A modern law schoolwith extensive

experienceand a solid foundation

in the universityenvironment

RGSL at a Glance

Masters Programmes in Law, Business and Policy

Law Library and Information Services

Continuing Legal Education

International faculty and student environment

Teaching in the English language

RGSL at a Glance

Situated in the beautiful Art Nouveau district of Riga

Founded in 1998 through international agreement between Sweden,

Latvia, and the Soros Foundation Latvia

Premier Law School in the Baltic region Autonomous unit within

the University of Latvia

RGSL at a Glance Delivers Masters

programmes to the highest standards of academic excellence

Law students and other qualified candidates from any part of the world

Flexible programmes One-year Two-year Part-time

programmes

The RGSL Faculty

The Faculty at the RGSL consist of:Experienced professorsLeading Practitionerswith academic and practical experience from throughout the world, including Europe and the USA. Our resident faculty is supported by prominent visiting professors and experts who take part in most courses.

The Study Process

Students will benefit from: Low student-to-tutor ratio High teaching standardsThe Teaching methodology includes Small-scale group work Case studies Independent student research All classes require active student

participation, based on both general studies and specific course assignments.

The Study Environment

Modern, attractive and functional environment

Excellent IT facilities The best law library in

the Baltics Prime selection of

academic journals Legal monographs in

European and International law

State of the art legal databases

International Projects at the RGSLAt present leading or actively participating in the following projects: ENACT - European CitizenshipPRIVWAR - Regulating Privatisation of “War”: the Role of the EU in Assuring Compliance with International Humanitarian Law and Human RightsRECON – Reconstructing Democracy in Europe

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

The CLE programme offers educational opportunities for private and public sector lawyers, managers and support staff. Selected courses from Master Programmes are open for external participantsObtain academic credit points towards an LL.MIn-house training - tailor made company training solutions Public courses on latest case law and legislative developments Legal language skills in English

Our Master ProgrammesAccredited programmes currently on offer and underway LL.M in International and European Law

academic programme professional programme

LL.M in Law & Finance MA in Legal Linguistics

Upcoming programmes for the academic year 2009/2010 LL.M in Public International Law and Human Rights LL.M in Transborder Commercial Law MA in European Union Law and Policy MA in International Tax Management

Academic Year 2009/2010

Studies to begin on 14 September 2009 Deadline for admission

EU Applicants – 24 August 2009 Non EU Applicants – 26 June 2009

Programme duration of the part-time Masters programme depends on the schedule chosen by the student. In general, the duration of the programme is double that of the full-time programme

General Admission Requirements

RGSL accepts all students interested in its programmes who are eligible and qualified to undertake studies at Master’s level.

Entry requirements vary between the different programmes.

English language knowledge requirements (except for Legal Linguistics programme): Official results of an international test of

English language, such as TOEFL or IELTS, or other not older than 3 years the required minimum result is 500 points for TOEFL (for a computer based test - 173; Internet based test - 61) and 6 for IELTS

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LL.Min

International&

European Law

LL.M in International & European Law

Programme for students interested in pursuing their professional careers in international organisations, private law firms, public authorities, or in an academia

One year academic programme60 ECTS credits (corresponding to 40 Latvian credits) Two year professional programme120 ECTS (corresponding to 81 Latvian credits)

The programme integratesPublic International LawInternational Commercial LawEuropean Union Law

LL.M in International & European LawAcademic programme The programme is available to students

who have already completed a 240 ECTS credits (160 Latvian credits) bachelor’s degree or higher in Law or equivalent

The programme consists of academic studies and thesis writing

Following successful completion, students are awarded an accredited master's degree (LL.M) in International and European Law

LL.M in International & European LawProfessional programme This programme is available for students who

have already completed at least 180 ECTS (corresponding to 120 Latvian credits) studies in law.

The programme consists of academic studies and thesis writing, as well as 26 weeks of internship

Following successful completion, students are awarded an accredited master’s degree (LL.M) in International and European Law and a Latvian lawyer’s certification

LL.M in International & European LawAdmissionsAcademic programme available to individuals with an

undergraduate or graduate degree in Law from any accredited university or law school or degree considered equivalent to an education necessary to undertake studies at the RGSL

Professional programme available to individuals with an

undergraduate or graduate degree in Law from any accredited university or law school

LL.M in International & European LawTuition fee

The tuition fee for the 2009/2010 academic year is EUR 5000

Scholarships in Public International Law and Human Rights funded by the Open Society Institute are available

New programmes

Starting with the academic year 2009/2010 new programmes with specialisations in the following areas:LL.M in Public International Law and Human Rights LL.M in Transborder Commercial Law MA in European Union Law and Policy

The programmes are available to students who have already completed a 240 ECTS credits (160 Latvian credits) bachelor’s degree or higher in Law or equivalent.The tuition fee for the 2009/2010 academic year is EUR 6000

LL.M in

Public Internationa

l Law &Human Rights

LL.M in Public International Law and Human Rights

The programme is aimed at students interested in working with international public law issues, for instance at the ECHR, Council of Europe, Ombudsman, Representatives of MS in International Courts, Research

It offers in-depth studies in fundamental issues of public international law and human rights law, the interaction between the two areas of law, and in current trends of their development

Following successful completion, students are awarded a master's degree (LL.M) in Public International Law and Human Rights

Faculty

Permanent and visiting faculty includes Ineta Ziemele (Professor, Judge, the

European Court of Human Rights) Snezhana Botusharova-Doicheva

(International Judge, Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Martins Mits (Prorector, RGSL), and others

Admissions

Available to individuals with an undergraduate or graduate degree in Law or equivalent  from any accredited university or law school

LL.M in

Transborder Commercial

Law

LL.M in Transborder Commercial Law

This programme is designed to focus on practical aspects of transborder trade within the European Union and on international conditions framing European Union trade. It is designed to meet the needs of lawyers working in the private sector.

Career possibilities: national and international law offices, banks, companies involved in transborder business

Following successful completion, students are awarded a master's degree (LL.M) in Transborder Commercial Law

Faculty

Permanent and visiting faculty includes Jan Ramberg (honorary professor, RGSL) Axel Halfmeier (professor, Frankfurt School

of Finance and Management, Germany) Galina Zukova (associate professor, RGSL) Peter Kiel (professor, Hochschule Wismar,

Germany) Ingrida Karina-Berzina (lecturer, RGSL;

attorney at law, USA and Latvia)

Admissions

Available to individuals with an undergraduate or graduate degree in Law or equivalent  from any accredited university or law school

MAin

European Union

Law & Policy

MA in European Union Law & Policy

The programme is designed to promote highly qualified experts with theoretical knowledge of both European Union law and policy issues. The programme integrates courses on political economics of integration, negotiation techniques, EU policies

Career possibilities: EU institutions, Ministries, lobby companies, projects

Following successful completion, students are awarded a master's degree (MA) in European Union Law and Policy

Faculty

Permanent and visiting faculty includes Peter Gjortler (associate professor, RGSL) Katrin Nyman-Metcalf (professor, Tallinn

University of Technology, Estonia) Francesco Schurr (associate professor,

University of Innsbruck, Austria) Kristine Kruma (lecturer, RGSL; judge,

Latvian Constitutional Court) Morten Hansen (Head of Economics

department, SSE Riga)

Admissions

Available to individuals with an undergraduate or graduate degree in Social Sciences or equivalent  from any accredited university or institution of higher education. 

LL.Min

Law & Finance

A New Way of ThinkingMeeting the demands of the market:A carefully planned hybrid programme that covers subjects pertinent to today’s legal and financial situation

Bridging the gap between lawyers and business people

Following successful completion of the programme, students are awarded an accredited master’s degree (LL.M) in Law and Finance.

The Programme Structure

A full time programme with flexibility!

1 calendar year 48 Latvian Credit or 80 Credit 2 Year Masters Programme

Spend on average 1 week a month in classes

The Programme Structure

Fundamental Courses: Covering the Basics Finance: Accounting, Corporate Finance, Economics Law: Monetary Policy, EU Law, Governance

Specialisation Courses: Getting Advanced Finance: Investment, Management Control, Risk Law: Company Law, Competition, Insolvency, Regulation

Elective Courses: Building on Gained Knowledge Finance: Taxation, Emerging Markets, Valuation Law: Mergers & Acquisitions, Commercial Law

International Faculty

The Riga Graduate School of Law prides itself on the obtaining the highest quality professors and practitioners. These include institutions such as but not limited to:

Ernst & Young University of Rome University of LeedsWismar Business SchoolUniversity of Leiden Stockholm School of Economics

Admission Requirements The Law & Finance programme is open to all students who have obtained: A Bachelors or Higher from any accredited university in the following subjects:

Law Finance Business Economics

MAin

International Tax

Management

MA in International Tax Management

The one-year MA programme is open to students with an interest in tax affairs both from a legal and economic, financial or policy approach.

Optimal set of courses with different approaches to topics, as well as within specific courses so that momentum is achieved by addressing the same topic from multiple angles

Following successful completion, students are awarded a master's degree (MA) in International Tax Management.

AdmissionsAvailable to individuals with an undergraduate or graduate degree in Law, Business, Finance, or Economics from any accredited university or institution of higher education. 

MA in

Legal Linguistics

MA in Legal Linguistics

New profession New interdisciplinary area Unique programme Executive style: user-friendly to

Students (enables work + study) Employers (little time off work)

MA in Legal Linguistics

Interdisciplinary academic programme covering a select range of legal and linguistic skills

Course content arranged to equip participants with skills and techniques required for a career as Legal translators, drafters, editors Administrators operating with rules that

require a clear knowledge and understanding of legal rules in various languages

MA in Legal Linguistics

Visiting professors: Prof. Heikki Mattila, professor of Legal

Linguistics, University of Lapland Prof. Jan Engberg, Aarhus School of Business Prof. Mark Segal, International Expert in

Legislative Drafting RGSL Faculty:

Prof. Maris Baltins (Director of Translation and Terminology Center)

Christopher Goddard: practising legal linguist

MA in Legal Linguistics

Study courses designed to maximise each student’s potential

Course work includes Preparing, drafting, managing

legislative projects Legal drafting, translating, editing,

revising, proof-reading, other related skills

MA in Legal Linguistics

Programme reflects a commitment to the Application of learning Professional knowledge

Duration: one year available for those who are working

Primary focus: Latvian market Equally directed at those currently involved or

interested in working in an EU-related or another market where law and language inter-relate

All core subjects taught in English 10 budget spots; study fee EUR 5000

For cross-border cooperation, lawyers and others need

legal knowledge of an international nature international public and private law law of the European Union

language skills not only general knowledge of

languages knowledge about the peculiarities and

difficulties of the languages of law

English anguage knowledge requirements

Official results of an international test of English language, such as TOEFL or IELTS, or other not older than 3 years the required minimum result is 550 points for TOEFL (for a computer based test - 213; Internet based test – 79-80) and 6,5 for IELTS.

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Causes of difficulties

language of law is a language for special purposes (like the language of medicine) special terminology special style

law is a metaphysical phenomenon and a product of culture legal language is particularly complex

and often capricious legal concepts and semantic fields of

terms differ between legal cultures

Themes of research and teaching

relationship between law and language

international use of major legal languages today (notably in the European Union)

risks of misunderstanding due to differences of legal systems behind legal languages, notably English common law and civil (i.e. Continental) law