L.L.B. in Law in Society

The programme centres around four themes that are hyper relevant in today’s society: security, globalisation of markets, migration and sustainability. You will address each theme at both global and local levels, from different legal perspectives, using relevant social sciences tools and research methodologies.

For example, many apartments in Amsterdam are rented out to tourists via Airbnb: while it may be a global company headquartered in Silicon Valley, it has a huge impact at local level in Amsterdam. What can local governments do to regulate the apartment rental business? Where does the responsibility lie if damage is caused to your house? How do public and private law intersect here? In another example, what are the employment law implications for companies like Uber and Foodora, which use "self-employed" drivers and delivery agents? Should governments step in to monitor safety at public law level?

In short, this programme starts with the messy reality of today's world, examines how the law intersects with that reality, and how it can be used to effect change. After all, if you want to make real change in society, you need to work at the level of laws and regulations. This programme will give you the tools you need to make an impact - whether that's internationally at the UN, a well-known law firm at the Zuidas in Amsterdam, or making a difference locally in your own community.

As a graduate from Law in Society, you are exactly the kind of lawyer that organisations in the field are looking for.

Whether you're working on international issues in a local context, or on specific issues at international level, this interdisciplinary programme will give you the tools. So think big: some of our students want to improve human rights in their home countries, or reform the refugee system at the Dutch immigration department. Others wish to work for the UN, or become corporate lawyers.

To practise Dutch law: We offer the “civiel effect” package for those who are fluent in Dutch and want to enter one of the togaberoepen (lawyer, prosecutor and judge). Worth 60 credits, you can take half during your minor and another 6 months of study after your Bachelor’s (or do all 60 credits during an extra year). You’ll then need to obtain your LLM from a Dutch university.