LL.M or to a Master 2.

Thanks again !!

Hi! Thank you for sharing your experience!
I am looking into the programs and to be honest, I am filled with doubts.
Particularly on the language front, did you have to prove your French level with the application? I have a beginners level in French (I studied for 4 years but a while ago) and I am moving to Paris this year to perfect my French (and also for personal reasons). My plan is to study French for a year in order to be up to speed to start the Masters the next year, but I am worried that the application process might make this impossible.
Any information you could give me will be much appreciated!