Law and Society

Law and Society

Governance and Global Development

Career perspectives

Career preparation in master Law & Society

In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you as well as possible for the labour market, and in doing so contribute to the development of your employability. In this way, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market, in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.

'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:

1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.

2. Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: researching, analysing, project-based working, generating solutions, digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, societal awareness, independent learning, resilience.

But also think of job application skills: preparing a CV, formulating a cover letter, compiling a LinkedIn profile, networking, practising job interviews, preparing and holding a pitch.

3. Self-reflection
This involves reflecting on your own (study) career (choices), reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Gaining insight into, among other things, your competences and personality, your (work) values and motives. what can you do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market?
Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?

4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through practical and social internships and work placements, external research internships and projects, practical assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment, business challenges etc.

5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers from the work field, alumni presentations and experiences, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.

Employability / labour market programme Law & Society

The master Law & Society was developed based on a clear labour market demand for graduates that understand how law works in action. The programme provides a substantive understanding of the interaction between law and social issues, combined with practical skills that are transferrable to a wide range of professional opportunities.

You will also find these employability elements in your study programme. Examples of subjects that pay attention to this are:

Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
The master Law & Society is a unique, cohesive and coherent programme on Law & Society.

The programme provides insights into the complexity and ambiguity of processes of law-making, law-implementation and dispute resolution, and how these relate to ideals of social justice, development and the rule of law. The programme adopts a critical perspective and incorporates insights from both the Global North and the Global South.

Transferable skills
In addition to the discipline-specific knowledge and skills, you will be developing transferable skills such as:

• Verbal and written communication, through various assignments ranging from 800-word blogs for a general audience to a 15.000 word thesis at an academic master level, to various forms of oral presentations.

• Collaborating in intercultural settings, through participating in the international classroom of the master programme, which brings people together from all continents of the world.

• Socio-legal research, through comprehensive in research methods which are ultimately put to practice through a single authored master thesis.

Self-reflection
During the programme, instructors support you in reflecting on your personal and professional goals. For example, you will complete an interview with someone working in a professional position they may be interested in. Through our mentoring programme, you receive support in exploring professional opportunities.

Practical experience
Courses engage you in applying their knowledge to practical cases. One example is in the course Disputing Deconstructed, in which students work in small teams to write a policy paper on an actual case at hand. You can also opt to write your thesis based on experiences such as internships and in-depth fieldwork.

Labour market orientation
During the master Law & Society you will be repeatedly brought into contact with people working in the field of Law & Society, through guest lectures and events. Every year in February, you are invited to connect with members of the Advisory Board as well as alumni to expand your professional network. Additionally, the Law and Society Student Association organizes career lunches and field trips to international organizations. Via the Law & Society Linked-In page you can connect with alumni and staff, as well as get information about current job opportunities, internships and PhD positions.

Activities to prepare for the labour market outside the curriculum

Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market, especially where it concerns orientation towards the work field/the labour market, (career) skills and self-reflection. These may be information meetings on decision moments within your programme, but also career workshops and events organised by your own programme, the faculty Career Service or your study association.

For example:

• Workshops and (faculty) career events organised by the (faculty) Career Services

• Information about choices, (optional) subjects, minors, honours education, study abroad, internships

• Study abroad festival

• Workshops and career events of Law and Society Study Association

• ... etc.

Career Service, LU Career Zone and career workshops calendar

Faculty Career Service
The Career Service of your faculty offers information and advice on study (re)orientation and master's choice, (study) career planning, orientation on the labour market and job applications.

Leiden University Career Zone Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.

Workshops and events
On the course calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Career services.