Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon (UCP) - Católica Global School of Law

LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context
This LL.M. programme is aimed at young and bright graduates who want to broaden their legal horizons and pursue an international career, by acquiring knowledge on different areas of the law from a truly European and transnational perspective.

This is the first LL.M. programme in the world entirely designed under the “Total Law” method – a bold pedagogical approach, coined by Professor Joseph H.H. Weiler, whose purpose is to have students understand how the economic, social and political context shape the legal problems and the outcomes for those problems, in a highly interactive and dialogical way. The programme is entirely taught in English and its courses are specifically tailored to train a new generation lawyers: lawyers who wish to feel comfortable in practising law across borders, in an environment characterized by multiple and diverse legal sources.

LL.M. in International Business Law
This is an advanced programme designed for students with prior professional experience – both young associates and more seasoned lawyers – who seek to develop a career in international business law. It is aimed at practitioners who intend to advise large multinational companies and financial institutions, whether as in-house lawyers or as lawyers in leading firms. 

The LL.M. International Business Law is a one-year full-time programme running from September to July and it is entirely taught in English. It covers a wide range of topics, such as contracts, project finance, commercial and investment arbitration, corporate governance, securities regulation, and international tax law, offering an innovative approach to Anglo-American and European business law. The LL.M. courses have a dual nature, emphasizing both practice and theory.

LL.M. Law in a Digital Economy
The LL.M. Law in a Digital Economy aims to prepare students to understand and anticipate the challenges raised by digital technologies and to become skilful practitioners in this new economy. The emergence and rapid development of technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Blockchain and the Internet of Things have been testing the boundaries of existing legal rules and sparking debate on whether they are fit for purpose. This programme is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge on the functioning of these technologies, starting with a pre-LL.M. Bootcamp on “Tech for Lawyers”, offered in partnership with a leading technical university in Europe.
Technology lawyers need also operate in the context of multiple jurisdictions and feel comfortable working with legal sources from different origins. In keeping with the approach of the other LL.M. programmes, the courses taught within the LL.M. Law in a Digital Economy have a global focus, instead of a strictly domestic or regional one.

Master in Transnational Law
Following the curricular year of the LL.M. programmes, students may enrol in our Master in Transnational Law (MTL) programme. This will allow them to submit and defend a masters’ thesis, in order to obtain a Masters Diploma. 
As MTL candidates, students are encouraged to do a semester abroad, by taking advantage of the agreements that Católica Global School of Law has with top American and European schools, such as Cornell (USA), Washington University (USA), Leuven (Belgium) or Tilburg (The Netherlands).

Students also have the opportunity to extend their studies and earn a double degree in one of our partner institutions:

• King’s College London (UK)
• University of Fribourg (Switzerland)
• The University of Michigan Law School (USA)
• Boston University School of Law (USA)
• University of Illinois College of Law (USA)
• Cornell Law School (USA)

Why Católica Global School of Law 
Launched in 2009, Católica Global School of Law is a leading law school in Europe, committed to a distinct way of teaching and learning the law. This transnational centre of legal education and research brings together stellar faculty and students from all around the world in the enchanting city of Lisbon.

Católica has gathered a number of resident and visiting professors who are among the world’s best in their fields, giving students access to the finest teachers that they could possibly have.

Católica offers three cutting-edge LL.M. programmes and a Master in Transnational Law, which prepare students to become skilled practitioners in today’s global economy. The quality of the programmes has been consistently recognized by the Financial Times, which selected Católica Global School of Law as one of the most innovative law schools in the world for seven consecutive years.

Stellar international faculty

We work with a remarkable group of scholars from some of the most prestigious American and European Universities and with leading lawyers who embrace the approach envisioned in our programmes:

Joseph Weiler (NYU), Miguel Poiares Maduro (Católica), Neil Walker (Edinburgh), Mattias Kumm (NYU, Humboldt), Damian Chalmers (NUS), Allan Rosas (CJEU), Eleonora Rosati (Stockholm), Cédric Manara (Google), Alain Verbeke (Leuven, Tilburg, Harvard), Petros Mavroidis (Columbia) and Mitchel Lasser (Cornell) are among the faculty teaching in our the programmes.

The CGSL Alumni Network unites LL.M. and Ph.D. graduates across generations and professional paths, while fostering lifelong friendships. Join us to reunite with classmates, expand your professional circle and keep yourself updated on the latest legal trends.

All LL.M. candidates must hold a first degree in law. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong academic record and international profile.

The application period for the Academic Year 2024 / 2025 is open from November 1st 2023 to May 31st 2024.

Apply here!

Applicants should submit the following documents:

• Motivation letter (in English)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from schools attended (in English or Portuguese)
• Curriculum Vitae (in English) with dates and lengths of employment
• Official letter of dispatch for students sponsored by corporations or other organizations
• Official TOEFL / IELTS score report or certificate:
• Copy of identity card or passport
• One photo

Successful applicants will be sent a formal letter of admission.

LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context
One-year, full-time programme:

• OPTION 1: € 14.000 payable until September
• OPTION 2: € 15.000 payable in 10 monthly instalments 

LL.M. in International Business Law
Full-time programme (1 year)

• OPTION 1: € 14.000 payable until September
• OPTION 2: € 15.000 payable in 10 monthly instalments 

Part-time programme (2 years) 

• OPTION 3: € 16.000 payable in 2 instalments

LL.M. Law in a Digital Economy
Full-time programme (1 year)

• OPTION 1: € 14.000 payable until September
• OPTION 2: € 15.000 payable in 10 monthly instalments 

Part-time programme (2 years) 

• OPTION 3: € 16.000 payable in 2 instalments

Other Fees

• Additional Semester Abroad: € 2.300
• Additional access to Ma € 1.800 (subject to an annual update)

Católica Global School of Law Scholarships
Scholarships may be granted to a limited number of students on the basis of merit.
In order to benefit from one scholarship you must apply through as a regular student, including an additional letter describing your particular circumstances.

ELSA Scholarship
Católica Global School of Law will provide a full scholarship for one member of the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA). In order to be eligible for the scholarship, you must apply through as a regular student and, in addition, you must submit a separate motivation letter to ELSA International explaining why you are the right applicant for the scholarship.

The motivation letter must not exceed 1000 words and must be sent by email to elsa@elsa.org. The deadline for submission is May 31.

Google Inclusivity Scholarships

The Google Inclusivity Scholarships enable selected students from underrepresented groups who wish to apply to Católica Global School of Law’s LL.M. programmes to have their tuition fees fully covered.

The selection of the scholarship beneficiaries is the exclusive responsibility of Católica Global School of Law, using as criteria the candidates’ belongingness to an underrepresented group and their academic merit.

If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, you must apply through as a regular student, including an additional letter describing your particular circumstances

"Move your career forward in inspiring Lisbon"

Superbly located on the north bank of the Tagus River, Lisbon is peppered with magnificent monuments of great importance reflecting the cultural richness of the country's history.
The attractions of this city are countless, starting with the various contrasting architectural styles, traditional restaurants, bars and iconic cafes, cosy bookshops to the busy markets, exciting nightlife, extensive gardens and numerous spots to relax along the riverside.
Minutes away from the city centre there is an extraordinary coastline with a wide variety of unique beaches ideal for all sorts of water sports.
Lisbon is very close to Estoril, Cascais and Sintra, areas with beaches and mountains where you can enjoy the sunshine almost all year long. Whether you prefer a night at the opera, a visit to the fascinating castles, a soothing game of golf, gambling at the biggest casino in Europe or the rush of great surf, all this is available just 30 minutes away from campus.
Not only is Lisbon a great place to live, but its location provides easy access to other major western European cities, such as Paris, Rome, and London.

 

Career Prospects

At Católica Global School of Law, students receive continuos support from our Career Office, which regularly promotes interactions between students and employers, including job fairs, employablility workshops, on-campus networking events, summer interships, among may other activities.

As a result, we have seen our gradutes hired by different international organizations, European institutions, governmental agencies, multinational companies and major law firms around the world.

Annual Events

Besides de courses and seminars that make up the curricula of our programmes, every year we host numerous other academic events, such as the Conversations on Law in Action and the Francisco Lucas Pires Distinguished Lecture. These events have brought to Católica some of the world’s leading legal scholars, Supreme and Constitutional Court judges and European Commissioners.

Throughout the academic year, we also promote different social events for our students, faculty and staff, starting with our Orientation Day, in September, and ending with the Graduation Ceremony in June.