28/11/2008 | Graduate Programs, Masters and PhD

A passion for law- The dean developing IE Law School speaks

By: Ann Graham

"The next step is to connect law programs with international legal practice and make them more relevant to stakeholders like companies and law firms.”

Responding to globalization
Over the last few years one of the key trends that Professor Areilza has seen is that the best law schools are trying to become as international as possible – including his own. “Alliances between schools in the US, Europe, and Asia are becoming more frequent and law is no longer taught without connecting it to the social sciences. The next step is to connect law programs with international legal practice and make them more relevant to stakeholders like companies and law firms.”

IE Law School’s global focus extends into the classroom as well. Professor Areilza teaches European Law and Law of the World Trade Organization. “Both subjects deal with global and regional governance, or ‘law outside the state’, so a deep understanding of the global economy is necessary in order to teach them well,” he says.

There’s a real focus on globalization and internationalization within the postgraduate education sector and it’s not just confined to the subject of law. But as a specific case, Professor Areilza says this focus is a result of business law in particular becoming more globalized. “This is thanks to the emergence of a new lex mercatoria, based on legal practice in the area of contracts and business transactions, coupled with the increasing importance of arbitration. Legal education needs to respond to this trend and at IE Law School we are pioneers in doing just that.”

Professor Areilza says there are so many decisions being made outside the classic domestic frameworks, that to succeed in a global market it is necessary to have an international background, including an international education. At IE Law School the ratio of domestic to international students depends on the LLM program, but in the two LLM degrees that are conducted entirely in English around 80 per cent of the students are international. “International students bring a diversity of backgrounds and legal systems to the course, as well as new ways of understanding domestic legal problems and a very interesting and diverse work experience,” Professor Areilza says.

How to be a successful candidate
Studying law is a personal choice and the subject does not appeal to everyone. However, for those who do want to pursue a career in law, being able to learn in an environment such as that of IE Law School, where students are surrounded by like-minded individuals with a passion for the subject, will be the perfect stepping-stone into a career that requires dedication, commitment and a burning desire to succeed.
Professor Areilza says his school looks for candidates with initiative and intellectual curiosity. “They must have the capacity to work hard and have good communication skills. A successful candidate is one who knows what they can offer to the program and is aware of the areas in which they need to learn and grow. Candidates must prepare well for their interviews, and think about what image it is they want to project.”
He also advises candidates to look carefully for a program that is international, not one that just has a name. “Make sure the LLM is designed with your specific needs in mind, and if you intend to practice business law make sure you also learn something about business administration,” he says.

Enrich yourself and your career
As Professor Areilza offers further advice to students considering graduate study in law his passion for the subject remains evident. And in his position as dean of IE Law School he is determined to encourage others to share that passion. “A good LLM program accelerates your career, offering you ample opportunities for global networking and introducing you to new areas of law and to new global perspectives. It also enriches you as a person; personal growth is an intrinsic part of a good LLM program.”