Cityscape

Vivian Papoutsa

What were you doing before the MCL?

Before joining the MCL, I completed my undergraduate studies (LL.B.) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Law. Parallel to my studies, I explored a different educational path and participated in the Erasmus Student Exchange Programme at the University Paris Descartes, seeking exposure to diversity and internationality. After graduating, I pursued an LL.M. in Civil Law and New Technologies at the University of Athens. With my postgraduate studies, I also gained experience on the legal field, completing a legal internship in the Department of Supervision of Private Insurance Companies in the Bank of Greece and two traineeships as a trainee lawyer. The first traineeship was in a law office specified in civil and corporate law and the second was in the legal service of the Administrative Region of Attica. Working in different legal environments gave me the chance to observe how attorneys deal with intricate issues and the exposure to the legal world made me realize the needs of my profession.

What were your impressions of the MCL?

The MCL programme at Cambridge is unparalleled in providing the solid academic foundation as well as the wider intellectual perspectives needed for prospective lawyers, jurists and all legal professionals to address the realities and challenges corporate transactions and administering justice pose in an increasingly global legal context. The MCL gave me the opportunity to investigate essential and challenging corporate issues in great depth, while selecting courses that best suited my specific interests (e.g. International Merger Control, Corporate Taxation and US Corporate Law). Additionally, as far as the Deals course is concerned, it combined a strong practical and theoretical dimension and provided insights concerning the interaction of legal and market dynamics in transactional settings. Additionally, through Deals I interacted with leading lawyers involved in cutting-edge transactions. Moreover, the MCL course provided an international, multi-cultural environment, in which, especially due to its small class size, I had the chance to meet and work with hand-picked students of the highest calibre from different ethnic, cultural, academic and legal backgrounds. It was a challenging and demanding programme, but simultaneously was an experience of a lifetime.

What are your post-MCL plans and have they changed due to taking the MCL?

The MCL allowed me not only to acquire the qualifications needed for my future career, but also gave me a unique opportunity to form a global picture of law and its implementation. The course also equipped me with the skills needed to master the field of work that interests me. The next step will be to acquire international work experience as a corporate lawyer and after that I wish to pursue a PhD and hopefully combine a career in academia and practice.