Why did you choose to study abroad and why at Bucerius specifically?
I studied abroad for 3 weeks when I was in undergrad and always wished I had taken the opportunity to do a longer program. When I was deciding on which law school to attend, I was intentional in selecting one that afforded students the ability to study abroad for the semester, so having the option to go away for a semester was always front of mind for me.
I selected Bucerius for a wide range of reasons, some personal others academic or professional. Professionally, I plan to have a career that incorporates cross-border work and I wanted to get a sense of other legal institutions to better support that goal. As well, I appreciated that the program offered classes that provided insight into corporate law in Germany, which is also of professional interest to me.
Critically, I also recognized that this was going to be a space in which I was challenged academically, taking coursework that was wholly unfamiliar to me, at a well-regarded institution, and with Professor’s who are leaders in their respective fields.
Personally, I always wanted to visit Germany. Both of my parents lived here for several years, and I have several friends who are from and currently live in Germany.
Hamburg also seemed like a particularly interesting city, bustling but with a quieter energy and a lot of interesting architecture and a robust art and museum scene, all of which were important to me. I also appreciated that it had its own airport and allowed me to easily travel throughout Europe during my time here.
Would you recommend studying abroad to other students from US?
I absolutely would! Anecdotally, I understand the careers of lawyer to be quite busy. This is the perfect way to combine your academic program with an opportunity to discover new cultures and to be in a space that encourages personal growth. I don’t know many situations that have afforded me the level of personal and academic development than studying abroad.
In what way was studying at Bucerius different than at your home law school?
Classes are definitely structured differently! There are elements that are similar, but there’s more of a focus on voluntary participation than the Socratic method. I didn’t personally mind this, but it was a difference I didn’t expect. It makes sense, however, when you consider that legal study in Germany is a part of the undergrad program.
The classes are structured like undergrad classes, though I should flag that I don’t think that detracts from their rigor or topical interest.
