European and International Human Rights Law (Advanced LL.M.)
Career prospects
This programme will provide you with the knowledge and flexibility to work in a wide variety of human rights settings, both nationally and internationally.
Cristina Azzarello
Alumna, Legal Training Officer at the Law and Policy Forum International Committee of the Red Cross
"The Advanced Master in European and International Human Rights Law has been one of the best choices of my life."
"It is a comprehensive programme focusing on human rights law but also extensively dealing with topics such as international humanitarian law, international criminal law and law and security. The extremely high level of preparation of the professors combined with different pedagogical approaches, from case studies, to papers and presentations in class constitute the perfect recipe to get ready to enter the job market.
The LL.M. programme has helped me to start a career in human rights and humanitarian law, but also to have a more sensitive vision of the world. The human aspect also deserves to be mentioned: the opportunity to talk with professors and engage with them in constructive discussions, combined with the enriching multiculturality of the students have made my year at Leiden Law School an invaluable experience!
After the master, I started working at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, focusing on legal research in the rule of law and democracy section. I am now working in the International Law and Policy Department of the International Committee of the Red Cross, focusing on research on IHL topics as well as delivering legal training on IHL for humanitarian professionals and academics. I have many dreams for the coming years, but I will always be grateful to Leiden Law School and this programme because it is the place where my dreams started to become true."
Sylvia de Rosa
Alumna, Research Analyst STC, Dispute Resolution team, World Bank group
"This programme allowed me to acquire a solid and comprehensive knowledge of human rights law in an international comparative perspective and to develop my analytical skills with regards to complex issues of current global interest, thereby best preparing me for a career as an international human rights advocate."
Our graduates have gone on to careers with:
- judges’ cabinets at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg
- the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg
- the International Court of Justice in the Hague
- cabinets of Commissioners of the European Commission in Brussels
- diverse sections of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva
- the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
- the International Committee of the Red Cross
- national and international NGOs
- the civil service in their home countries
- law firms
Many of our graduates have also become human rights researchers and scholars.
Career prospects Advanced LLM graduates
The Master of Advanced Studies programmes at Leiden Law School are challenging academic programmes that will prepare you for a career in law. However, this does not guarantee that upon graduation you will find employment in the Netherlands, Europe, or elsewhere. While Leiden Law School offers support in terms of career services for each programme, finding employment remains the responsibility of each individual student.
Our experience is that most of our graduates relatively easily find excellent jobs in the Netherlands, in Europe and other continents. However, it is important to note that jobs in these fields are highly competitive and that finding suitable employment may require time. Obtaining high grades in the programme will help but these will not be enough by themselves, as other criteria such as experience and language proficiency play an important role. Personal experience, expertise, former work experience, specific skills all contribute to finding a suitable position. We have seen many of our graduates eventually find the jobs they were looking for.