Starting next year, ESADE Law School will offer an expanded version of its Master in Legal Practice that will include a second year during which participants will complete an LL.M., the equivalent programme in the American system. On completion of the programme, participants will have the opportunity to prepare for the bar exams that will allow them to practise law in states such as New York and California and to complete an internship at an American law firm. 

This programme will enable students to access top-notch training in the United States, thanks to ESADE’s agreements with four leading American law schools. Specifically, ESADE students will have the chance to take part in the Master of Laws programmes offered by Cornell Law School (Ithaca), University of Pennsylvania Law School (Philadelphia), Fordham University School of Law (New York City) and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (New York City). 

The launch of this new programme is the latest development in the ongoing internationalisation efforts of ESADE Law School, which is committed to meeting the legal sector’s increasingly global needs. “Multinational companies and the law firms they work with increasingly need multijurisdictional lawyers who can represent them in multiple countries,” commented Patricia Saiz, Director of International Relations at ESADE Law School. “Law firms are globalising – including Spanish ones – and legal training must evolve in parallel with this trend.” 

The agreements reached with these four US law schools will enable ESADE Law School students to train alongside elite American jurists. During their time at ESADE, they will also share a classroom with other participants in the Master in Legal Practice, who, like them, will be training in their chosen area of specialisation. The admission requirements will be highly rigorous, combining ESADE’s typical admission process with that of the partner university in the United States. A very high level of English proficiency will also be required. 

Customised study calendar 

In order to allow ESADE students to get the most out of this programme, the study calendar has been carefully designed to guarantee that participants are able to study for the Spanish bar exam and the various equivalent exams required to practise law in different US states. The calendar also sets aside time for internships at two law firms – one in Spain and the other in the United States – a unique experience that opens up the American job market to Spanish law students. 

“The opportunity to complete an LL.M. at one of the participating institutions – two of which are Ivy League schools – guarantees that our students will receive the best legal education on both sides of the Atlantic,” commented Ms. Sainz. Thanks to this unique opportunity, she explained, the programme is a good fit for members of Generation Z, who have a highly international outlook. 

Top-tier universities

ESADE has established exchange agreements with various universities, including the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Penn Law is one of the world’s oldest and most elite legal institutions and is ranked the #2 law school in the United States by the National Law Journal. With an interdisciplinary perspective, the school trains the lawyers of the future by developing their knowledge of fields such as management, communication, technology and social work.

Cornell Law School, another member of the Ivy League, is known for its small class size. Law students at Cornell benefit from a small, close-knit community with strong personal and professional ties. Numerous Cornell alumni have gone on to hold top positions in the country’s judicial institutions.

Fordham University School of Law is among the top 20 law schools worldwide, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Fordham combines rigorous legal training with critical thinking to prepare students for a successful law career in a world where the boundaries between disciplines are less clear-cut than ever.

Finally, the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law is a major player in the American higher educational scene. Despite being founded just 43 years ago, Cardozo is ranked among the top 100 American law schools by U.S. News & World Report and is considered a leader in the fields of intellectual property and conflict resolution.