Enthusiastic Maritime Law students

- I don’t regret a single moment. This was an amazing adventure both academically and socially, Lyndsay Garnica from Mexico exclaims, and  Gaston Costas from Argentina seems to agree.

Both are finishing one and a half years of studies at the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law with a group of twenty students from all over the world, all of whom having different professional backgrounds. 

Why Oslo?

Gaston worked as a lawyer for a shipping company in Buenos Aires and wanted specialization in maritime law. He found that the Norwegian professors held a high level and that Norway was a shipping nation major marine insurance companies and the most impressive shipowners.

Lyndsay was working as a casualty management lawyer mainly dealing with aviation crashes and other complex casualties in Mexico City, Mexico and found that  the rooths of aviation insurance came from marine insurance. Looking around she found that The Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law (NIFS) was known for its Marine Insurance Department and was highly recommended by reinsurance lawyers in the USA and UK.

However, Oslo was their choice for a mix of reasons, both professional and social ones. By working in Disney World for a year she was, living with people from twelve countries including Norway, therefore  Lyndsay already had some knowledge about Norwegian culture. She had found the Norwegians easy-going and inclusive, many Norwegians remain among her best friends.   Gaston already had friends in Norway from his one year  exchange stay in a Norwegian folk high school at Gol, in the Norwegian mountains.

Studying the Norwegian way

The Institute has a policy to admit both students with legal and nautical backgrounds to its LLM-programme; the classes comprising some twenty students.
-Most of the students had a great and diversified background. I learnt a lot from those with a nautical background, Lyndsay states. Gaston also found it a positive experience to interact with people having different approaches.

Both appreciated that the Institute organized excursions combining  professional and social activities. Their group visited Copenhagen, Gothenburg and relevant companies in the Oslo area. Gaston emphasised that the lectures were interesting; especially lectures given by practitioners in the shipping industry, many of whom were supervisors for the students’ master theses.

- Being a small group, you get to know both the students and the professionals and you start building networks from day one,  states and Lyndsay adds: -We were not just a number. All the people at the Institute were always there for us. Doors are open. You can just knock the door and talk to anyone. So, thanks a lot everyone at NIFS!

Mock trial

In the second semester’s mock trial,  the students are divided in two teams proceeding against each other, evaluated by experienced lawyers and even a former Supreme Court judge.

-Preparing for the mock trial we were practically living together at the Institute for several weeks and had much fun. I really felt younger,  smiles and Lyndsay adds: -You also had a good reason to get out in the dark and cold.

- You will not easily get this kind of experience elsewhere, she also claims. - From the mock trial you get to know each other and you learn how the other students perform. You also build strong connections.

What you should know before applying

-The Norwegian way of teaching involved a lot of self-study. Especially in the beginning there were long intervals between lessons. This might be difficult for people coming from other systems of teaching, Gaston argues. Lyndsay was expecting more workshops:

-We had three or four classes applying the material to real cases. This was very useful and a more realistic preparation for later work, so I would have liked more of that.

Both strongly recommend proper research to find out what to expect; about Norway, the University, the weather and the prices. Use the net, LinkedIn and former students.

Housing is easily arranged through the net by SiO, The student welfare organisation. They also have a web page explaining the minimum budget required for living and welfare services.

-I started cooking dinner thanks to the Norwegian prices!  laughs. Through SiO he also lived comfortably with reasonable prices. Coming from a huge city Lyndsay enjoyed staying at the outskirts, five minutes from the forest and a lake. Even so, it did not take  too long  to get to the University by public transport (ca15 minutes). With student discount this was also affordable.

-The weather is cold. If you want sun and beach, Oslo is not the place.  But with proper clothes you have a fantastic time through the winter. Nothing stops you, Lyndsay assures.

Living in Oslo

 

Gaston and Lyndsay about Oslo:

• Sports facilities for students and skiing in winter
• Very good Norwegian language courses – ten hours per week for free
• A charming city with lots of places to go and easy to make connections
• The most fabulous nature and people, clean air, everything is close
• Many student discounts

- Every day I enjoy feeling safe in the city and in nature, Gaston declares. Actually life is better in a small city, you have a life after work, both of them agree.

Best and worst experiences

-Being here during the attacks of  22nd July, I was one block from the government buildings were the bomb exploded, ironically that was both, my best and worst experience, Lyndsay surprisingly tells us. –To see how the Norwegian people reacted after was one of the best experiences of my life; they reacted with love instead of fear and violence. My Norwegian friends said that I should not stay alone, so I stayed at a friend’s house for four days. On the streets you can still feel that people care more about each other and are more interested in talking to you.

- 22nd July was also my worst experience, Gaston adds, and the best was all of it: Living here, enjoying nature, skiing and travelling in Europe, which is much more close to Oslo than where I come from.

Improved career possibilities

Gaston stays on in Oslo, having already got a position in the Marine & Offshore Dept. of an international insurance brokerage company here.

-Academically the LLM- programme was very good and opened the door to international possibilities. Even if – which is very hypothetical - I should later want to work in Argentina, the opportunities would be more interesting. I strongly recommend it.

Lyndsay has three job offers in Mexico, one as a claims executive for complex casualties.  Eventually she has chosen to go back  with an improved position as a senior lawyer where she worked before, which is the work she loves doing, expecting to leave Oslo in tears.

-This master made me grow up a lot professionally and personally, I leave Norway with improved knowledge and an impressive network. Lyndsay considers. - I have just checked my LinkedIn and it’s amazing how my network has grown this year.
 

By Kirsti Aarseth