International Civil and Commercial Law (Advanced LL.M.) Leiden University

Overview

What effects has globalisation had on international trade? What are the essential elements of international business contracts? When there is a dispute concerning a cross-border business transaction, which country's or region's laws apply and which court has jurisdiction? Learn how to deal with questions like these from both an international and comparative perspective.

Globalisation and increasing international trade have led to the rapid internationalisation of civil and commercial law, thus forming a complex and multi-layered discipline. Leiden University’s International Civil and Commercial Law programme deals with different levels of international, EU and national laws as they coexist and interact with one another. This programme will equip you with the skills necessary to fully understand and apply such intertwined layers to domain-specific legal issues.

You will study transnational sources of hard law (treaties, regulations and directives) and soft law (model laws, legislative guides, principles), as well as relevant case law. You will also investigate the comparative side of international civil and commercial law, in particular looking at the differences between civil law and commercial law and between certain national legal systems.

What you will learn

This programme will provide you with the skills to work in as a legal professional in a global legal environment. Along with a solid academic foundation provided by one of the most prestigious law schools in the world, you will further develop your professional skills through activities such as participation in moot courts and workshops with business professionals.

If you participate in the Willem C. Vis Moot Court Competition on international arbitration you will receive additional training and gain experience in research, analysis, legal writing, and pleading and arguing a case.

Career prospects

As a graduate of the ICCL programme, you will be qualified for top positions in international legal practice.

Our graduates go on to work at organisations such as:

• private law firms
• multinational companies
• international courts
• governmental organisations
• research institutes

Many of our graduates also contribute to legal scholarship in international civil and commercial law by pursuing postgraduate or PhD research.

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.