Phillip (the Head of the programme), please describe what are the Law programmes about? The law programmes at Tallinn University are dynamic, and focused on Finnish, international and European law at the bachelor’s level, and international business law at the master’s level. Both are taught in Tallinn (daytime studies) and in Helsinki (cycle studies). [caption id="attachment_19289" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Head of the programmes Phillip Webb Graves.[/caption] Further, the teaching and research faculty is truly international, with professors from China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Likewise, our students are also international, coming from Armenia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The law programmes incorporate the theoretical and practical facets of law and are taught entirely in English by a combination of competent legal professionals, internationally recognized legal scholars, judges and members of Parliament. What are some of the ways that the programmes are distinctive? Our law programmes are distinctive because students complete an internship in the last year of their studies. This gives students an opportunity to work under the direction of a lawyer in a law firm or in the legal department of a business. Through the internship, students get to experience what the legal profession is like and also to apply and build upon the skills they have obtained from the classroom. What kind of courses will be offered to students? Courses offered to students in the bachelor’s programme include the essential courses need to gain a fundamental understanding of law and the legal practice: Legal Writing and Research, Law of Obligations, Criminal Law, Public International Law, Private International Law, and Introduction to European Union Law are just a few of the compulsory courses. These courses provide a firm foundation and preparation for more advanced courses such as EU Internal Market Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Economic Law, and International Commercial Law. Courses offered to students in the master’s programme are courses that are necessary for an understanding of international business law such as International Commercial Contracts, Comparative Competition Law, International Commercial Arbitration, International Investment Law, and International Transport Law. Further, students in the master’s programme will also write and defend a thesis on a topical legal issue related to international business. What kind of students, with what kind of backgrounds, might be interested in the programmes? Our students are a mixture of those who are fresh out of high school to those with years of work experience in business. Anyone who desires to learn the “rules of the game and how the game is played” is encouraged to apply, as law impacts us in almost every aspect of a our daily life. [caption id="attachment_19235" align="alignleft" width="297"] Law students visiting the parliament of Estonia.[/caption] What are the practical skills that students acquire during their studies? Students acquire the ability to solve legal cases and problems by learning how to spot the relevant legal issues and knowing what legal norms to apply to solve the legal case. This relies heavily on logical reasoning, legal analysis, and advocacy skills-in writing and orally. Our programmes are developed and tailored to enhance our students’ skills in this regard to their highest ability. What jobs will students go on after they graduate? Students are well qualified and prepared for a variety of career opportunities in the legal profession, such as a lawyer-either for a law firm, for a company, or in private practice and as a business consultant, working in areas such as risk management, transportation and logistics, and mergers and acquisitions. Also, students may find career opportunities in the public sector, working as a prosecutor for the government, in the legal department for national parliaments, the European Union, and for non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, students are well qualified to continue their studies at the next level. What in your view is most exciting about the programmes? In my opinion, what is most exciting about our programmes is interacting with students and colleagues from different countries and living in Tallinn, Estonia or Helsinki, Finland. Students from different countries bring with them their understanding of the world and likewise, professors from different countries bring with them their understanding the world, reflected where they come from and their professional experiences, which when combined makes for very energetic and vibrant discussions both inside and outside of the classroom. Text by Phillip Webb Graves (School of Governance, Law and Society, the Head of the Law BA and International Business Law MA programmes).  

Read more about the programmes and admission requirements from our webpage.

Ask our student ambassadors what they think about the programmes: tlu.ee/ambassadors.