Hello - I am a 33 year old praticising labor/employment lawyer in the US with a JD from a top law school here, good resume, etc. I am bored with life here in the States and am thinking about doing the Tilburg LLM in International and European Labour Law. Is it common for students to enroll in the LLM at my age, and having already practised law for several years? Or will I feel out of place?

Hi Footnote,
You will not be feeling out of place in Tilburg, even if only for the fact that you will not be (most probably) the oldest in the group. I am a bit older that you are, yet I am not so scared of the perspective of being called an "old pa". We both are going to UvT in order to reach our goals... to be the best in our fields of interest so don't you worry. No matter how old or young, you will be not out of place among the other coleagues. We will make a good team. And we will reach our targets.
See ya in September in class.

Cheers (and keep your spirits up),

Hi, there,

I'm glad to see posts like yours!!! I could even be your Mom (LOL) and next August will be my third and last year for my JD. Unfortunately, I cannot attend Tilburg or any other European Uni, will probably do my LL.M. either in the States or distance learning.

Keep your head and spirits up, guys!!!!

All the best,

Thanks for the thumb up!
Who knows, some time, some place we might have a chance to meet and enjoy a little chat over a cup of tea...

Thanks!!!!!

Hello to everyone,

I think it's never to late to continue with your education. I personally think that it is a plus for everyone to share the experience of studying abroad with people with different ages, even thoygh I'm a little bit younger, I'm looking forward to meet you at Tilburg.

Right you are...

Just to close the "book": I've completed my LLM in Intl.& EU Public Law at UvT. Very satisfied with my choice. Great programme, very good professors, really challenging subjects. For those among you interested in completing such a LL.M. programme, check out Uvt (www.tilburguniversity.nl).
Good luck to you all, both with the study (and exams) as well as after programme completion with finding a job on the market (it's a tough competition out there for newly qualified LLMs).

From my experience Tilburg and A'dam are two different "breeds". Although both have very good LLMs in Intl & EU law, Tilburg is more a "student town" than A'dam,
1. Program: You have to do your homework before deciding which one would be the best choice for you personally.
If you can afford it (depending on you place of your current residence) you might want to consider attending to each law school open days where you will be able to visit, see and taste a sample of the living and study conditions.
2. Living conditions: A'dam is an international place, crowded with various people of various nationalities, with loads of opportunities (study, practice, stages, internships, etc), A big disadvantage is represented by the living costs, especially the rent. If you are looking for a more quiet place where the parties or music or ... whatever, will not disturb your study programme, renting from the private (free) market is an option. An option that comes with a higher cost.
Tilburg is more quieter. It is also an international town, but only from the perspective of the large number of international students. It has a rich offer of accommodations both through the Uni as well as on the free market. Price range for rental of an individual studio (living room+bedroom, american kitchen and bathroom, furniture, utilities and internet access included) range from 250 euro/month (Uni campus) in shared student accommodations, to 350-500 euro/month on the private market (advantage: more privacy and a lot quieter).
3. Social conditions: Social life has no age... it depends mostly of what type of social life you have in mind, In Tilburg are various clubs, various social groups, and a wide range of social events organised either by the Uni itself (for its students), either by the various student associations and social groups.
A'dam has a much more wider choice of social life, with much more places to go and see.
What you need to bear in mind is that distances in Netherlands are not an obstacle. With about 12 Eur/ticket you might get from Tilburg to Amsterdam by train in about 1 hour. You might then sample the social life in a large city like A'dam without the need pay for higher living costs of a big city.
It is, again, up to you and your interests, to decide which one of the two places presents more attractions than the other.
4. Older students: In the Netherlands it is encouraged the "life learning" system. That means that you will find that you might have classmates which range from young (20+) to more mature (40+).
Don't worry about your biological age... what counts here is your mental age...You will be fine!

Good luck.

Happy New Year to you too. I graduated from PUCPR in Ponce last June at the tender age of 65. LOL.... Unfortunately I cannot attend any European uni for now but you are extremely young so don't go by the Puerto Rican standards, life is different any other country. You go, girl, and all the best to you.

Hi and happy new year to all of you guys. Wizzard I really want to thank you for all your advise. I'm from Puerto Rico and to continue studying at my age is not well viewed in my country. It's nice to know that in The Netherlands things are different. I still haven't applied (working on recommendation letters) but I hope to get in one of the Netherland's Public Int. Law programs, the country seems a great one to live in.

How are the L.L.M. tests on The Netherlands? Back in Puerto Rico and United States we always have written tests; is it true that on Tilburg and other schools they do oral tests? This will really make a difference in deciding where to apply. Thank you once again.