International & European Law - English - Full-time
In 4 years you will have all the personal and professional skills to build a successful international legal career. The new bachelor law curriculum is perfectly in line with the current requirements of international law. In the first two years, you lay the foundation for your career and learn through theory and practice how to apply Law in an international environment. In year 3 you will specialise further and deepen your legal skills and knowledge. For example, follow a specific minor, choose modules or study abroad for a semester. In your final year of study, you will do an internship and a final project.
Structure of International & European Law - English - Full-time
Lectures
13,5hours per week
Self-study
25hours per week
Projects
1.5hours per week
Study credits
60in year one
Year 1
The first year is the introductory (propaedeutic) year
You start with the basics. Year one (the propaedeutic year) introduces you to the foundations of International and European Law. During the first three weeks you will follow a module specifically designed to introduce you to the legal field, the basic skills, our programme, the university and The Hague. From there on, you will focus on EU Law, Public International Law, Tort, Company, and Family Law, building a solid foundation for the next three years.
We believe you should apply in practical and professional assignments what you have learnt from your law books. As a result, you will work on professional skills from day one. You will take modules on legal writing, technical skills, reasoning and negotiating as well as learning the tools of the trade, from writing memoranda and letters of advice to draft decisions and legal analysis. All things that an outstanding international legal professional does well. You will encounter professional scenario’s that either directly come from practice or mirror legal practice. Please note that our curriculum is still under construction. Subjects might change.
Timetable
Year 2
Delve deeper
During year 2, you will strengthen and consolidate your legal skills when you are introduced to International Criminal Law, International Trade, Labour Law and more. Then you will take part in group Moot Court projects representing fictitious corporate clients, assisting them with legal issues, like mergers and acquisitions. Or you will defend, or prosecute, an international war crime suspect. You will gain a perfect balance of theory and practice during our programme. There is even a chance to make a final plea at the Court of Justice in The Hague where judges will assess your performance.
Timetable
Year 3
Specialisation year
In year three you are steering your own professionalisation path. Here you have the possibility to acquire more in-depth knowledge in legal areas of your interest. You follow two mandatory courses: the Research Lab and Cross-Culture Skills and Professional Development. In addition, you can choose four elective modules or minors, of 13-15 credits each, from our departments mentioned below. The module choices are broad, you can specialise in anything from Corporate Law to International Criminal Law, from Legal Technology to Human Rights. These modules are spread over both semesters, carefully selected and tailored to today’s market needs, so that you can form your own specialisation. In addition, you choose from which department you would like a coach that guides you through your third and fourth year. You can also take a minor within or outside THUAS or participate in special project, like a Moot Court Competition.
Last but not least, many of our students take advantage of studying abroad during a semester in their third year. An exchange expands your experience and knowledge of law in a different setting. The partner institutions of the Law programme can be found here.
Timetable
Year 4
Graduation year
It is no secret that the international law job market is fiercely competitive. But the good news is that our law graduates are particularly successful at finding jobs within a year. That is because The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice, hosts multiple prestigious international institutions, NGOs, embassies and international companies. We also organise an employment network event, where you can meet and network with legal professionals and look for internships and jobs. The modules you follow in the graduation year are spread over both semesters
Our partner institutions and companies advise us on our curriculum, internships and graduation projects, so we always stay relevant to current market demands. This culminates in year four when you work on your final graduation project and go on an internship for at least 100 working days. With your Law diploma in hand you will become a world citizen, like we aim in our mission statement: ‘From the International City of Peace and Justice, and through an ambitious and practice-oriented learning environment, the Law programme aims to educate world citizens and form excellent and adaptable legal professionals who embrace today’s and tomorrow’s legal challenges and opportunities’.
Timetable
The team of Law
Dr. Abiola Makinwa
Dr. Abiola Makinwa, LL.B (Ife), LL.M (Lagos), LL.M (Erasmus), Ph.D. (Erasmus) is a Principal Lecturer (Hogeschoolhoofddocent) in Commercial Law and Co-ordinator of the LAW Compliance Minor. She is a professional member of the International Compliance Association, a Provisional Lead implementer of the ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery standard and served as Chair, International Bar Association, Structured Criminal Settlements Sub-committee (2016 – 2018). In 2013, she won an EU OLAF grant to research ‘European Perspectives on Negotiated Settlements for Corruption Offences’. In 2018, she co-edited a 66 country IBA study on ‘Settlements for Corruption Offences’. Abiola was a member of the Drafting Group for the ‘Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration’ (2018 - 2019) and acted as consultant to the UN FACTI Panel for its background paper on ‘Foreign Bribery Investigation and Prosecution’(2020). Abiola won an NRO Comenius Senior Fellow Grant (2018 -2020) to create the Integrity Digital Learning Module (IntegrityDLM), a teaching innovation to teach integrity skills. Abiola is well published and a frequent speaker on Anti-corruption and Compliance issues.
Jeff Dahl
Jeff Dahl spent most of his work-life as a trial lawyer in the US. He handled jury trials, bench trials, appellate matters, administrative hearings, arbitrations and mediations in state and federal courts in maritime, insurance, personal injury and construction defect cases. He has also served as a mediator for many years. After moving to The Netherlands and spending some time as a stay-at-home-dad, Jeff Dahl began a second career as a lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. He is the Legal Skills coordinator for the International and European Law Programme and teaches skills, negotiation, tort law, maritime law, and insurance law. Jeff Dahl stays active in litigation by maintaining a small practice representing staff members of international organizations in international labor law courts. He also consults with several United Nations staff union offices.
Dr. Tamara N. Lewis Arredondo
Dr. Tamara Lewis Arredondo began teaching Legal Skills in the Law Programme in 2015. She also coordinates projects in Years 1-2. Her academic interests include using subject-matter content to strengthen problem-solving, decision-making, research and writing skills in bachelor-degree Law students. Dr. Lewis tutors/mentors students and supervises bachelor thesis candidates. She obtained a BSFS in International Politics from The Walsh School of Foreign Service (Georgetown University, Washington, DC) and earned a JD from Columbia University (New York City). She won a Fulbright to study Arabic in Yemen and to complete an LL.M. in International Criminal and Human Rights Law from Utrecht University (Netherlands). Her Maastricht University School of Law (Netherlands) PhD dissertation examined the Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Council. She conducted Post-doctoral research concerning EU Human Rights policies at University College Dublin (Ireland) in a consortium of world-wide research institutions funded by the European Commission.
Dr. Michail Vagias
Michail (Michael) Vagias is a Senior Lecturer in Law and Programme Manager for the ProCuria Project on Professional Legal Training. Following the conclusion of his PhD studies in Leiden University, Michail became a lecturer and later a Senior Lecturer in Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. He has acted as an Expert on Mission for migration policy development, as well as legal counsel in international cases before international courts. Michail’s research interests focus on questions of jurisdiction in domestic and international law. In addition to his monograph (The Territorial Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, CUP, 2015), Michael's research is regularly published in leading international periodicals on international law and international criminal law such as the American Journal of International Law, the Leiden Journal of International Law, the Cambridge International Law Journal and the Italian Yearbook of International Law.
William Worster
William Worster is Senior Lecturer in the International and European Law Programme where he has taught international law, international organizations and international migration/refugee law for more than 10 years. He is a qualified lawyer in the US and UK, and has worked on international business transactions, international migration law, and international criminal law, among other areas, in private practices, NGOs, the US Department of Justice, and the United Nations. In addition, he teaches international law at Leiden University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and provides consulting services to international organizations and law firms. He is the author of more than 40 articles and book chapters in his fields of expertise. He has a BA and JD from the US, an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University and is currently completing his PhD in Public International Law at the University of Amsterdam under an NWO grant. His research is available on his SSRN author page at http://ssrn.com/author=1155790.
Aurelien Lorange
Aurelien Lorange is Senior Lecturer in the International and European Law Programme. He started as a lecturer in 2010 and he teaches EU Energy Law, Internet Law, Law & Economics. He is member of the external relations team (networking for internship possibilities, maintaining the alumni network, helping on the networking with partner and future partner universities) and he is the founder and organiser of the Employment Network Events, the annual job-study Fair and conference. He has taught Intellectual Property Law and several Skills courses and started the assessment committee during the first years. He has also an interest in Animal Law. Before joining The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Aurelien worked at the European Commission (Taxation) and the European Parliament (MEP Assistant) and the IT multinational company SAS as a lobbyist. Aurelien holds a master’s degrees in International Law from Stockholm University, EU Law from the University of Tours and French Public Law from the University of Aix-en-Provence.
Kirsty Donald
Kirsty Donald is our Study Coaching Coordinator. As an alumna (2013), she knows the programme intimately. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from Anglia Ruskin University (UK), where she wrote her thesis on how intelligence beliefs and achievement goals can influence motivation and learning. Prior to joining the Hague University in 2015, Kirsty worked as a lecturer at Maastricht University, giving classes in Legal English and Academic Writing. Passionate about education, Kirsty strives to help students successfully graduate.
David den Dunnen
David den Dunnen has been a lecturer in International Law and Legal Skills at The Hague University of Applied Sciences since 2010. He currently teaches courses on the law of international organizations, international security, and legal analysis and decision-making skills. David serves as a study coach and coordinates Y1 Tutoring. He is secretary of the Programme Committee for HBO-Rechten/Law. In September 2019 David will also join the Faculty’s research group of UN Studies in Peace and Justice. Previously, David served as the editor of Atlantisch Perspectief (2003-2010), a Dutch journal on international security, and published various articles. In 2001 he conducted an internship at the European Parliament. David holds an LL.M. in European, international and comparative law from Maastricht University (2002) and did his exchange at the Université d’Aix-Marseille III, France. He took the course International Security Issues at the Clingendael Institute in 2002 and participated in The Hague Academy’s Public International Law summer course (2016).
Jonas Fechtner
Jonas Fechtner is a lecturer in the Skills Line of the International and European Law Programme. He is also Project Leader of Project-1 MUN and a Year-1 tutor. Before The Hague University of Applied Sciences he worked as a consultant at the OECD in the field of trade in services. Jonas Fechtner is currently obtaining a Master of Sciences in International Business Management at the University of Birmingham.
Lecturer-Researcher
Amanda Kemshaw
Amanda Kemshaw is a Lecturer in Legal Skills and private law subjects in the International and European Law Programme at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Originally from Canada, she holds a JD from Dalhousie University and a BA in Criminology and Contemporary Dance from Simon Fraser University. Amanda Kemshaw is a seasoned litigation practitioner, having spent 16 years in private practice - 9 years at two leading Canadian law firms and the last 7 years as Counsel in the International Arbitration and Disputes practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in Amsterdam. Specializing in international arbitration and complex multi-jurisdictional disputes across all areas of industry, Amanda Kemshaw has worked with clients and counsel from across the globe and appeared before numerous courts and international tribunals. She also has extensive experience as mediation counsel. Prior to her law career, she worked as a Tactical Crime Analyst with the Calgary Police Service. Amanda Kemshaw joined THUAS in August 2020.
Mária Éva Földes, PhD
Dr Éva Mária Földes is lecturer in the International and European Law Programme. She earned her PhD degree at the Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. Prior to joining the THUAS LAW programme, she worked as post-doctoral researcher at Tilburg University, Department of European and International Public Law and TILEC – Tilburg Law and Economics Center. She also worked as assistant professor at the University of Vienna, Institute for European Integration Research. She is currently teaching diverse courses in the field of EU law. Éva Mária’s research project explores the very timely topic of ‘Healthcare governance in times of the Corona pandemic: new actors, new solutions, long-term impact?’. Cross-country differences in responses to the pandemic illustrate that health is largely about the political choices that determine regulatory action. Efforts to fight the pandemic have also shown that non-state actors (professional networks, corporations, civil society) can influence healthcare governance and promote novel solutions with possible long-term impact. The research will have apply a two-fold focus: on the one hand, it will focus on EU law perspective and, on the other, on human rights and technology perspective.
David Nederlof
Dr. David Nederlof is lecturer in EU Law in the International and European Law Programme. He has taught a variety of courses in EU law, international law and human rights law within different programmes at THUAS since 2014. David obtained an LL.M. in Constitutional Law and an LL.M. in European Union Law (University of Amsterdam). He has conducted research at the University of Amsterdam in the field of European constitutional law. This research was continued at THUAS where David has been a member of the Research Group Changing Role of Europe (CREU). David defended his Ph.D. thesis at the University of Amsterdam in September 2020. His monograph titled ‘Membership of the European Council in a constitutional and historical perspective’ has been published by Europa Law Publishing.
Stefania Marassi
Stefania has a Master Degree in European and International Law from Trento University and an LL.M. in International and European Labour Law from Tilburg University. She has published a book, a number of articles and an open-ed on the implementation of new technologies (e.g. wearables) in the workplace and the data protection-related implications, and on transnational collective labour relations. Stefania has also worked as independent expert in a European project led by EFFAT on the impact of technological developments in the European food and drink industry and a European project led by ETUC and Business Europe on transnational company negotiations.
Miera Sibug Montero
Miera Sibug Montero is an alumna of International and European Law batch 2012. She has a master’s degree from Maastricht University specialized in Commercial Law. She also worked for a project under the auspices of International Criminal Court where she was assigned to research relevant case law that can amount to International Core Crimes. Moreover, she also studied Bachelor of Education at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos in the Philippines. Miera Veni Sibug Montero is currently functioning as a certified lecturer, a year 2 tutor coordinator and an assessment committee member.
Dr. Calum Young
Dr. Calum Alasdair Young specializes in EU Fundamental Rights and Health Law, combining EU law and politics to explain current and future events. He first studied LL.B. Law with German at the University of Sheffield, before an LL.M. in European Law at Leiden University. He returned to Sheffield for a PhD in 2014 covering Europeanisation, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and national health law and policy. He currently teaches a variety of modules covering EU law and human rights. His other work includes: co-editing a research guide on EU Health Law and Policy, aimed at combining introductory knowledge with state of the art detail; and extensive outreach and information during the 2016 Brexit referendum, both personal and professional.
Lucie Plasseraud
Lucie Plasseraud is originally from France but lived and worked in Austria, Romania, Luxembourg and the Netherlands over the past six years. As lecturer in EU Economic law in the Law Programme, she has a Bachelor’s Degree in Private Law from Toulouse I University, a Master’s Degree in International Law and Global Governance from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University and a LL.M. in European Law, with a specialization in Internal Market Law, from the University of Amsterdam. Before joining The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Lucie worked as a contract agent at the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg.
Sandra Nobréga
Cristina Contartese
Desmond Johnson
Desmond Johnson is a Lecturer in Comparative Public Law and Governance at the Hague University of Applied Sciences. His research interests span across a range of fields including Comparative Constitutional Law, E.U. and U.S. law and governance, Democratic Theory, Political Philosophy (particularly Republican Thought), Judicial Review, and Digital Constitutionalism. His multidisciplinary research explores the constitutional and institutional structures and processes in place to limit and balance the exercise of public power with individual and political self-determination in the E.U. and U.S., while recent publications focus on republicanism, institutional balance, constitutional dialogue, and non-domination in the E.U. He holds a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, an LL.M. from Lund University in European Affairs, and a B.Sc. in Sociology from Virginia Tech. He has been on research stays at the University of Antwerp, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (Heidelberg), and Utrecht University.
Gregory Townsend
After studying at UCLA (B.A.), IUHEI-Université de Genève (D.E.S.), the Fletcher School (M.A.L.D.) and Loyola Law School (J.D.), Gregory Townsend started his legal career as a deputy public defender in Los Angeles. In 1998, he joined the ICTR and clerked for a Slovenian supreme court judge before joining the prosecution, spending more than seven years working on Rwandan genocide cases. He later became a prosecutor for both the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and ICTY. He then served as Head of Office for the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague on the trial of Liberian President Charles Taylor. He later joined the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as chief legal advisor to the Prosecutor. Lastly, he was chief of the Registry’s Court Services Section at the IRMCT and ICTY until its closure. He joined THUAS as a Lecturer in International Law in August 2018.
Christine Tremblay
Christine Tremblay is a lecturer in International and European Law Programme at The Hague University of Applied Sciences since 2015. She is also a PhD Candidate at Leiden University working on the impact of feminist scholarship on International Criminal Law. Ms. Tremblay obtained her law degree from McGill University in 1999. She is a qualified lawyer and member of the Quebec Bar. After working at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, she completed her LL.M. (adv.) in Public International Law with a specialization in International Criminal Law at Leiden University. She occupied the position of General Coordinator of the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies since its foundation in 2003. She was also the Managing Editor of the Leiden Journal of International Law from 2008-2011. Her areas of expertise are Public International Law, International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law, Feminist Legal Theory and Gender & Law.
Asier Garrido-Muñoz
Andreea Manea
Andreea Manea has an LL.M. from Utrecht University, where her thesis focused on the issue of joint state responsibility for human rights and humanitarian law violations arising out of the use of private security companies, focusing on the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq and the Manus Island Refugee Processing Center. She has acquired professional training in international environments such as the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the International Criminal Court. She has also worked as a Junior Lecturer at Utrecht University where she held seminars in Public International Law. At The Hague University of Applied Sciences Andreea Manea primarily assists in the Legal Skills Line and tutors first year students.
Carlos Correa
Carlos Correa is a Teaching Assistant for the Legal Skills courses in the International and European Law Programme. He holds an LL.B. (2011) from Bond University, Australia and an LL.M. (2012) in Public International Law from Leiden University, The Netherlands. In 2012, Carlos Correa was admitted as a legal practitioner to the Queensland Bar. Before joining The Hague University of Applied sciences in 2018, Carlos Correa predominately worked in the international criminal law field. He worked in various defense teams at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court’s Chambers at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Office of the Prosecutor for the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. Further, in domestic law, Carlos Correa has experience in family law working as a Trainee Solicitor at a Brisbane based law firm.
Aleksandra Asscheman
Aleksandra Asscheman joined the International and European Law Programme in 2018 having practiced law for almost fifteen years, more than eight of which in The Netherlands. Before joining The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Aleksandra Asscheman was working in progressively senior legal counsel roles at Oikocredit, a renowned Dutch development finance institution investing in over seventy countries. While being a practicing professional, she has worked on a number of high-profile trade, loan and investment transactions in Eastern Europe, South-East Asia and India, as well as provided corporate legal advice to various entities. Aleksandra Asscheman has an LL.M. in International Business Law (cum laude) from Tilburg University and an MA in Political Science from the OSCE Academy. Her interests lie in the areas of investment, commercial, corporate and contract law, contract drafting and management. Teaching has always fascinated her and she aims to inspire students to turn into aspiring legal professionals and share her passion for commercial law.
Jaime de Jesus Lima
Jaime de Jesus Lima is originally from Brazil but has been living and working in The Netherlands for the past 13 years. Mr. Lima is a Brazilian lawyer (Brazilian Bar Association) and Dutch jurist with experience in both public and private sectors in South America and Europe. His areas of expertise include company and commercial law with a particular focus on international trade and competition. Mr. Lima has an LL.B. from Mackenzie University and an LL.M. in International and European Law from the VU University Amsterdam.
Dr. Agnieszka Machnicka
Dr. Agnieszka A. Machnicka is lecturer in Comparative Private Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She holds a Master of Laws degree (University of Warsaw), a D.E.S.S. de droit des affaires (Université de Poitiers), an LL.M. in Common Law (University of Ottawa), a Master of Research (European University Institute), a PhD in Law from the University of Warsaw and also from the European University Institute. Previously, she was Senior Researcher at the VU Amsterdam, GRUR Post-doctoral Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (Munich), Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Siena and lecturer at the University of Warsaw. She has held visiting appointments at the KU Leuven (Visiting Researcher), the University of Padova (Guest Lecturer) and the University of Alcalá, where she is a member of the research group ‘Derecho y Empresa’. She was an intern at Gide Loyrette & Nouel (Warsaw), the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland and the European Patent Office (Munich).
Zahra Mousavi
Zahra Mousavi joined the Law Programme in 2011. She gives seminars and lectures in International and EU Law. She has been the coach of the The Hague University of Applied Sciences Vis Moot team and holds two Master of Laws degrees in EU Law and PIL. She was also visiting researcher at MPIL and MPICC, respectively, in 2017 and 2018 and received the Hijmansbeurs in 2011 and 2016. Zahra Mousavi is an arbitrator at the ACIC. Before joining the Law Programme, she worked at the IUSCT between 1998 and 2011, and additionally has acted as Legal Assistant in some arbitration cases. Back when she was still living in Iran, Ms. Mousavi worked for Iran’s BILS, where she dealt with Iran’s cases before the UNCC, and was involved in the distribution of compensation paid by the US to the victims of the 1988 Aerial Incident. She is the author/co-author of a number of articles in scholarly journals, and the co-translator of a major textbook in ICL.
Suhas Sagar
Suhas Sagar has been a lecturer with the Law Programme for three years. His areas of expertise include international taxation and transfer pricing. Next to lecturing, he is currently working on his PhD research project focusing on the tax treaty policy of India. Suhas Sagar also works with the Transfer Pricing Department of the law firm Baker McKenzie in Amsterdam. Originally from India, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in law from the National Law School of India University. Thereafter, he worked with the International Tax Department of a premier Indian law firm in Mumbai for three years. In 2015, he moved to The Netherlands to do an Advanced Masters in International Tax Law at the International Tax Center, Leiden University where he also coordinates and teaches a Course in Transfer Pricing. Suhas Sagar is highly interested in the intersection of law, economics and public policy in the field of taxation.
Manager IlaRC (BRILL) Journal
Nadia Rusinova
Nadia Rusinova is the Manager for the IlaRC (International Labor Rights Case Law (BRILL)) Journal. Nadia is a lecturer in International and European private law subjects at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She is originally from Bulgaria and holds a LL.M. degree from Sofia University. For 15 years she successfully managed a private practice in Sofia, Bulgaria, as a specialized attorney at law. She also taught as a lecturer at the Supreme Bar Council of Bulgaria on EU family law issues for many years and has experience as a lawyer, lecturer and trainer for various NGOs. Nadia Rusinova has developed broad expertise in the area of international family law and children’s rights, antidiscrimination law, labor law, human rights, LGBTI rights, and the trafficking of human beings. She is also a tutor, internship mentor and thesis supervisor. Nadia Rusinova is incredibly inspired by her students and she enjoys every minute of working with them.
Artemis Malliaropoulou
Leyla Gayibova
Agnes Macedo de Jesus
Eliška Koštiálová
Bartosz Krysiak
Madonna Hamidy
Madonna Hamidy is a Study Coach/SOM Coordinator, Internship Coordinator and Alumni Coordinator for the International and European Law Programme. She is originally from Afghanistan and settled in The Netherlands in 1994 after having fled from the war in Afghanistan. Due to her past, Madonna’s academic interests steered towards political arts and sciences, such as ethnic conflict, international development & sustainability and human interaction. Within the International and European Law Programme, Madonna’s main focus is to help senior students with the organization of the final steps towards graduation and to act as a Go-To person for students with a variety of questions.
Daniel Russel
Daniel Russell BA (Holy Cross) JCB (Leuven) LL.M. (Leiden) has been with the Law Programme since 2015. He began his career as a legislative aide to a New Jersey (USA) state senator, then served as director of an economic development project for Newark International Airport, following which he became executive director of a NGO regional office. He has worked as a Legal Expert on several European Commission projects in the fields of energy and air & space law, and was a guest lecturer and academic advisor in the Leiden University’s Air & Space Law LL.M. programme. Mr. Russell has taught at both bachelor’s and master’s level for the past twenty years at Leiden, Webster University Leiden, Nyenrode, and Hotelschool The Hague. He serves as a moot court judge at the Telders, Unicef and Jessup competitions. His current interest areas are labour law, media law, hotel management contracts and diplomatic & political history.
Juan Salmeron
Dr. Juan Salmerón is an attorney from Chile, who specializes in Commercial Law, Intellectual Property, and Digital Rights. After graduating cum laude from an LL.M. in International and Comparative Private Law at the University of Groningen, he served as legal counsel for a major shipping company, while pursuing a PhD at the same University. He then served as corporate legal counsel at a major fashion brand, and then joined Erasmus University Rotterdam as an Assistant Professor. He joined HHS in 2021 as part of the Commercial Law section.
Paul Vine
An English solicitor with more than 20 years’ experience, Paul has lived, and practised law, in London; briefly in Moscow and Central America; and, as a partner of Norton Rose Fulbright, for the last decade or so in Amsterdam. He specializes in international business, finance and development, acting mostly for large corporates and financial institutions. Most interesting career moments to date include negotiating with a company who had stolen an oil refinery from his client and, amongst other things, had chained the receiver (from Deloittes) to a radiator as a bargaining tool; and advising the COO of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the UK in real time as he called the Lehman Brothers default. Paul has an LLB from Manchester; Law Society Finals from the University (then College) of Law; and an MBA from the London Business School.
Judith van Arendonk
Judith van Arendonk has obtained her business law degree at Leiden University. After her graduation she worked for numerous years as a legal advisor at the international tax consultancy firms of E&Y, Deloitte and PwC. Her expertise lies in the field of international corporate and commercial law. Besides advising clients on international restructuring projects, she was also part of the Knowledge Centre of PwC. The Knowledge Centre advises colleagues and clients on new legislation and jurisprudence.
Linda Louis
Linda Beatrice Louis is a lecturer in law and technology with a background in international law, human rights, and their interaction with technology. Completing her LL.M. in 2014, she graduated magna cum laude, from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian law and Human Rights. She held various legal and policy roles at the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Internet Society, International Commission of Jurists, and the International Criminal Court, specializing in legal advice, human rights reporting and education and currently affiliated as an Expert Consultant with the International Communities Organization. Having worked as an educator for public authorities in human rights norms, Linda decided to explore the potential of behavioural technology as a tool for achieving legal and normative compliance. In her ongoing doctoral research, she investigates the use of persuasive technology and nudging to improve policing. Drawing from this inter-disciplinary approach combining behavioural and socio-psychological approaches to legal compliance, she also collaborates with startups and social impact enterprises, advising on the design, accessibility, and construction of regulatory and accountability technology.
Lecturer Legal Skills
Stanley Mbelu
Stanley Mbelu is a Lecturer in Legal Skills at THUAS and is an LL.M International Commercial Law graduate from the University of Salford Manchester United Kingdom. He has more than 10 years combine experience of lecturing, regulatory compliance, business consultancy, project management, advanced business negotiation and strategic business planning, with general business management. He loves teaching, assisting and guiding students to get the very best in their chosen academic field. As an Ambassador in the Connecting Diaspora 4 Development Project (CD4D2) an International Organisation for Migration a United Nation Migration Agency initiative, he contributes into IOM’s global work of maximizing the positive relationship between migration and development. By leveraging his networks in the legal, business and International Organisational environment, he tends to create a more diverse approach to learning for the students while achieving the set learning objectives.
Lecturer Legal Skills
Robert Weaver
Robert Weaver is a Lecturer in Legal Skills at THUAS and grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where he competed in debate and volunteered for the local Democratic Party. After receiving academic and forensics (public speaking) scholarships from Bethel College, KS, he completed a broad liberals arts and sciences degree with a major in European and American history. He then went to law school in the capital city of Topeka, KS on an academic scholarship from Washburn University and received top prizes for his moot court performances and legal writing. He clerked at the U.S. District Court in Kansas City. While at law school, he chose to go in the direction of international and comparative law, which brought him to two summer programs at Utrecht University and an honors LLM in EU law from Maastricht University. Robert has taught law at the VU, Utrecht, and for 7 years at the interdisciplinary honors programs PPLE at the University of Amsterdam. He is known for his challenging and engaging spirit as a teacher combined with his compassionate and supportive approach as a mentor.
Lecturer Legal Skills
Rebecca Kumi
Rebecca Kumi is a Lecturer in Legal Skills at THUAS and has been a skills trainer in Political Philosophy, Academic Research, and Writing for close to 10 years, using energy and passion to create engaging and inclusive classrooms. With an LLB in European and International Law from Maastricht University, and a current LLM in International Corporate and Commercial Law at King’s College London, Rebecca has made the shift to legal studies from a background teaching in Political Science and International Relations. While teaching subjects have ranged from critical political and international relations theory, to international history, special focus has been on gender and development issues, pursued particularly through research and reporting in Cyprus concerning gendered migration and forced labour in the Mediterranean. Recent projects have included the TAEC project, in association with Erasmus+ and Copenhagen University, to contribute to the addition of inter-cultural communication skills in the development of a CEFR for English Medium Instruction across European Universities, as well as entrepreneurship consulting small and medium sized NGOs on Privacy and Data protection issues.
Lecturer Public International Law
Barbara Sonczyk
Barbara Sonczyk is a Lecturer in Public International Law at THUAS and is originally from Poland but lived and worked in the United Kingdom over the past eleven years. She holds master degrees in law and sociology from the University of Warsaw, an LL.M. in International and European Law from the University of Amsterdam and a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Westminster. Her areas of expertise are public international law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law. Before joining THUAS, Barbara served as a Lecturer in Law at the University of Bedfordshire in the UK and was a Visiting Lecturer at several other universities in London, including University College London and the University of Westminster. Her working experience includes also placements at the T.M.C. Asser Institute, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the United Nations HQ (the Immediate Office of the Under-Secretary General for Legal Affairs). Barbara collaborates with the Oxford University Press as a human rights case law rapporteur covering decisions of United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies, while her current research focuses on UN peacekeeping and international criminal justice.
Lecturer EU Law
Maria Paz de la Cuesta
Maria de la Cuesta is a Lecturer in EU Law at THUAS and graduated in law from the University of Valladolid (Spain). She has a Master's in Business and Corporate Law from the University of Burgos (2014) and an LLM in European, Transnational and Comparative Laws from the European University Institute (2015). She obtained her PhD at the European University Institute in 2020, with a thesis on SMEs in the food global value chain. She has also worked as a doctoral assistant at the College of Europe (2019-2021), and prior to that at the research and documentation services of the Court of Justice of the European Union (2019). Her main interests include sustainability and fair trade in the global value chain, food law, competition law and economic aspects of European integration. She has also authored several publications on unfair trading practices in the food chain as well as on consumer law matters, and currently collaborates with a research group working on Spanish anti-waste legislation in the food sector.
Lecturer International Criminal Law
Cale Davis
Dr Cale Davis (PhD, LLM (Adv), LLB (Hons), BIR, GDLP) is a Lecturer in International Criminal Law. His professional background is in both legal practice and education. He previously worked as a criminal prosecutor with the Northern Territory DPP and was a Judge’s Associate at the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in Australia. He has taught at Bond University and Charles Darwin University in Australia, and the Leiden University in The Netherlands. Dr Davis's research interests concern prosecutorial decision-making and the use of discretion in international criminal justice.
Digital Examination Officer
Dennis Penu
Dennis Penu joins the LAW program in the part-time and temporary position as Digital Education and Examinations Officer. He is also a PhD Research Fellow with the Governance, Law and Social Justice group at the International Institute of Social Studies of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. He brings to his role many years’ experience applying various digital tools in research and teaching. He is proficient in the use of VOSViewer, Atlas.ti and NVivo data analysis software and has some experience using the Blackboard and Canvas online learning platforms. Besides, he has applied knowledge in various digital communication tools including WordPress, Google, Qualtrics XM and Microsoft Office. He also enjoys lay and online communication of academic research. His motivation for the role stems from his general interest in digitalization within academia, as well as his interest to contribute to the future of LAW education at THUAS. He acknowledges the challenges that digitalization could present but believes those challenges can be minimized and transformed. He is a Ghanaian who speaks English, a bit of Dutch and loves playing badminton.
Digital Examination Officer
Alexandrah Bakker
Alexandrah Bakker is a Digital Education and Examination Officer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from King's College London and the University Paris 2 (Panthéon-Assas). She will soon graduate with an MSc in International Crimes, Conflict and Criminology from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Alexandrah has over three years' experience in education and has worked with organisations including the Uganda Law Society, Junior Lawyers Against Poverty, and the Public International Law & Policy Group.
Lecturer in Public International Law
Szilvia Csevár
Dr. Galyna Kostiukevych
Galyna Kostiukevych is lecturer in EU Business Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She is currently finishing her PhD thesis at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence. She holds LL.M. degrees from the EUI (2016), the College of Europe in Bruges (2013) and the Lviv Ivan Franko National University (2012). Galyna was a visiting scholar at Columbia Law School (2017) and also spent a year at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. In addition, she worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization, as a junior lawyer for one of the leading law firms in Poland and as a legal counsellor for the State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine. Galyna specializes in EU law, competition and international trade law, as well as procurement law.
Daniela Meireles Dias
Daniela Meireles Dias is an admitted Attorney of the High Court, South Africa who holds both a Bcom Law majoring in Taxation as well as an LLB (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria.
During her studies she tutored numerous students in both Legal and Commercial subjects and took great pride in watching students grow to their full potential.
After the completion of her studies she continued into practice where she specialised in Commercial Litigation and Arbitration with a keen interest in insolvency, banking and property law.
Testimonials
On getting prepared
Thalis Cabral
"I can confidently say that the skills and knowledge I've acquired over the years from various courses have helped me thrive during my internship. I have become more independent and prepared for any professional environment. Furthermore, the programme offers many networking opportunities for students, such as the annual Employment & Networking Event which helps students get acquainted with various professionals, organisations, and universities to further your career in the field of law."
On practical aspect
Judson Ernandes
"The practical aspect is probably one of its most fundamental characteristics. I have found that the various skillsets that I learned over the years have prepared me very well for my internship. The internship is — in my opinion — the epitome of the applied element in this programme which gives you a head start in your career before graduating. It helps boosting your resume, knowledge, and will help you to stand out as you move forward in your professional career. As they say, practice makes perfect!"
On student association
Charlotte Tran
"During my studies, I've participated in numerous extracurricular activities and I've been a part of many organisations. Among all, I appreciate the opportunity to be on the management board of ILSA (the International Law Student Association). This experience taught me to overcome my insecurities about public speaking and leadership. Along with other amazing board members, we created many events connecting law students and legal professionals. As a board member, I oversaw internal and external communication for the association. Besides, I also coordinated the organisation of events with other board members. I value this experience because it gave me many opportunities to network with many professionals and students. Thanks to this practice, I can enhance my knowledge, broaden my network and improve my skills such as organising, time management, and teamwork."
On Moot Court
Francesca Minetto
"Our last project was really nice. Together with my peers, I joined the ICC Moot Court. It means we receive a judgement and get to appeal it. The preparation took us 6 months. In the end, we got to go to a real court in front of our lecturers who acted as judges. We learned how to address different audiences. That’s one of the best skills we’ve learned."
On Inspiration
Lukas Vician
"My biggest inspiration here has been my lecturer in tax law. I’ve spent some time as her research assistant as well. She’s really strict and never gives a grade you do not deserve. I enjoyed it a lot: it helped me to become better and strive for the best of my abilities. It was because of her continuous guidance, constructive feedback and critical comments that I realized how little I know and it inspired me to acquire more knowledge every day."
Minors
Shape your degree
In year three you’ll have the opportunity to choose from the wide range of minors offered by the university. Our Law programme offers a number of minors covering important current developments in law and practice: Dispute Resolution, Cyber Security, Legal Technology and Compliance. These minors have been developed by the Law programme with experts from other disciplines to fully enhance your experience.
Working methods
Lectures and workshops
Our Law programme strikes an excellent balance between theory and practice. You will learn the theory of law in the lectures and in the workshops you will apply this theory to practical cases to deepen your understanding.Guest lectures
There are regular inspiring ‘meet-a-professional’ lecture series where you will attend inspiring talks given by professionals from international tribunals, international organisations and multinational corporations. They share their experience of how they make prosecutorial decisions or how they keep their company compliance with regulatory demands.International company visits
To fuel your enthusiasm, in the first year you can visit relevant organisations in Brussels. In year two you can experience organisations like the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations first hand on a trip to Geneva. Throughout our programme you can participate in various Moot Court competitions, arguing for the best interests of your client.Contact the programme
- Questions about the LAW programme? Please contact Hesther Calis via h.t.e.calis@hhs.nl.
- Entry requirements and registration? Send an email to csi@hhs.nl.
- Studying in The Hague? Students BIanca, Orla, Miruna or Zayron will tell you all about it.
- Tips and tricks? Follow and ‘like’ us on Facebook and Instagram!
Contact a current student
Bianca Maria Leahu
Hello everyone! I’m Bianca and I’m 21. If you’re considering our university to be your “home” for the next few years but still have some doubts, feel free to contact me, I’d be more than happy to answer all your questions! I’m a THUAS student myself (I’m in year two of the International & European Law programme) and I believe I gained enough experience to help you out! & if you’re in the nearby pass by for a private tour of the university.
Ask Bianca Maria a questionOrla Harris
Hi, my name is Orla Harris and I am from the UK. I just turned 19 so I started this program at the young age of 18. This is the most adult thing I have done so far and I am assuming many of you are in the same position I was in when I first joined, so do not be afraid to ask any questions. I chose this program because of its internationalism, its wide variety of subject choices. But most importantly I chose this program because of the practical skills you gain form this course. As a first year student I can give you the most up to date experience that can be given, such as what to expect in your first few days and weeks at THUAS, how online lectures work in these circumstances and who can help you.
Ask Orla a questionMiruna Munteanu
Hi everyone! I am Miruna and I am one of the first-year students at The Hague University of Applied Sciences .
I am more than honoured to study within the International and European Law programme and be part of this tremendous community ,here in The Hague. If you consider us a potential choice for your future, for your carrier and want to find out more insights and details about our university and team, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am more than glad to help you in the best way I can.
Zayron Wever
Hello! My name is Zayron Wever. I am 26 years old and I am a second-year International & European Law student. I am from the one happy island of Aruba. Studying at The Hague University of Applied Sciences gives you a better practical experience in the field of your choice and you make amazing friends along the way. So come down to see for yourself. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will try to answer you as soon as possible.
Ask Zayron a questionAssistance during your studies
Study coaching and advice
You’ll have the support of a tutor to guide you through project work and written assignments in years one and two, your thesis and internships. If you fall behind due to unforeseen circumstances our study coach will help you get back on track.
Collect ECTS
Binding Study Advice (BSA)
pauTo continue your degree programme after the first year, you need to earn 50 of the 60 credits (EC or Credits). In some cases, the degree programme may also require that you pass a specific subject as European art of the credit requirements. We call this a qualitative requirement. If you meet the credit requirements as well as the qualitative requirement where applicable, you will receive a positive binding study advice (BSA) from the Examination Board at the end of your first year and you will be able to continue your degree programme.
If you earn less than 50 credits or don’t meet the qualitative requirements where applicable, you will receive a negative binding study advice and will have to leave the degree programme. This is why this advice is called a Negative Binding Study Advice (NBSA).
Your academic progress may be affected by personal circumstances such as illness or the professional practice of a sport. It is important that you inform the Examination Board immediately of any personal circumstances that might apply to you. The Board can take these into account when issuing its study advice.
Read all the rules for the binding study advice in Chapter 7 of the Programme and Examination Regulations (PER) (PER) for your degree programme.