Bruno Furiati '10
Brazil

Normally it is easy to talk about a top-tier law school: high teaching standards, U.S. News ranking, excellent professors. However, UVA goes far beyond that. First, the diversity of its students creates a special place, especially for foreigners. Charlottesville's quality of life is undoubtedly one of UVA’s big secrets. I don’t know if C’ville is so good because of UVA or vice versa. Another important factor is the relatively small group of LL.M.s, which creates a great environment for integration with J.D. students. This really increases the learning experience, as does the amazing availability of professors. Last, but not least, UVA’s traditions (softball, Feb Club, Outside the Box Lunch, and several others) are the cherry on top.

Chi-Nung Huang ’09
Taiwan

I cannot ever forget the first time I was called on by a professor in Contracts class among almost 100 students. Even though he started with a simple question, like “Who is the plaintiff,” I still felt so stressed. Needless to say he kept asking me a series of questions about facts and legal issues, and we went back and forth in the following 20 minutes. I was shocked. However, this was such an invaluable opportunity to experience the on-call system and Socratic Method found in American law schools. After being totally exposed to the J.D. program and taught by the best of faculties, I believe getting an LL.M. at UVA has been the most worthwhile choice for me.

Jaime Agudelo Suarez ’09
Mexico

If you are still deciding on an LL.M. program at the University of Virginia or elsewhere, you are standing exactly where I was standing a year ago. Now I ask myself: “Would it have been better to study the master of laws somewhere else?” To answer this, I did not need to think much. There is no way would I have done an LL.M. program somewhere else, and, if possible, I would love to repeat the wonderful year that has just gone by. These are some of the reasons: selective recruiting, cultural diversity and equal treatment (we take J.D. classes).
Finally, the most important thing for me — at UVA Law I was not only able to develop my academic and practical knowledge of law, improve my language skills, learn about other cultures and share a year with an elite international group, but I also made dear friends for life.

Nikki Stein ’09
South Africa

UVA provides a wonderful opportunity for personal growth.  The academic program is tailored to suit your exact interests, and integrates LL.M. students into J.D. classes in a way that allows you to gain from the classes exactly what you put in.  The LL.M. program is small enough to feel like a big family, and large enough to provide exposure to wonderful, different cultures.  The school provides excellent support to LL.M. students, and emphasizes extracurricular activities that offer something for everyone.  I felt like I was a part of this integrated community from day one, and have formed lifelong friendships and contacts with students and professors.

Ulrich Klockenbrink’10
Germany

For me, the really amazing thing about studying at the University of Virginia School of Law is that the LL.M. program is perfectly embedded into the U.S. legal education for J.D. students. The very small and exclusive program allows you to share all classes with American students. Since the classes are very much based on oral participation, you are offered the unique chance to exercise your argumentation and discussion skills at eye level with native speakers.

Moreover, UVA offers exceptional academic freedom in terms of individual choice of classes. There is no precast set of topics you are bound to. Instead you are free to choose whatever first-, second- or third-year classes you are interested in. You can, for example, concentrate on corporate law classes and combine them with real estate law. If you prefer, you can also spice up your schedule with some totally unrelated classes like constitutional law or law of war, a class offered in cooperation with the affiliated U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s School.

The outstanding study conditions at UVA are framed in an environment of exceptional recreational value. The city, the countryside and Charlottesville’s central location on the U.S. East Coast offer literally endless possibilities to explore with your friends from school.

These are just a few of so many reasons that cause UVA students to have lifelong affection for their alma mater — a phenomenon proven by the huge number of classes taught by dedicated and successful alumni from all over the world.

Ayushi Kiran’10
India

My LL.M. experience at UVA was like belonging to the U.N. General Assembly; the vibrant mix of students from various countries of the world certainly mimicked the U.N. One of the greatest assets of the LL.M. program at UVA is that it allows LL.M.s to take classes with the regular J.D. students. This helps international students learn about the American legal system by being a part of it rather than just being a fence sitter. The seminar courses offered do an excellent job of giving a taste of the “real deal,” something I never experienced in the law school of my home country. Apart from academics, UVA also offers amazing recreational opportunities. Be it kickboxing, Pilates, salsa dancing or hiking, you can do it all! It has truly been a joyride.

Jieni Ji '10
China

The LL.M. program provided me with a first-class education in graduate legal studies. The year at UVA Law was the most amazing and rewarding experience in my life. I finally understand why the law school is called the “academic community” after becoming part of the community. UVA Law has the some of the most reputable law professors in the U.S. and some of the most intellectually vibrant students. Top public officials, judges and lawyers are often invited to share their public service or practice experiences with UVA law students. Two business law courses I am taking this semester are instructed by partners from leading law firms. The academic community enables every member to have the opportunity to learn from the best through the teaching of law from diverse perspectives. Besides, professors are very accessible outside of the classroom. It often happens at UVA Law that many professors will invite students to lunch or to attend social events at their homes.

Both the Law School and the city of Charlottesville are fairly international-student friendly. I enjoy both hanging out with Law School friends and the beautiful natural scenery of Charlottesville.

Peter Keevil ’09
United Kingdom

Upon arriving in Charlottesville, LL.M.s are immediately made to feel part of the proud community that is UVA Law School. This is hugely important; many of us had never been to Charlottesville and all of us had traveled a great deal to be there. The warm reception you receive both by the staff and the students is enough to assuage any hesitancy you may have had during your journey. The attention that each UVA LL.M. receives is a product of, and a testament to, the experience of the staff and the relatively small size of the program. UVA Law’s strengths in the classroom are well known; the professors by whom you will be taught are among the top legal minds in the country. What really sets Virginia apart from the others, however, is the professors’ approachability. Each is eager to discuss any point, large or small, legal or otherwise. A conversation on the intricacies of a case has been known to morph into debate over international politics, and the next thing you know you’re talking sports. Furthermore, if you happen to be a foreign LL.M., your insights are always enjoyed and bring a much appreciated added dimension to classroom discussion.

Valentina Ferreira Pinto ’09
Brazil

A great characteristic of UVA’s LL.M. program is the fact that its small-group approach allows for quite strong bonding among students. J.D.s are also usually very receptive and make us feel welcome. Professors at UVA truly encourage class discussion and comments are always welcome. Law School facilities are state of the art, allowing for versatile classes. You can experience highly multimedia-mediated classes to more traditional lectures and seminars with small group discussions. If you want to experience a more hands-on approach, UVA’s clinics are the way to go. I have taken the Environmental Law Clinic and loved it! I am quite happy I have made my choice to come to UVA and I am certain of the uniqueness of this experience.

Haryo Nugroho '10
Indonesia

A perfect combination of academic and non-academic life — that is the essential point I would like to make about my experience in UVA’s LL.M. program.

Highly qualified faculty members, supported by a wide collection of legal resources, are exactly what UVA Law provides. In the classroom, not only are LL.M. students mixed with J.D. students, but the low number of students per class in the upper-level courses provides a more effective learning process because students can be involved more in discussion with the professor and classmates.

The program does not just concentrate on how to add value to your legal knowledge, but also on providing you with non-academic activities that can support your academic performance. Through the Peer Advisor Program, the LL.M. students are involved in a number of UVA Law community activities, including softball and learning about different aspects of American culture.

Wojciech Baginski '08
Poland

It is hard to describe in a few sentences the enriching experiences accumulated during the UVA Law School LL.M. program. I don't want you to think that this is just mere puffery. Based on my UVA Law experience I strongly believe that as your studies here progress you will feel similarly.  

To prove my point I would like to list some of the perks of living and studying in Charlottesville. 

• Outstanding, experienced and very friendly faculty and supporting staff.
• The freedom to craft your own set of classes based on your interests.
• A small group of carefully selected LL.M. students from different countries. You will get to make really good friends here. I especially enjoyed the evening barbeques with fellow LL.Ms, the different continental parties held during the entire academic year, and sports group activities which brought the LL.M. peers together. 
• Beautiful Charlottesville with its amazing campus and friendly residents. The main campus is included on the UNESCO list and was built according to Thomas Jefferson's architectural plans.
• If you like sports and prefer active rest, I think UVA is the perfect place for you. The large number of high-end sporting facilities will help keep you in shape during the whole year.

These are only some of the highlights of studying in Virginia. I really encourage you to apply. You will be satisfied.

Juan Azzarri '10
Argentina

Choosing UVA for my LL.M. program has been one of the smartest decisions of my life. When I arrived, I was introduced to the academical society that Thomas Jefferson planned for UVA students in Charlottesville. Being with only 38 LL.M.s from around the world has been an excellent experience; I got to know them and to exchange experiences with them. The professors I had were also amazing. They were always willing to help me and to answer my questions. The possibility to have such close relations with them was one of the features I appreciated about the UVA academical village experience. These are the reasons why I will never forget my year at UVA, and the reasons why I advise others to choose UVA’s LL.M. program if they want not only to study at a first-rate university but also to have the experience of living in an awesome place.

Jan-Willem Geeroms '10
Belgium

As prospective students will read in other eyewitness accounts, UVA Law is a solid choice for a multitude of reasons. The small and selective LL.M. program offers so many advantages: great personalized assistance by faculty and supporting staff, full immersion in life at the Law School, and, very importantly, the possibility for strong bonding with other LL.M.s and J.D.s.

The general surroundings of the Law School contribute a lot to this experience; Charlottesville is a wonderful city, the campus is of rare beauty and charm, and the Virginian weather is amazing.

I would like to add one element that has been very valuable to me personally. UVA Law offers a wide array of very small and specialized classes, taught by the very best practitioners. These professionals are extremely motivated, often flying in from all over the world. Being taught by partners of the best Wall Street law firms and by in-house counsels of the biggest multinationals is a truly enriching experience.

Overall, I can say that my LL.M. experience at UVA Law has been extremely rewarding. I do not hesitate to fully recommend it to anyone!

Guillermo Muhech ’09
Mexico

Being at UVA has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Not only is the curriculum extremely challenging and diverse, but the faculty and staff make the experience even more enjoyable by always working on something new and interesting. The greatest advantage of the program is the exposure to American law in full, because the LL.M.s take classes with, and participate just as much as, the J.D. students in assignments, classes, discussions or activities. The community and social life are just overwhelming. I am proud to be part of a privileged group of lawyers who will always keep UVA in their souls.

Hao Chu ’11
austria

Legal education from one of the top-10 law schools, combined with probably the best student-life experience in the United States, is what awaits you at UVA Law. Here at UVA, you will be taught by the some of the most well-known legal scholars in the US, as well as some of the best legal practitioners, including state Supreme Court Justices, "Big Law" attorneys, and top investment bankers. This diversity and prestige provides you the great chance to gain unique legal insights. The relatively small but highly diversified student profile of the LL.M. class at UVA also provides you with an incomparable opportunity to know your fellow classmates well, experience different cultures and most importantly, make friends from all over the world.

Yet another great feature about UVA Law is the student life. The different student organizations like the Virginia Law Outdoors Club, the Virginia Law Wine Club and the Rod & Gun Club offer you a broad range of extracurricular activities and exceptional opportunities to interact with JD students as well as professors outside of the classroom. The annual Foxfield Horse Races, the legendary Feb Club, the North Grounds Softball League and the weekly Bar Review are just a few events among lots of others organized by the students themselves. Outside of the Law School, my classmates and I enjoyed the weekly concerts downtown during the summer, the Shenandoah Mountains and the many vineyards near Charlottesville during the fall, and the many Cavalier sporting events (football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, among others) throughout the year.

JiaAn Yin ’11
China

The one year LL.M. program at Virginia Law has been the most rewarding experience of my life.

The small size of the program enables LL.M.s to be fully integrated into the academic community.  We are privileged to choose whatever class that interests us, just as the J.D. students here do.  This academic integration allows you to get real insight into U.S. legal education in one of the best law schools in the U.S. and across the world.  Cold calls, voluntary class participation, group discussions, and group projects are enlightening, but nevertheless challenging in the sense that your competitors are J.D. students, not LL.M.s.

The Peer Advisor program is also a unique characteristic of Virginia Law for LL.M.s.  Peer advisors are usually in their second or third year of law school.  They are all kind and enthusiastic; they have passion for foreign cultures, and more importantly, they care about LL.Ms.  They guide you and help you fit into the community, both academically and socially.  For example, while I was serving as an editor on Virginia Journal of International Law ("VJIL"), one of my peer advisors who is serving on Virginia Law Review gave me tremendously helpful advice for both preparation for the journal tryout and the actual editing work after I was selected by VJIL.

In addition to the common merits that other top 10 law schools also embrace, Virginia Law is famous for its collegial academic environment, which is extremely unique among peer law schools.  It's a tradition at Virginia Law that everyone shares his/her class notes with fellow classmates.  All we have here is positive competition.  Although technically, we are competitors with each other, we are still friends in life.

One thing that is worth mentioning is the January-Term in Paris program open to both J.D. and LL.M. students.  Virginia Law is probably the only top law school that offers LL.M. students with exchange programs in Europe.  Through this program, I got to know basics of French law; I also had the opportunity to travel around Europe so as to experience a totally different culture from Asia and North America, enriching my life experience extraordinarily.

Come to Virginia Law for your LL.M. program and I'm positive you will be loving this community as much as I do!

GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE
University of Virginia School of Law
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-1738

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Telephone: (434) 924-3154
Fax: (434) 982-6682
e-mail: gradadmitlaw@virginia.edu

 

The Program | Apply | Academic Information
Student Life | Visits & Tours | About Charlottesville

GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE
University of Virginia School of Law
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-1738

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Telephone: (434) 924-3154
Fax: (434) 982-6682
e-mail: gradadmitlaw@virginia.edu

The Program | Apply | Academic Information
Student Life | Visits & Tours | About Charlottesville