Bachelor in Law

At UPT, the quality of teaching, the close relationship forged with lecturers and the proactive nature of the student community are factors that create the perfect environment for any student’s personal and academic growth and development.

Quando terminei o ensino secundário e decidi ingressar no curso de direito, a minha escolha foi a universidade portucalense uma vez que, após várias pesquisas, constatei que era uma instituição de grande prestígio e excelência. O curso de direito é composto por um corpo docente que se caracteriza pelo mérito, pela exigência e pela preocupação com a formação e sucesso dos estudantes que distingue a Universidade Portucalense de todas as outras. Esta licenciatura permite ainda obter uma aplicação prática das matérias lecionadas e assim, preparar todos os estudantes para a vida profissional. Para completar, é ainda fornecida aos estudantes a informação para a realização de estágios curriculares a que todos se podem candidatar, de modo a aprofundar conhecimentos e adquirir novas competências.

Whenever I tell someone I’m a law student, the reaction is always the same – or at least something like this: “Really? Why did you choose that course? Do you want to be just another unemployed person?”. I chose to study law because I believe that, through this degree and combined with my own abilities, I can make a small difference to the community around me – even if it’s just to help my grandmother’s neighbour who doesn’t understand the letter she’s received from the court. A lawyer isn’t just someone who tries to abolish injustices, but also someone who mitigates them in very delicate situations – the so-called ‘lost causes’. Do I want to be just another unemployed person? Of course not! It is precisely for this reason that I chose Universidade Portucalense. This institution stands out not only for its high standards, its commitment to its students and its close relationship with them, but also because it does not limit itself to teaching law, but teaches students to ‘think like a lawyer’.

At the age of 18, I studied Business Management at UPT. Now, 22 years on, I am returning to obtain a degree in Law. When making my choice, I looked into several institutions and, after analysing the course curriculum and UPT’s prestigious academic staff, my options narrowed down to just one: returning to ‘my home’. As a student, now in my second year, I can see that the course fully meets my expectations. It is, without a doubt, a privilege to be able to learn from such a unique teaching staff, and I would particularly highlight the constant interaction and close rapport that all the lecturers maintain with the students. UPT prepares its students to become professionals of the highest calibre, equipping them with the practical and theoretical knowledge to enter the job market with confidence.

Portucalense University is more than just a higher education institution; it is a true community of learning. The teaching staff’s main concern is to foster a critical mindset in their students, to spark an interest in the topics covered in class, and to challenge them to reflect thoughtfully on the issues that lie at the heart of the degree programmes. I feel welcomed by the institution because here I am challenged to think for myself, rather than simply memorising what others have thought.

Portucalense University is the cornerstone of any successful student’s journey. This institution provides a solid and versatile education, preparing students for the world of work by combining a rigorous theoretical foundation with an enriching practical component. It has a highly qualified teaching staff who, as well as imparting knowledge, are approachable to students, creating an excellent environment for learning, engagement and communication. UPT offers countless legal and extracurricular experiences, with a wide range of programmes, work placements, conferences and lectures that enable students to gain an insight into what it is like to practise the profession in real life and, above all, to enhance their CVs. As well as preparing students for the future, it fosters citizens who are well-adapted to the realities of the world, versatile and equipped with a multidisciplinary outlook. It is in this way that Universidade Portucalense is recognised in the world of work: as an institution of excellence, capable of producing experienced students equipped with technical and practical knowledge, as well as the soft skills so highly sought after by employers. It was, without a doubt, thanks to what this institution offered me, combined with its dedication and rigour, that I acquired a solid education and developed skills which have proved to be an asset in the job market. I am currently a trainee solicitor at the law firm Nuno Cerejeira Namora, Pedro Marinho Falcão & Associados, whilst also studying for a Master’s degree.

Prestige, merit and excellence. These are the reasons why I chose to study for a degree in Law at Universidade Portucalense, as well as the essential elements for a future of prosperity and success. UPT trains students to think critically from a legal perspective, with a strong and distinctive mindset, capable of dealing with all the practical demands associated with the rigours of the professional world. Having completed my degree, my path is now divided between further study and ongoing specialisation in the fields of legal and economic sciences; work within the European Union, where I am developing various EU projects in cooperation with European institutions; academic journalism; involvement in associations and youth activism; and, finally, scientific research in the fields of international taxation, cross-border insolvency, banking regulation and international contracts. Undoubtedly, the degree programme at UPT is the cornerstone, for it is only through a solid and rigorous education that we can overcome major challenges.

I already knew which path to follow. I registered with the Bar Association. At the moment, I am a trainee solicitor, in the second phase of the Bar’s training programme, the aim of which is to gain court experience covering at least two distinct areas. In my opinion, the start of our careers is complicated and very tough, but it can easily become less so. On the day we find a mentor with whom we can identify, who supports us every minute of the training and who, above all, provides us with a calm and healthy environment in which we can grow. I carry with me every lesson from UPT and I sincerely recognise today the rigour that so often made me work up a sweat and demanded more of me. Looking back, I can say without a doubt that I left well prepared for the job market. I would like to express my sincere thanks to every lecturer from whom I had the opportunity to learn at Universidade Portucalense and to my supervisor, Dr Rui Dias Duarte, for having guided me into such a competitive and demanding job market in a calm and steady manner.

Portucalense University is recognised by employers as a centre of excellence, providing its students with a robust legal education based on rigour and high standards. Its assessment methods are designed to stimulate learning abilities, prioritising close interaction between lecturers and students. It is a national benchmark in terms of its technical and curricular standards, with an excellent link between the academic world and the world of work. There is a clear focus on the practical aspects of law, enhanced by applied training programmes, short courses and a large number of institutional partners with internship agreements. Armed with the tools provided by the University and striving for excellence through rigour and dedication, I was able to embark on a career in the legal profession. In this regard, the theoretical and practical training I received has unquestionably contributed to my development, as well as to a deeper understanding of and better performance in the legal profession, specifically at the law firm Nuno Cerejeira Namora, Pedro Marinho Falcão & Associados, where I am an Associate.

I am a mother, a student and a worker. At the age of 39, I completed my third degree at UPT and witnessed first-hand the excellence of the lecturers on the Law degree programme. I feel well prepared for the professional world, having even received recognition from a law firm which readily accepted me for a Bar Association work placement following a recommendation from a UPT lecturer and after assessing my academic background.