Sarah E Dooley, USA
Master of Laws 2007-2008
My path to Queen Mary spanned nearly two years. I first considered a postgraduate law degree while I was still a law student in New Hampshire. I wanted a degree that would expose me to very specialized knowledge in immigration law. By that point I had nearly two years of experience in US immigration law, but I wanted exposure to other immigration schemes and to have a broader knowledge of the comparative law. When I started my search, I was only able to find a handful of schools where taking immigration courses at the LLM level was even possible, and only at Queen Mary was I able to focus my entire LLM study within the field. Upon my learning about the program, I e-mailed Dr Mitsilegas, the LLM tutor and a professor of EU immigration law. I received an answer immediately. His answer was so thoughtful and thorough, and really made me believe that my research interests would be fostered and encouraged. I knew this was the school for me, plus it had the ultimate bonus of being in London.
When I ultimately decided to come to Queen Mary, it was nearly one year later, and I was at a crossroads in my career. I had graduated from law school one-year prior, had recently been admitted to the bars in California and New Jersey, and was clerking in the Family Division of the New Jersey Superior Court. I had several opportunities to stay in New Jersey and work as an immigration attorney, but I wanted something different. Queen Mary came back into my mind. I applied, was accepted, and after many e-mails between Dr. Mitsilegas and myself, and having the counsel of former professors, my family, and my supervising judge, I came to the realization that coming to Queen Mary was the right choice.
Since arriving in London, I have never regretted my decision to come. While I am one of very few students making an exclusive study of immigration law, the personal attention from the faculty has been incredible. I love my courses, I am studying comparative immigration law, immigration in the European Union, and the legal treatment of migrants once they enter a new host nation. It is fascinating. I have had the opportunity to work under the supervision of some of the premier academics in the field. I also have been given the opportunity to further my studies by being selected to attend a summer school in Vienna hosted by the European Union to further study security, border control, human rights, terrorism and public policy.
Queen Mary also provides a great deal of support. While I am a native English speaker, I have taken advantage of legal writing classes for both my dissertation and my upcoming exams. I am also a member of the LLM Staff and Student Liaison Committee which is a group of student representatives who meet with academicians and law school administers to discuss issues as they arise. The University and the School of Law want to make sure that we succeed and they provide the tools for us to do so.
Living in London has also been fantastic. When I first arrived, Queen Mary arranged for international students to be collected from the airport so I didn't need to arrange private transport. They also provided orientation to the local area, the services provided by the school, basic living (like banking and healthcare) in London, and studying law at the LLM level in the United Kingdom. I also have become involved in activities that I never would have thought of doing, like fencing. I am actually even competing now. Also, London has endless possibilities in restaurants, nightlife, museums, and culture.
I would recommend anyone to study at Queen Mary. Coming here is one of the best decisions I have ever made.