Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Lisbon)

The Law School

The School of Law at Portuguese Catholic University (Universidade Católica Portuguesa) in Lisbon is a leading law school. As part of its international strategy, Católica Global School of Law was launched in 2009: an international centre of teaching and research, bringing together global faculty, global students and global environment and staff.

The Program

Católica Global School of Law offers two innovative LL.M. programmes:

- LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context, directed to recent graduates.
Law is changing. Lawyers increasingly need to operate in the context of a plurality of jurisdictions and be comfortable working with different legal sources, in courts as outside courts and even in the legislative process. At the same time, economic and social integration increases the multinational character of lawyers’ daily practice. This has also give rise to an emerging international market for legal services. To respond to these trends, a new type of lawyer is needed; it is no longer sufficient to be trained exclusively in one domestic legal system. Rather, a truly international legal education is required, one in which courses are specifically tailored to meet the challenges of this pluralism of legal sources and jurisdictions. This is the purpose of this Master/LLM Degree in Law in a European and Global Context.
The programme adopts the approach to teaching that Joseph Weiler has coined of “Total Law, an approach that makes a bold pedagogical and intellectual break with traditional ways of teaching law. The students enrolled in this programme will be challenged with classroom demands with which most will be unfamiliar. It will require a sustained level of very high commitment, preparation and engagement. But the rewards will be rich: both in intellectual excitement and professional formation.

- Advanced LL.M. in International Business Law, directed to lawyers with professional experience.
It is an intensive, advanced program, directed specifically to those who seek an active and international professional practice of Business Law. It offers an innovative approach to
transnational, Anglo-American and European business law, taught by top European and American faculty, and covers a wide range of topics, such as contracts, energy transactions, project finance, commercial and investment arbitration, corporate law, securities regulation, EU internal market and international taxation. A concentration in competition law is also offered.
LL.M. classes have a dual nature, emphasizing both practice and theory. Serious preparation outside of class is required. Class discussion is encouraged and will be factored into the students' final grade.

Please find further information at our website www.fd.lisboa.ucp.pt/english

The Faculty

The LL.M. faculty consists of a world class selection of law professors from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and from the most prestigious American and European. Leading lawyers are also featured.

Joseph Weiler, Jan Dalhuisen, Miguel Poiares Maduro, Raymond Nimmer, Rosa Greaves, James Boyle, Paul Davies, Andrea Biondi, Eric Posner and Armin von Bogdandy are among the faculty of the programmes.

Entry Requirements

LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context: first law degree with a strong academic record and an international focus.

Advanced LL.M. in International Business Law: first law degree with strong academic record and professional experience (minimum of 2-3 years).

Proficiency in the English language.

Application Procedure

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we advise candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Early Applications: Applications submitted before January 20, 2010 will benefit from 10% discount in the total tuition. In that case, first installment is due until February 10, 2010.

Applications must include the following documents:
Application form LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context (available at www.fd.lisboa.ucp.pt/english)
Application form Advanced LL.M. in International Business Law (available at www.fd.lisboa.ucp.pt/english)
Personal statement of motivation (in English)
Two letters of recommendation (in English or in Portuguese)
Official transcripts from schools attended (in English or in Portuguese)
Curriculum vitae (in English or in Portuguese) with dates and lengths of employment. Maximum of two pages)
Official letter of dispatch for students sponsored by corporations or other organizations
TOEFL or IELTS (or equivalent) scores
Copy of Identity Card or Passport
2 photos

Tuition and Fees

LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context
Tuition: € 14.000
Students can benefit from €4.000 Euros of funding from Católica Global School of Law. Students who choose to benefit from such funding commit themselves to contribute to the Católica Global School of Law Scholarship Programme after entering the labour market.

Advanced LL.M. in International Business Law:
Tuition for the LL.M program during the 2010-2011 academic year is:
Full-Time - one year: € 12.000
Part-Time - two years: € 13.200
Master Dissertation (optional) - € 1.500

Financial Aid

Applicants from the United States may apply for a scholarship granted by Luso-American Foundation (FLAD) to sucessful applicants to this LL.M. program. These scholarships consist of 5 000 Euros (around 7.500 USD) plus flight reimbursement.

Applicants from Poland, Greece and Romania may apply for scholarships granted by Millennium BCP Foundation. These grants consist of 13.333 Euros.

Half scholarships are also available for outstanding applicants from Brazil.

Location

Lisbon is superbly located on the north bank of the Tagus River, Lisbon’s seven hills are its defining feature.

Our students will benefit from its pleasures and cultural richness. The city has many traditions and various contrasting architectural styles, ranging from traditional areas with narrow alleys, which date from before the 1755 earthquake, to the magnificent open space of Praça do Comércio in the city center, with its neoclassical lines.

Lisbon is very close to Estoril, Cascais and Sintra, areas with beaches and mountains,
and you can enjoy the sunshine almost all year long. Whether you prefer a
night at the opera, a visit to the castles, a soothing game of golf or the rush of great
surf, all this is available just 30 minutes away from campus.

And for students from America, one of the great things about Lisbon is that you
are just a short flight away from Paris, Rome, London…