Aleksandra Czubek studied her LLM in Intellectual Property Law and graduated in 2017. She is now an associate in an IP Law firm - GKR Legal in Warsaw. She is also a guest lecturer at the University of Gdansk, in the Centre for Intellectual Property and New Technologies Law.
At the time I considered taking an LLM, I was highly motivated to study Intellectual Property Law and its relation to the fashion industry, i.e. Fashion Law. According to my research back then, QMUL was the best IP Law School in Europe and the only one offering a Fashion Law course. It wasn’t a choice or decision to apply, it was an absolute necessity to take such opportunity.
It was an IP & Creative Industries lecture: lawyers from Alexander McQueen (invited by Dr Noam Shemtov) visited CCLS and talked about practical issues of being a fashion lawyer. They gave us a great insight into working in the industry and possible careers. I was impressed mainly by the fact that being in London, we were visited by representatives of a legal department of one of the most important British fashion brands with such a great global impact and recognition. Leaving the lecture room, I felt like I had a much better understanding of working in the fashion industry,
Until I enrolled at CCLS, I had always studied in Poland. This is where I first got my law degree. Having studied at CCLS, with students from a variety of countries and backgrounds and being taught by lecturers from across the world, gave me the impression that I was a member of a community of international legal professionals.
I am still in touch with people I met at CCLS - both lecturers and students. When I organised an IP-related event at the University of Gdansk, Poland, I invited some of my former teachers and PhD students who were conducting their research at QMUL, to participate. I was very honoured that they accepted my invitation.
At the moment, I feel like the experience I had at CCLS allowed me to have a broader view of legal problems I am addressing in my daily duties as a lawyer.
I also believe that being a member of the CCLS community means that I understand the links between academia and the legal industry and how they influence each other.
Studying at CCLS gave me the confidence to consider myself a professional in the field of Intellectual Property. While understanding that there is still a lot to learn and there will never be an end to broadening my knowledge, I was able to present myself to my future employer as someone well aware of the niche I wanted to work in.
Whilst searching for job opportunities after I graduated CCLS, I discovered it is a widely recognised institution. Employers were not only interested in hiring me on the basis of my education, but also curious for me to share my experience of CCLS with them.
Studying at CCLS is a unique opportunity to build an international network of professionals deeply dedicated to broadening their specialist knowledge.
It consists of an exceptional group of lecturers who are passionate about the topics they teach and who are genuinely willing to share their impressive knowledge and experience.
Moreover, CCLS provides plenty of extra-curricular opportunities for its students and has a very well organised system of sharing information about them.