LLM European Business Law - the PALLAS programme
The PALLAS programme will not be running in 2013-14.
- The PALLAS programme is ranked as among the six best LLM
courses in Europe and the ten best in the world.
- The School of Law at Essex is one of the founding
members of the PALLAS Consortium and we administer the LLM
European Business Law.
- PALLAS graduates are working across the full range of
public and private sector institutions, including top
international law firms, in most major European countries
and on other continents.
- PALLAS graduates (PALS) have an active network and meet
regularly, across Europe.
- Caleb Raywood from Essex, one of the first Pallas
graduates worked for Clyde & Co in Dubai after a period in
London and Paris and is now Vice President and Regional
Counsel (South Asia, Middle East and Africa) for MasterCard.
History of the PALLAS programme
For the first eleven years of its life PALLAS was based first in Nijmegen and
then Amsterdam. In 2007 the Programme moved to Essex. From the beginning, the
PALLAS partners felt the location of the course should change from time to time,
to reflect the truly European nature of the course and also emphasise PALLAS was
not just the product of a single university.
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands was the guest speaker at the
programme's graduation ceremony in 2004 and since then she has permitted her
name to be used for the top student prize each year.
PALLAS programme aims
The objective of the LLM European Business Law is to train
business lawyers in the main legal cultures in Europe, allied to a
strong understanding of European Union Law as well as international
law. Each module unit invites students to discover how the leading
legal systems in Europe view problems, what solutions they offer,
the possible flaws and alternatives. The input of EU law and other
international instruments is taken into account wherever relevant.
PALLAS combines what is found in the traditional LLM in English speaking
countries with a cross-cultural dimension. It is this combination of a
strongly comparative and problem-based approach which makes PALLAS unique.
The lecturers are drawn principally from the partner universities and are
experts in their fields; a number combine their academic work with law
practice which adds an extra dimension. Visits to law firms and businesses
plus workshops are an integral part of each module and offer an excellent
insight into the practice of European business law as well as a step to
employment.
PALLAS graduates are both challenged academically and practically
trained. This equips them for the world of work. As a result PALLAS
graduates are working in many of the leading law firms in Europe. This means
PALLAS is unlike any other Masters in Law currently running.
Excursions are arranged to law firms creating strong interactions with
practice which is another unique feature of PALLAS. This helps to
prepare PALLAS graduates for successful entry into the European legal world
in a way no other programme does.
What our students say
Former PALLAS students remain in contact with us and are
happy to be contacted for information about PALLAS.
Ossi Niiranen, from Finland, completed his first degree
at Essex and now works at Clifford Chance in Brussels.
He said: "I can safely say that I have not regretted choosing PALLAS. The
combination of talented lecturers and visits to major law firms (Clifford
Chance and Freshfields to name but a few) are something arguably unique to
PALLAS and will, without a doubt, make the PALLAS experience even more
beneficial for one's growth, both academically and career-wise, than I had
expected."
Caleb Raywood, an Essex graduate, is now Vice-President
and Regional Counsel MasterCard , Dubai.
He said: "I am now enjoying my third career post PALLAS having moved from
barrister to solicitor to in-house counsel. The PALLAS materials have
accompanied me each step of the way and even now I occasionally dip into
them for guidance. But PALLAS' legacy is far more than simply taking away
knowledge; it is the training to take a holistic view, analysing issues from
all perspectives whether that of an adversary in court, the other side of a
transaction, regulators of an industry or stakeholders in a business. Not
only that, it is the ability to resolve problems while recognising the
various national, cultural and jurisprudential themes encountered along the
way, which make the role of an international lawyer such a challenging
vocation."
Victoria Navarro, Ashurst, Madrid, said: "After one
month of work experience at Ashurst, an international law firm, I can
totally confirm that PALLAS is a really good programme and that it has
taught me a lot. There are many different things that I see on a daily basis
that I would have no clue about if it had not been for PALLAS. I am
therefore, extremely satisfied with the programme you offered and I am even
happier to know that such a good programme will be offered to many other
students in the future."
Clementine Noblecourt, Lyon, said: "I thought it was a
really complete and very interesting programme with many practitioners and
teachers from all over Europe teaching. Moreover, all 19 students found
professional opportunities after the LLM, including myself, now working as a
lawyer in a financial firm in Amsterdam."
Pauline Dijon, Lyon, said: "Being a member of the LLM
PALLAS programme has undoubtedly been a unique and worthwhile experience.
Thanks to the programme I have not only developed a broad range of skills in
many legal fields ( banking, corporate, tax, business), but also got
familiar with a greater variety of teaching modes (readings, workshops,
lectures, trips). Moreover, the quality of the programme combined with
regular meetings with lawyers, professionals and academicians from all over
Europe certainly gives students the opportunities to have direct contact
with potential and future employers. "But the LLM PALLAS programme
represents so much more. For me, the programme has been an amazing human
experience. During my year of study in PALLAS, I really enjoyed learning
from my classmates about features of their countries: Ecuador, Spain, Latvia
and the United States."
Further information and enquiries
For further details on PALLAS contact:
Mrs Gail Howell
Pallas and External Coordinator
School of Law
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
United Kingdom
CO4 S3Q
E-mail: gchap@essex.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1206 873484