Gernandt & Danielsson's scholarship for degree work in commercial law, Stockholm
Background
Increasing the practical elements in legal education is a recurring subject of discussion and a common desire amongst law students. An increased insight into the application of the law and the actual practice of law facilitate the transition from legal studies to legal practice and better equip the new lawyer to meet the challenges of legal practice, whether the student is looking for work at a law firm, governmental authority, corporation, or other workplace.
Since 2000, in cooperation with The Faculty of Law of Stockholm University, Gernandt & Danielsson has awarded a scholarship to students approaching the end of their legal studies who wish to have an opportunity during their legal studies to closely follow the work carried out at a law firm which focuses on commercial law. The purpose of the scholarship is to stimulate an exchange and increase the contacts between law students and the university on one hand and practising lawyers on the other. The scholarship is an opportunity for the student to get the subject of the paper illuminated by practising lawyers. For the individual student, the scholarship is also a way of acquiring practical experience, establishing contacts, and preparing for work as a practising lawyer after the conclusion of his or her studies.
One semester at the law firm
The recipient of the scholarship is offered an opportunity during one semester, or any shorter period of time which is required, to use Gernandt & Danielsson's offices in Stockholm as his or her work place and to write his or her degree paper for 30 points in a subject related to commercial law. This is not an internship at the firm. The recipient of the scholarship is thus not assisting the firm's lawyers in their work but instead carrying out his degree work independently and in contact with his or her supervisor at the Faculty of Law. The purpose is to provide the recipient of the scholarship with an opportunity to spend an extended period of time at a commercial law firm, follow the practising lawyers in their daily work, and to increase his or her knowledge of the way in which practical legal problems can be analysed and addressed. The scholarship also provides an opportunity to form contacts which may be valuable in a future legal career irrespective of which type of work place the student chooses to work at following his or her studies.
During this time at Gernandt & Danielsson, the recipient of the scholarship has access to all technical and other aids the law firm offers. Naturally, the workplace used by the student is equipped with modern computer equipment with access to databases and other legal aids the student might require for his or her legal research, etc. The student also has access to the law firm's library and its extensive collection of publications and Swedish and international legal literature and journals.
The amount of the scholarship
The scholarship for the fall term of 2010 is SEK 30,000.
No obligation to produce results is linked to the scholarship. However, the scholarship is intended to enable legal studies to be concluded during the period at the law firm. Publication of the paper may be possible for particularly prominent work.
Who can apply for the scholarship?
Any law student at Stockholm University who, during the next term, intends to write his or her degree paper for 30 points in a subject related to commercial law can apply for the scholarship. No later than at the time of the decision of the awarding of the scholarship, the applicant must fulfil the formal basic knowledge requirements in order to write the paper, as set out by The Faculty of Law.
The applicant must have chosen a well-defined subject for the paper and established contact with a supervisor for his or her degree paper. The subject of the paper may deal with any of the areas which are deemed to be of central importance in commercial law, for example contract law, company law, real estate law, employment law, intellectual property law, dispute resolution, competition law, capital markets law, or other financial law. However, subjects outside commercial law core areas may also be eligible for the scholarship such as subjects involving municipal or other administrative law or European law. Of decisive importance is the fact that the subject of the paper deals with issues which frequently affect commercial businesses in a broad sense or are of particular doctrinal importance.
The applicant should have very high grades from his or her legal studies and be interested in the commercial work conducted at a law firm.
Gernandt & Danielsson Advokatbyrå
Gernandt & Danielsson is one of the leading Swedish law firms in Swedish and international commercial law. The firm represents clients in Sweden and abroad both in conjunction with large commercial transactions and disputes as well as general advice. Since the formation of the firm in 1992, the practice has expanded continuously. Today approximately 75 lawyers are practising at the firm. The practice is conducted in offices located in central Stockholm.
Gernandt & Danielsson continually recruits new associates and also annually employs law students as summer associates.
Application forms, etc.
The application for the scholarship must be submitted on a special application form. The form can be obtained from Utbildningskansliet, Juridiska Institutionen, Stockholm University, room C445, telephone +46 8-16 34 31 or from research assistant Moa Beijer Gomel, room C804, telephone +46 8-16 32 79, the Stockholm University Law Faculty. Applications for the scholarship for the fall of 2010 must be received by Gernandt & Danielsson not later than 28 May 2010 in an envelope marked "Legal paper scholarship" or by e-mail to anna.hagander@gda.se. Applications received will be processed by a scholarship committee consisting of Professor Jan Kleineman, Professor Lars Pehrson, Advokat Karl-Erik Danielsson, Advokat Anders Lundin and Advokat Tobias Larsson, the three latter persons practising at Gernandt & Danielsson. The scholarship committee is assisted in its work by research assistant Moa Beijer Gomel.
Further information regarding the scholarship can be
obtained from research assistant Moa Beijer Gomel,
room C804, telephone +46 8-16 32 79, e-mail
moa.beijer-gomel@juridicum.su.se, or from Advokat
Tobias Larsson, telephone + 46 8-670 66 00, e-mail tobias.larsson@gda.se.