A decade ago, few would have imagined a world where artificial intelligence could do the work of legal executives, from drafting complex documents to analysing vast amounts of data. Today, our reality is prompting them to wonder: what happens when technology can perform many of the tasks we normally handle?
As the profession evolves, legal education must progress with it. This philosophy is at the heart of NOVA School of Law, where “doing more of the same” is simply not enough. Rather, it encourages you to engage critically with the challenges reshaping society and to develop innovative solutions to them.
“Our objective is to educate legal professionals who can operate with confidence and competence, whether in Lisbon, Budapest, or New York,” shares Professor Vera Lúcia Raposo, Vice-Dean for Research and Internationalisation.
NOVA School of Law aims to combine academic excellence with an unforgettable student experience that supports both academic and personal growth. Source: NOVA School of Law
Law that’s at the forefront of change
An education at NOVA School of Law, be it a bachelor’s degree, a master’s, a doctorate, or specialised courses, is anything but traditional. All programmes take an innovative approach to address some of today’s most pressing challenges, including law and technology, AI regulation, ocean governance, financial markets, sustainability, and international arbitration.
Interdisciplinarity is embedded in the way you learn. Programmes are co-designed and delivered by legal scholars, alongside technology, economics, and human rights specialists. This ensures that, rather than viewing non-legal subjects through a purely legal lens, you’ll explore them with depth and rigour too. Backed by cutting-edge research, this holistic approach helps you truly understand and address complex global challenges.
“It was during my years at NOVA School of Law that I decided I wanted to be an attorney,” shares Rute Alves, who’s currently a Coordinating Associate at PLMJ Law Firm. “During these five years, I’ve learned more than law, I’ve learned to build my own ideas, my own opinions, to innovate, to challenge and enjoy having been challenged. If I had to choose again, I would choose NOVA.”
Opportunities to study abroad add another layer of advantage. The school is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of ten European Universities that work together to create a large, diverse, and inclusive community. It is also part of the THEMIS Network, which enables students to spend a semester at a partner university in Europe, Asia or Oceania and gain hands-on experience through an international internship. Erasmus+ exchanges open additional pathways to study at universities across Europe. There are strategic partnerships with universities in the US (University of Illinois College of Law and University of Connecticut School of Law) and Brazil (University of São Paulo and FGV Direito Rio) too.
Law is increasingly global, and that is why NOVA School of Law encourages its students to confront familiar legal questions in new and different ways. By going abroad, you’ll gain exposure to more jurisdictions and legal practices – with many new friends and connections to be made along the way. It’s a great and meaningful way to prepare for a future that’s increasingly transnational.
Creating a better society is a key part of the NOVA School of Law. The school champions innovation, peace, justice, and sustainability, while promoting an inclusive community. Source: NOVA School of Law
A launchpad for global careers
Situated on NOVA University’s Campolide Campus in Lisbon, NOVA School of Law places you in an expanding ecosystem of startups and multinational organisations. On campus, you can sharpen your skills and build your professional network through guest lectures, innovation projects, moot courts, executive programmes, and networking events such as Career Days. Off campus, the school’s strategic partnerships and applied research initiatives with companies such as Microsoft, Santander, and Caixa Geral de Depósitos create access to internships and international conferences throughout the year.
Soon, there’s more to look forward to. The school’s upcoming move to the Carcavelos campus means studying right by the beach and alongside one of Europe’s leading business schools, the Nova School of Business and Economics.
The end goal of a legal education at the school is to prepare you for a world of opportunities — and graduate outcomes reflect that. Data from the Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional (IEFP), a public body that provides the most recent and reliable employment data in Portugal, shows an almost non-existent unemployment rate among graduates, while the school’s internal graduate survey found that no graduates reported being unemployed one year after graduation. More than 80% are also working in jobs that match what they studied.
Some graduates have joined law firms or corporate legal teams, while others pursued careers in public administration, compliance and regulation, consulting, technology and digital governance, finance and banking, academia and research, and policy and sustainability sectors.
Wherever they go, they take with them the knowledge, critical thinking and leadership skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s global job market. “At NOVA School of Law, legal knowledge intersects with the great challenges of our time. Here, law is studied religiously, lived purposefully and practised impactfully. We are committed to teaching excellence, fostering an inclusive environment, and maintaining a deep connection to society,” says NOVA School of Law Dean, Margarida Lima Rego.
“We cultivate critical thinking, diversity of perspectives, and a commitment to justice and human rights. Our aim is for everyone to feel part of something bigger; a school that trains lawyers to make a difference in an ever-changing world.”
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