LLM is the nickname for Master of Laws in the English language. It is very common that after some experience in the job market, lawyers join LLM programs to boost their careers. It is usually a great differential in the curriculum not only because of its academic status, but also because of its international experience.
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It is very common for people to have insecurities about the validity of the certificate in Brazil because the area of law is usually very national. That is, not all laws that work in the United Kingdom, for example, are valid in Brazil. However, there is indeed the validation of your degree in Brazil, as you can see in the story of Juliana Alcântara, who completed her LLM at the University of Durham in 2016 and today works in a multinational oil and energy company.
loveUK: What course did you take in Durham and during which year?
Juliana Alcântara: Master of Laws (LL.M Corporate Law) in 2015-2016.
Master of Laws (LL.M Corporate Law) in 2015-2016.
loveUK: How did you decide to study an LLM in the UK?
JA: I have always wanted to do a master's degree abroad because I am very interested in the areas of international law and comparative law. Throughout college, I prepared for this goal, already knowing how much I needed CR, English proficiency, etc, for each of my university options. After participating in some British university fairs in Rio, I knew that the United Kingdom was my best option, as it not only had universities of historical excellence and world recognition, but also had the best cost-benefit ratio compared to other countries.
The decision about the country then became easy and I started to focus on the analysis of different portfolios of LL.Ms to choose the best one for me.
I had always wanted to do a postgrad abroad as the subjects of international and comparative law have always interested me. Throughout the undergrad, I prepared myself towards this goal, knowing already what final grades I should have, the level of English proficiency required, etc., for each of my university options. Upon attending a few fairs and events held by British universities in Rio, I knew that the UK was my best option, as not only it had universities with historical excellence and world notoriety, but also had the best cost-benefit when compared to other countries .
Hence, the decision regarding the country became easy and I began to focus on analyzing various LL.M's portfolios to choose which one was the best fit for me.
loveUK: Can you tell us a bit about the course program and faculty?
JA: The LL.M at Durham University presents some distinct lines of research such as International Trade and Commercial Law, Corporate Law, among others. Despite the distinct lines, there is a wide pool of subjects from which the student can choose those that most interest him, regardless of the research area. Of course, each line has some mandatory subjects, but the others are at the student's discretion.
The LL.M at Durham University has some distinct programs such as International Trade and Commercial Law, Corporate Law, among others. Despite the different programmes, there is a wide pool of subjects from which the student can choose the ones that interest him/her more regardless of the specific programmed on which they have enrolled. Of course, each programmed has some mandatory subjects, but the remaining ones are at the student's choice.
I signed up for the International Trade and Commercial Law area, but, when I came across so many interesting options for subjects, I ended up choosing all the mandatory courses in the Corporate Law course and chose to request the migration to this line of research. I loved that the university gave me this option while I was also able to study subjects from the other lines with my colleagues, thus killing my curiosity and desire to learn.
I had enrolled on the International Trade and Commercial Law programme, but, when confronted by so many interesting subject options, I ended up choosing all the mandatory subjects for the Corporate Law program and opted to migrate to the latter. I loved that the university gave me this option while still being able to study subjects related to the other programs with my colleagues, fulfilling my curiosity and desire to learn.
My teachers were excellent and very approachable. The university also provided a mentoring scheme for students with some of the course professors, which allowed for an open and productive exchange on subjects, study methods and even tips and clarification on what to write in the dissertation.
My teachers were excellent and very accessible. The university has also made available a mentoring scheme for the students with a few professors from the course, which allowed for an open and productive conversation regarding the subject, study methods and even some tips and clarifications about the what to write for dissertation.
For the dissertation, I chose a topic that was not directly related to any of the subjects I had studied, but that I really wanted to research. The law school gave me full support and placed me with a supervisor who was familiar with the subject and who gave me confidence and confidence during the process.
For the dissertation, I chose a theme that was not directly related to any of the subjects I had studied in course, but that I was keen on researching about. The law school gave me full support and allocated me with a supervisor who was familiarized with the subject and that gave me confidence throughout the process.
loveUK: Did your expectations meet reality?
Now yes. My experience in Durham far exceeded my expectations. Not even in my most innocent childhood dreams I imagined that I would study near a historic castle (where it is possible to have a beer at night. Here's a tip!), wear formal clothes and Harry Potter-like capes and, on top of that, have access to so much academic content of such a high level.
Yes. My experience at Durham superseded my expectations by much. Not even on my most innocent childhood dreams had I imagined studying close to a historical castle (where one can drink some pints at night. Here is a useful tip!), dressing in formal clothes and gowns like Harry Potter and, on top of it all, having access to so much high-quality academic content.
When I walked into the Bill Bryson Library for the first time, it hit me that there was so much more to it than I had imagined when I first joined the LL.M.
When I entered the Bill Bryson Library for the first time, I realized that it was all much more than I could have imagined when I embarked on my LL.M adventure.
Also, because Durham is a collegiate university, I had at my own college (Ustinov College) several fun social events like formals, parties, trips, cultural events, etc. It was really cool! And, as each college has its own social area with bars and cafes, we could still do fun college pub crawls and get to know the bars of other colleges.
Other than that, as Durham is a collegiate university, I had in my college (Ustinov College) many cool social events such as formals, parties, trips, cultural events, etc. It was a lot of fun! And since each college has its own social area with bars and cafes, one could even take on exciting college pub crawls to get to know other college bars.
But here's an important tip: While I had fun like never before, I studied like never before too!! The English educational system is quite different from the Brazilian one and relies on the student's self-discipline for the smooth running of the course. The preparatory readings for the classes were many and fundamental for a fruitful debate.
However, here is a valuable tip: At the same time that I had fun like never before, I also studied like never before!! The English educational system is very different from the Brazilian one and relies on the student's self-discipline for a good course development. The preparatory readings for the lectures were plenty and fundamental to an enjoyable debate in class.
loveUK: How has your career been impacted after completing the LLM program?
JA: I returned to Brazil in 2016 very worried about the economic crisis at the time. However, I was surprised at how quickly the master's degree opened doors for me. Within two months, I was employed as a lawyer, working on Mergers and Acquisitions (one of the subjects I studied in my course in Durham) at a large multinational company and I have been working in corporate law ever since.
I think it will never cease to be a pleasant surprise when international colleagues say “Durham Law? Impressive!”.
I came back to Brazil in 2016 very worried about the then existing economic crisis. Nevertheless, I was surprised by how fast the masters opened doors for me. Within two months, I was employed as a lawyer – working with Mergers and Acquisitions (one of the subjects I had studied at Durham) – by a big multinational company and since then I have kept working with corporate law.
I believe it will never cease to be a pleasant surprise when international colleagues say “Durham Law? Impressive!”
In addition, I revalidated my LL.M degree at the University of São Paulo (USP), ranked as the best university in Latin America, with a Master's degree in Commercial Law. Upon receiving the approval report of my revalidation, I saw the importance and weight of having completed the LL.M. in Durham had in the USP decision. Today, I am also a master of law in Brazil thanks to the University of Durham.
Moreover, I got my LL.M degree recognized by the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), ranked as the best university in Latin America, as Master in Commercial Law. When receiving the recognition approval report, I realized the importance and weight that having studied my LL.M in Durham had upon USP's decision. Today, I am a master in Law in Brazil as well as thanks to Durham University.
We hope that Juliana's story, who was kind enough to respond bilingually to our interview, has inspired those who are thinking about taking this step in your career and joining an LLM. At the material created by loveUK on legal vocabulary you will have access to some suggestions of partner universities with the best Master of Law programs in the UK. But, there are others. So don't forget to contact loveUK so that one of our educational consultants can give you the best indication.
