What do you need to know to study abroad in law major?

Law degree has always been one of the most popular and respected courses in universities. Every year, many small partners studying abroad choose to major in law. So, what do you need to know about studying abroad? Next, I will explain it in detail for you.

For many people, a law degree is the first step in the career path in the legal field, and it usually requires further study and training to become a practicing lawyer or a barrister. However, this is certainly not the only reason for universities to study law. As we all know, a law degree is extremely challenging. For many students, its attraction lies in its combination of human interests and intellectual stimulation.

Course structure and entrance requirements

Although most LLM and JD programs are mainly aimed at preparing students for a legal career, it is also possible to obtain a master's degree in law with an emphasis on academic research. These people can be called doctor of law, doctor of law or doctor of law (JSD). You can also take two-year intensive legal courses or vocational courses of different lengths.

What can a law degree bring you?

Like most degrees, law majors start with compulsory core courses and have more opportunities to choose legal topics suitable for specific career paths in the future. Teaching is a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, demonstrations, classroom debates and "seminars" to carry out legal practice training in the courtroom environment, so as to help students master important legal skills, such as research and analysis, public speaking and forming arguments.

Some schools allow law students to study abroad for one year, especially those who combine law with foreign languages. Some schools will also provide students with free opportunities to cooperate with real clients as a way to gain valuable experience and legal skills, which will help them apply for jobs in the future.

Although most LLM and JD programs are mainly aimed at preparing students for a legal career, it is also possible to obtain a master's degree in law with an emphasis on academic research. These people can be called doctors of laws, or they can take two-year intensive legal courses or vocational courses of different lengths.

Special courses

law major

In the course of law degree, the core compulsory modules you may encounter include: introduction to legal technology, introduction to legal system, introduction to legal research, reasoning and reading and writing ability. Other possible legal topics include: constitutional law, criminal law, criminology, commercial law equity and trust law, human rights, international law (public law and private law), jurisprudence, labor law, land law, law and government, law and society, law and individuals, contract law, tort law, legal methods, maritime law and tax law.

As you might expect, a law degree covers a variety of disciplines and aims to provide a general understanding of human society and its laws. After you have a solid foundation in the main principles and related aspects of law, you can adjust your degree according to your special interests. This may mean choosing to specialize in a specific legal field or a specific culture or society, or branching into related fields of interest, such as business or politics. Some popular legal topics include:

criminal law

Criminal law is sometimes an independent degree, which studies different aspects of law related to crime. You will study the theory of criminal law, study crime and gender, restorative justice, criminal justice, global crime, human rights and social legal methods and theories. You will also learn more specific aspects of criminal law, such as homicide, mental criminals, European criminal law, death penalty in law, legal response to terrorism, sentencing, victims and victim policies.

law of property

Property law, also known as land law, is a legal field involving real estate (land, which is different from movable property or movable property) and movable property (movable property). You will learn the concept of "land interest"-a term used to describe various rights of one person to land owned by another person. Depending on the unit, you can learn how and when to create these benefits (through contracts, agreements or court orders) and when these benefits have legal effect. You will also study issues such as mortgage, lease rights and obligations, commercial property law, ownership, stocks, site purchase, property management and construction law.

Intellectual property law

Intellectual property law also involves property, but the difference is that intellectual property law is generally offered as a specialized degree. This field involves intangible assets, such as spiritual creation (music, literature and artistic works), discoveries and inventions, words and phrases, symbols and designs. You will learn the economic, social and theoretical issues surrounding intellectual property rights (IP) and technical laws. You will deal with issues affecting intellectual property law, trademark protection, patents, patent law and copyright policy. You will also study intellectual property rights in the global and regional context, such as paying attention to the integration of European intellectual property laws and exploring the composition of intellectual property rights in depth.

commercial law

Commercial law, also known as commercial law, is a legal system involving the rights, contracts and behaviors of people and enterprises engaged in commerce and industry. Commercial law is usually regarded as a branch of civil law (non-criminal law), which is a large enough legal part and should have a completely specialized degree course. Commercial law contains the elements of economy, commerce, management and finance, and it includes all the legal issues involved in learning to run an enterprise. This includes legal topics such as small business law, enterprise contract regulations, tax classification, employment and dismissal of personnel, zoning and licensing issues, and broader business issues such as securities law, intellectual property rights, secured transactions, pensions and benefits, trusts and real estate, immigration and labor laws, and bankruptcy. A related field is company law, which deals with the financial and structural conditions of established companies and provides legal advice around the daily transactions of such companies.

Environmental protection act

Environmental law is a legal system to protect, maintain, adjust and improve the environment, and adjust the interaction between man and the natural environment. As institutions, enterprises and companies try to reduce the impact of their actions on the environment, environmental law has become an increasingly popular specialized field. Environmental law is an interdisciplinary field integrating law, politics and human rights, covering various issues related to the environment. You will learn about global environmental laws, such as climate control, resource protection, environmental protection, natural resources and climate change policies, as well as local or national environmental laws, such as noise control, remediation and energy regulations and policies.

Family law

You may infer that family law is a legal field related to family affairs. You will learn a series of family law issues, such as parents, children and child protection, marriage, civil partnership, cohabitation, divorce, human rights, adoption and surrogacy. You will learn how to use the law to solve disputes within the family, including the termination of the relationship and subsequent events, child abuse and kidnapping, paternity test and juvenile trial. You can also study international family law, including transnational and inter-country issues, as well as specific topics, such as international children's law, and study how to protect children through public and private international law. You can also explore contemporary issues, such as commercial surrogacy, parent-child law, corporal punishment, family court news reports and child soldiers.

Other legal fields you can choose to specialize in include: judge law (real estate and trust), civil law, company law, entertainment law, immigration law, maritime law, media law, mental health law, social law, sports law, tax law, etc.

If none of the above is attractive, then:

Labor law-handling contract and employment claims, such as unfair dismissal, redundancy and discrimination;

Health care law-laws and regulations related to public health;

Insurance law-on the management of insurance, insurance policies and claims;

Patent law-attaching importance to the granting of patents for inventions and new technologies;

International law-a set of rules accepted as binding in the relations between countries, not among individual citizens.

You can also specialize in legal research in a specific culture or region; These possible legal topics include:

Islamic law

Islamic law involves Islamic moral norms and religious laws called Islamic Shariah, including secular laws and many topics existing in contemporary society, including crime, politics, economy, property, family affairs, marriage and children. You will learn about the history and development of Islamic law, its application in contemporary justice, and the different applications of Islamic law in different regions, such as the Middle East and South Asia. You will also see the relationship between scripture and human reason in the development of Islamic law, and discuss the criticism and opposition to Islamic law.

European Union law

The study of European Union law involves treaties and legislation that have a direct or indirect impact on the laws of European Union (EU) member States. The EU is completely based on the rule of law. It is assumed that every action group taken as a whole is based on ratified treaties, voluntary and democratic, and the laws of all member States and the EU and the national laws of each member state have the same effect. In this major, you will learn the establishment and development of the European Union, its structure and institutional functions, and the basic process of the creation of EU laws. You will learn how EU laws affect the lives of EU citizens, companies and service providers, and investigate and analyze related contemporary crises and conflicts.

American law

The focus is on the Constitution of the United States, which defines the boundaries of American federal laws, treaties, regulations and case law (precedents). American Law discusses the American legal system and its foundation, the importance of the American Constitution (considered as the supreme law of the United States) and its role in modern American society. You will have an in-depth understanding of all aspects of American law, including intellectual property rights, international business transactions, mergers and acquisitions and alternative dispute resolution. You will also learn how the Constitution of the United States affects the role of practicing lawyers in the United States, and analyze and solve contemporary legal problems in the United States.

vocational selection

Legal training

In order to make greater progress in the legal field, many graduates choose to continue to receive legal training on the basis of undergraduate level. The specific type of legal training required varies according to the country where you study/practice law and the type of legal profession you want to pursue. It usually includes further study and examination, as well as a period of practical legal training provided by formal work arrangements.

For example, in England and Wales, legal training for aspiring lawyers includes a one-year legal practice course, followed by a two-year internship as a lawyer. Although some jurisdictions grant "diploma privilege" to some institutions, allowing students with degrees or certificates from these institutions to practice law directly, Germany, Canada and Australia all require law graduates to complete professional legal education before they can be accepted as practicing lawyers; This can take the form of formal apprenticeships with experienced practitioners. At the same time, some countries, such as Mexico, allow anyone with a law degree to practice law immediately.

Legal profession

Unsurprisingly, many law graduates continue to seek career development in the legal field. As mentioned above, an excellent legal profession usually needs further study and training. You may find that different countries and different legal systems use different words to describe specific legal professions.

In fact, as far as the titles of barrister and lawyer are concerned, lawyers can hold either title at the same time, but they can still hold both positions at the same time. Some law graduates may even be one of them at first, and then decide to be another. Lawyers usually hold only one of these two titles. Some countries also combine these two titles into one, and simply refer to practitioners as "lawyers". Popular careers chosen by law school graduates include:

lawyer

Lawyers (lawyers from Scotland, Belgium, South Africa, Israel, Isle of Man and Brazil) represent clients (individuals or organizations) in court. As a barrister, you are generally employed by lawyers to represent cases in court, and you will only participate when you need to defend in court. You will provide legal advice and defend your clients on behalf of your clients and their lawyers. The public can also seek advice and representation directly from barristers without lawyers.

As a lawyer, you may be proficient in a specific legal field, such as criminal law, common law or entertainment law. Most barristers are self-employed, but as part of the "Chamber of Commerce", they can share the management expenses, and some have been employed by government departments, institutions, charities, companies or law firms for a long time. Although barristers in the United States were called consultants in history, there is no difference between barristers (lawyers who defend cases) and lawyers (lawyers who represent clients) today. They both call lawyers now.

Lawyer's staff

Working for a barrister or a group of barristers is a barrister's clerk (or a lawyer's clerk in Scotland and other places), who is responsible for the administrative and commercial activities involved. From diary and expense management to business development and marketing, paralegals ensure the normal conduct of lawyer affairs, whether as legal practice or as business activities. You should not only be familiar with court procedures and etiquette, but also understand the standards that law firms must abide by, including maintaining appropriate qualifications. You will also gain expertise in the legal field of the barrister you assist.

Junior lawyer

Solicitors (or South African lawyers) provide legal advice on a wide range of topics (personal and business affairs) and are usually responsible for explaining the law to clients, including individuals, groups, public organizations and private companies. You can represent your client in court (or entrust a lawyer to do so) and represent your client in all legal negotiations involving property transactions, wills, divorce and child custody, claims and commercial contracts.

You need to prepare and study documents, letters and other documents in order to best represent your customers. You may work in a private law firm, or be employed by central or local government agencies, banks or other commercial organizations. Many lawyers also use some of their time for free to help those who can't afford legal services.

Company secretary

Company secretaries are employed by enterprises or organizations to ensure that the company complies with relevant local, national or global laws. In India and other countries, private companies with a certain share capital are required by law to appoint a company secretary, usually a senior board member. The company secretary fully understands the laws related to the company's interests, supervises the changes of relevant laws, and is responsible for ensuring the effective management of the company in terms of laws and statutory requirements. Also known as the chartered secretary, or just the "secretary", the company secretary is the bridge between the board of directors and the shareholders of the company. The company secretary organizes meetings and takes minutes at board meetings, maintains legal books, handles correspondence, and advises members on the legal, governance, accounting and tax implications of the proposed policies when necessary.

Auxiliary lawyer's business

Although paralegals can't give legal advice to clients, they can provide experienced and skilled services to lawyers and their clients. However, in Ontario, Canada, they are considered as a formal part of the legal system. Whether you are dealing with small claims or supporting property transfer, you need to have experience and knowledge in your legal field. You will handle a large number of cases, organize case files for your employer, study cases and legal information, and draft documents and letters.

The duties of more experienced paralegals include making statements for parties and witnesses, interviewing, providing legal information, appearing in court or submitting applications to judges. Most paralegals are employed by law firms, legal departments of private companies, public or non-profit sectors, civil and criminal courts, police, law enforcement departments or national defense forces. In Japan and South Korea, they are called judicial agents.

Other occupations of law graduates

Although law graduates are very suitable for a specific legal profession, studying a law degree will not limit you to a specific position in this field. Like other social science disciplines, the academic challenges brought by a law degree can prepare for a wider range of different career paths. As a law graduate, other fields you can consider include: accounting, banking, business and management, commerce, finance, government, human resources and recruitment, journalism, marketing and public relations, media, politics, publishing, teaching, civil servants, non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations, or think tanks and policy making.