Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well and that you have been accepted into your dream law schools. As for myself, I aspire to specialise in the corporate and commercial law field in the future. I have received offers for LLM programmes from Bucerius Law School, Queen Mary, University of Edinburgh and Leiden University. However, I'm struggling to make a decision, and I would appreciate any advice or suggestions you might have.

Additionally, I'm currently waiting for a response from Kings College London, and I'm optimistic that I'll receive an offer. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you could rank the schools with and without KCL. Thank you all very much.

Hi Lawstudent 07

congrats on your fruitful results of LLM offers! 

I can tell you a bit about how I think Bucerius and Leiden as I was in similar struggle last year, and I ended up choosing Bucerius. 

I think both schools offer good programs and curriculums, but they really have very different focus in terms of practicality. 
For me, Leiden offers a very traditional LLM course with a focus on European laws perspective, I didn't attend the school but I could imagine it would be very much similar to what I had for my undergrad (LLB) education, just with different jurisdiction. 

On the other hand, Bucerius' structure is very practical-oriented, they offer 'real' business courses (taught by WHU or ex-WHU faculty) throughout the program. So the courses really equip us with tools for real life commercial scenarios as a lawyer and not just focus purely legal.

As to your aspiration to become a corporate/ commercial lawyer, I would say it depends on whether you want to work abroad or at your home country. 

In Germany, a foreign lawyer is very rarely able to practice laws as an attorney but there are a lot of other opportunities that you can pursue as a commercial lawyer here - e.g. transactional lawyers, in-house, consultants etc.
To have these chances, you would need good connections, and this is what Bucerius can offer since they have robust connections with big laws, start-ups, and corporations.

I cannot comment on job prospects that Leiden may offer you, but I would assume if you want to go back home practicing laws, both schools are good outlooks on your CV. 

Hi Lawstudent 07

congrats on your fruitful results of LLM offers! 

I can tell you a bit about how I think Bucerius and Leiden as I was in similar struggle last year, and I ended up choosing Bucerius. 

I think both schools offer good programs and curriculums, but they really have very different focus in terms of practicality. 
For me, Leiden offers a very traditional LLM course with a focus on European laws perspective, I didn't attend the school but I could imagine it would be very much similar to what I had for my undergrad (LLB) education, just with different jurisdiction. 

On the other hand, Bucerius' structure is very practical-oriented, they offer 'real' business courses (taught by WHU or ex-WHU faculty) throughout the program. So the courses really equip us with tools for real life commercial scenarios as a lawyer and not just focus purely legal.

As to your aspiration to become a corporate/ commercial lawyer, I would say it depends on whether you want to work abroad or at your home country. 

In Germany, a foreign lawyer is very rarely able to practice laws as an attorney but there are a lot of other opportunities that you can pursue as a commercial lawyer here - e.g. transactional lawyers, in-house, consultants etc.
To have these chances, you would need good connections, and this is what Bucerius can offer since they have robust connections with big laws, start-ups, and corporations.

I cannot comment on job prospects that Leiden may offer you, but I would assume if you want to go back home practicing laws, both schools are good outlooks on your CV.