Study Track: European Legal Studies

Academic Year 2024-2025

Why follow the European Legal Studies study track? 

MATA students wishing to focus on legal studies will benefit from a set of high-quality complementary courses in EU and International Law offered at the two institutions, as well as the MATA-specific course on transatlantic affairs. This will provide an all-round transatlantic legal education that will serve graduates in a variety of professional settings, from legal practice to public policy and academia. 

 

Students starting at the College of Europe

Students starting at the Fletcher School

 

Students starting at the College of Europe 

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 1 in Bruges

29 ECTS

1 MATA compulsory course (27h, 5 ECTS)

US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: A Multidisciplinary Analysis of Transatlantic Affairs (J. SHATTUCK & I. LESSER)

4 LAW compulsory courses (19 ECTS)

Legal Skills : Case Law Analysis (GARBEN S, no ECTS, 10h)

The Constitution(alisation) of EU Law (GARBEN S., 7 ECTS, 30h)

EU Competition Law and Regulation (MEYRING B., 4 ECTS, 20h)

Judicial Remedies in EU Law (TRIDIMAS T., 7 ECTS, 40h)

LAW voluntary courses--some may be taught during the second semester (voluntary, 8h, no ECTS)

 

 

Compact seminars

  • Regulating AI at Work from the Platform Economy to the Digital Single Market (ADAMS PRASSL J.)
  • Droit et politique de l'Union de l'énergie - Le rôle de la réglementation et de l'innovation  (ANDOURA S.)
  • EU Common Security and Defence Policy and Law (BLOCKMANS S.)
  • Executive Rule-Making in the EU – Navigating Between Comitology, Delegation and EU Agencies (CHAMON M. & VOS E.)
  • The European Ombudsman and Citizen Complaints: Building EU Legitimacy through Accountability (DIEZ SANCHEZ L. & O’REILLY E.)
  • EU International Sanctions: Legal Challenges for Implementation and Judicial Review (MAHNIC P. & SIGNES DE MESA I.)
  • Libéralisation des services d’intérêt économique général (MOAVERO-MILANESI E.)
  • Protection des consommateurs et libre circulation des marchandises et des services (PICOD F.)
  • Space Bound : The Role and Reach of EU Space Legislation (RENCELJ , M)
  • Artificial Intelligence: Legal Stakes and Challenges (RENDA A.)
  • Mission Impossible? Legal Issues of EU Accession to the ECHR  (ROSAS A.)
  • Comparative Federalism : The Division of Powers in the United States, Germany and the EU (SCHÜTZE R.)
  • Unconscious Bias and Discrimination in EU Law: Towards a Decolonial Approach? (SOLANKE I.)
  • The Law of the Banking Union and Capital Markets Union (CMU) (TORNESE E.)
  • The Impact of EU Law on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (VAJDA C., VAN HOOFT A. & GRIERSON J.)
  • Le parlement européen au cœur de la production normative de l’Union (VISAGGIO L.)

Ateliers pratiques / Workshops

  • La CJEU : dynamique, approche, règles et fonctionnement (5 x 2 h.) da SILVA PASSOS R., Judge at the General Court of the EU, MC KECHNIE L., Judge at the Supreme Court Dublin, O’LEARY S., Judge at the European Court of Human Rights, ROSSI L.S., Judge at the Court of Justice of the EU, SZPUNAR M., Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the EU
  • How to Write a PhD Thesis in Law? (3 h.) MADURO M., Professor European University Institute
  • Legal Technology (4 h.) PESCH T., Associate Attorney, White & Case LLP

MATA-LAW Thesis and Internship Preparation

Select primary thesis supervisor from LAW faculty

Begin internship search

 

 

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 2 in Bruges

23 ECTS

2 MATA compulsory courses

US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: Transatlantic Project (B. BERTI & B. LETE, 5 ECTS, 20h)

Southern Atlanticism: Rethinking Mental Maps of Transatlantic Relations (I. LESSER, no ECTS, 8h)

1 LAW compulsory course (30h, 6 ECTS)

 

3 LAW seminars (25h, 4 ECTS each)

 

LAW compulsory course

  • External Relations Law of the EU Autonomous Legal Order   (GOVAERE I.)

LAW seminars (select 3)

  • Towards an Integrated Approach of EMU, the European Banking Union, and EU Emergency Law (AMTENBRINK F.)
  • Regulatory Aspects of the Digital Single Market (CHIRICO F. & ROCHE LAGUNA I.)
  • Economics of Competition Law (COPPI L.)
  • Legal Transition in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe from a Pre-accession Dimension into a Post-accession Reality (CZUCZAI J.)
  • Changement climatique et politique énergétique en droit européen et international (DE SEPIBUS J.)
  • Droit des industries de réseau : entre concurrence et régulation (DE STREEL A.)
  • EU Migration Law and Practice (GUILD E.)
  • Un ordre constitutionnel pluraliste ? Contestation et dialogue en droit de l’Union européenne (HANF D.)
  • EU Intellectual Property in the Age of Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (JAEGER T.)
  • EU Competition Law Procedure  (LAMADRID A.)
  • Droit agroalimentaire de l'Union européenne (MESTRE C.)
  • EU Data Protection and AI Law (NEMITZ P.)
  • European Private International Law (NIELSEN P.A.)
  • European Environmental Law and Policy (NOTARO N.)
  • Droit fiscal européen (ROCCATAGLIATA F.)
  • EU Law and Intellectual Property (SIRAGUSA M.)
  • Sustainability in EU Law: Regulating Business, Finance and Circular Economy (SJAFJELL B.)
  • Le respect de l’Etat de droit dans l’Union européenne et ses Etats members (SMULDERS B.)
  • New Directions in EU Trade Law & Policy (VAN DAMME I.)
  • WTO Law : Substantive and Institutional Aspects (VAN DEN BOSSCHE P.)
  • The EU and its Neighbourhood : Typology and Content of the Legal Frameworks (VAN ELSUWEGE P.)
  • Droit pénal européen et protection des droits de l'homme (VERVAELE J.)
  • Le contrôle des concentrations (WACHSMANN A.)

LAW voluntary courses--some may be taught during the second semester (voluntary, 8h, no ECTS)

 

 

Compact seminars

  • Regulating AI at Work from the Platform Economy to the Digital Single Market (ADAMS PRASSL J.)
  • Droit et politique de l'Union de l'énergie - Le rôle de la réglementation et de l'innovation  (ANDOURA S.)
  • EU Common Security and Defence Policy and Law (BLOCKMANS S.)
  • Executive Rule-Making in the EU – Navigating Between Comitology, Delegation and EU Agencies (CHAMON M. & VOS E.)
  • The European Ombudsman and Citizen Complaints: Building EU Legitimacy through Accountability (DIEZ SANCHEZ L. & O’REILLY E.)
  • EU International Sanctions: Legal Challenges for Implementation and Judicial Review (MAHNIC P. & SIGNES DE MESA I.)
  • Libéralisation des services d’intérêt économique général (MOAVERO-MILANESI E.)
  • Protection des consommateurs et libre circulation des marchandises et des services (PICOD F.)
  • Space Bound : The Role and Reach of EU Space Legislation (RENCELJ , M)
  • Artificial Intelligence: Legal Stakes and Challenges (RENDA A.)
  • Mission Impossible? Legal Issues of EU Accession to the ECHR  (ROSAS A.)
  • Comparative Federalism : The Division of Powers in the United States, Germany and the EU (SCHÜTZE R.)
  • Unconscious Bias and Discrimination in EU Law: Towards a Decolonial Approach? (SOLANKE I.)
  • The Law of the Banking Union and Capital Markets Union (CMU) (TORNESE E.)
  • The Impact of EU Law on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (VAJDA C., VAN HOOFT A. & GRIERSON J.)
  • Le parlement européen au cœur de la production normative de l’Union (VISAGGIO L.)

Ateliers pratiques / Workshops

  • La CJEU : dynamique, approche, règles et fonctionnement (5 x 2 h.) da SILVA PASSOS R., Judge at the General Court of the EU, MC KECHNIE L., Judge at the Supreme Court Dublin, O’LEARY S., Judge at the European Court of Human Rights, ROSSI L.S., Judge at the Court of Justice of the EU, SZPUNAR M., Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the EU
  • How to Write a PhD Thesis in Law? (3 h.) MADURO M., Professor European University Institute
  • Legal Technology (4 h.) PESCH T., Associate Attorney, White & Case LLP

MATA-LAW Study trips

MATA study trip to Brussels

LAW study trip to Luxembourg and Strasbourg

MATA-LAW Thesis and Internship Preparation

Submit thesis proposal

Continue internship search / submit internship approval form (for fall internship)

 

 

Option 1: LAW Study Track Year 2

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 3 at The Fletcher School     

24 ECTS

4 courses at The Fletcher School, 6 ECTS each

 

At least one course from each of the three divisions (‘breadth requirement’):

  • International Law and Organizations (ILO)
  • Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP)
  • Economics and International Business (EIB)

Cross-registration and substitution of 1 course from Tufts University or Harvard University possible

MATA-LAW Thesis and Internship preparation

Fletcher faculty member assigned as second supervisor

Submit internship approval form

 

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 4

50 ECTS

MATA thesis submission, 25 ECTS

High-level internship, 25 ECTS

Submit internship report

 

 

Option 2: LAW Study Track Year 2

 

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 3

25 ECTS

High-level internship, 25 ECTS

Submit internship report

Fletcher faculty member assigned as second supervisor

Select courses for Semester 4

 

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 4 at the Fletcher School     

49 ECTS

MATA thesis submission, 25 ECTS

4 courses at The Fletcher School, 6 ECTS each

 

At least one course from each of the three divisions (‘breadth requirement’):

  • International Law and Organizations (ILO)
  • Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP)
  • Economics and International Business (EIB)

Cross-registration and substitution of 1 course from Tufts University or Harvard University possible

 

 

Students starting at the Fletcher School
for the LAW Study Track

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 1 at the Fletcher School 

23 ECTS

1 MATA compulsory course (27h, 5 ECTS)

US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: A Multidisciplinary Analysis of Transatlantic Affairs (J. SHATTUCK & I. LESSER)

3 Fletcher courses, 6 ECTS each

At least one course from each of the three divisions (‘breadth requirement’):

  • International Law and Organizations (ILO)
  • Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP)
  • Economics and International Business (EIB)

Cross-registration and substitution of 1 course from Tufts University or Harvard University possible

MATA-LAW Thesis and Internship Preparation

Select thesis supervisor from College of Europe

Begin internship search

 

 

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 2 at the Fletcher School

29 ECTS

1 MATA compulsory course (20h, 5 ECTS)

US-EU Relations in the 21st Century: Transatlantic Project (B. BERTI & B. LETE)

4 Fletcher courses, 6 ECTS each

At least one course from each of the three divisions (‘breadth requirement’):

  • International Law and Organizations (ILO)
  • Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP)
  • Economics and International Business (EIB)

Cross-registration and substitution of 1 course from Tufts University or Harvard University possible

MATA-LAW Thesis and Internship Preparation

Submit thesis proposal

Continue internship search

 

 

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 3

High-level internship, 25 ECTS

LAW faculty member assigned as second supervisor

Select courses for Semester 4

 

 

LAW STUDY TRACK SEMESTER 4 in Bruges     

43 ECTS

MATA Thesis submission (25 ECTS)

MATA compulsory compact seminar (8h, no ECTS)

Southern Atlanticism: Rethinking Mental Maps of Transatlantic Relations (I. LESSER)

2 LAW compulsory courses (30h, 6ECTS + 10h)

 

3 LAW seminars (25h, 4 ECTS)

 

LAW compulsory course

  • External Relations Law of the EU Autonomous Legal Order   (GOVAERE I., 6 ECTS, 30h)
  • Legal Skills : The College of Europe Moot Court (GARBEN S., no ECTS, 10h)

LAW seminars (select 3)

  • EMU, Financial Market Regulation and Supervision (AMTENBRINK F.)
  • Economics of Competition Law (COPPI L.)
  • Regulatory Aspects of the Digital Single Market (CHIRICO F. & ROCHE LAGUNA I.)
  • Legal Transition in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe from a Pre-accession Dimension into a Post-accession Reality (CZUCZAI J.)
  • Changement climatique et politique energetique en droit européen et international (J. DE SEPIBUS)
  • Droit des industries de réseau : entre concurrence et regulation (DE STREEL A.)
  • EU Migration Law and Practice (GUILD E.)
  • Revindication, contestation et dialogue en droit constitutionnel européen: Uni dans sa diversité? (HANF D.)
  • EU Intellectual Property in the Age of Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (JAEGER T.)
  • EU Competition Law Procedure  (LAMADRID A.)
  • The EU and its Neighbourhood : Typology and Content of the Legal Frameworks (MARESCEAU M.)
  • Droit agroalimentaire de l'Union européenne (MESTRE C.)
  • EU Data Protection Law (NEMITZ P.)
  • European Private International Law (NIELSEN P.A.)
  • European Environmental Law and Policy (NOTARO N.)
  • Droit fiscal européen (ROCCATAGLIATA F.)
  • EU Law and Intellectual Property (SIRAGUSA M.)
  • Ensuring Sustainability through EU Law (SJAFJELL B.)
  • Le respect de l’Etat de droit dans l’Union européenne et ses Etats members (SMULDERS B.)
  • New Directions in EU Trade Law & Policy (VAN DAMME I.)
  • WTO Law : Substantive and Institutional Aspects (VAN DEN BOSSCHE P.)
  • Droit pénal européen et protection des droits de l'homme (VERVAELE J.)
  • Le contrôle des concentrations (WACHSMANN A.)

LAW compact seminars—some may be taught during the first semester (voluntary, 8h, no ECTS)
  • Droit et politique de l'Union de l'énergie - Le rôle de la réglementation et de l'innovation  (ANDOURA S.)
  • Russia’s War Against Ukraine: Legal Impact on the Role of the EU as Global Actor (BLOCKMANS S.)
  • EU Agencies : Shifting Paradigms of EU Administration (CHAMON M. & VOS E.)
  • La crise du Covid : vers une Europe de la Santé ? (DELSAUX P.)
  • The European Ombudsman and Citizen Complaints: Building EU Legitimacy through Accountability (DIEZ SANCHEZ L. & O’REILLY E.)
  • The Collaborative Economy under EU Law (HATZOPOULOS V.)
  • Typologie des cadres et fondements juridiques liant l’Union européenne aux 22 membres de la Ligue des États arabes (LANNON E.)
  • EU International Sanctions: Legal Challenges for Implementation and Judicial Review (MAHNIC P. & SIGNES DE MESA I.)
  • Parlement européen : le défi de la complexité (MARTINEZ IGLESIAS M.J. & VISAGGIO L.)
  • Libéralisation des services d’intérêt économique general (MOAVERO-MILANESI E.)
  • Protection des consommateurs et libre circulation des marchandises et des services (PICOD F.)
  • Artificial Intelligence: Legal Stakes and Challenges (RENDA A.)
  • The CJEU and the ECHR post Opinion 2/13 (ROSAS A.)
  • Comparative Federalism : The Division of Powers in the United States, Germany and the EU (SCHÜTZE R.)
  • The Law of the Banking Union and Capital Markets Union (CMU) (TORNESE E.)
  • The Impact of EU Law on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (VAJDA C., VAN HOOFT A. & GRIERSON J.)

Ateliers pratiques / Workshops

  • La CJEU : dynamique, approche, règles et fonctionnement (5 x 2 h.)

da SILVA PASSOS R., Judge at the General Court of the EU

MC KECHNIE L., Judge at the Supreme Court Dublin

O’LEARY S., Judge at the European Court of Human Rights

ROSSI L.S., Judge at the Court of Justice of the EU

SZPUNAR M., Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the EU

  • How to Write a PhD Thesis in Law? (3 h.)

MADURO M., Professor European University Institute

  • Legal Technology (4 h.)

PESCH T., Associate Attorney, White & Case LLP

Study trips

MATA study trip to Brussels

LAW study trip to Luxembourg and Strasbourg

 

General News

All news