Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico (Single cycle degree/Combined Bachelor and Master - 300/360 ECTS) in Law

Lawyer (after a period of apprenticeship and passing a State Exam according to current law)

• Function in a professional context:

The single cycle degree programme in Law is required in order to exercise the legal profession, after passing the State exam.
Lawyers represent and defend the interests of their clients (person, company, organisation, etc.) on legal matters through the various degrees of civil, criminal or administrative justice. They draw up contracts and legal deeds, provide legal advice, lend legal assistance and act as an arbiter in out-of-court settlements. These acts are done with full awareness of the essential constitutional role and function of the lawyer regarding the protection of rights and interests of individual persons and collective organisations.

• Competencies associated to the function:

- Knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, case law, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by lifelong learning, as well as by:
- The ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian;
- Interpersonal skills (relating to clients, colleagues, judges, etc.);
- ICT skills;
- Managerial skills;
- Ability to harness economic and accounting procedures to legal practice;
- Strong command of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages.

• Career opportunities:

The legal profession is a career achieved through steps:
1) 2nd cycle Law graduates begin their careers as apprentices at a law firm, enabling them to hone knowledge gained at university. One partial alternative is to attend a Specialisation School for the legal professions. During the apprenticeship period they not only broaden their own legal background but get to know the various legal offices and learn how to handle routine practice of the legal profession.
2) After completing their apprenticeship and then passing the State Examination enabling them to exercise the legal profession, lawyers may set up their own firms or work for others (attorneys, banks, insurance agents, companies, public administration, etc.).
Lawyers may complete their education by attending a Specialisation School or second-level Professional Masters Degree.

Notary public (upon passing the nationwide competition as foreseen by current law)

• Function in a professional context:

The single cycle degree programme in Law is required in order to sit the State Notary Examination.
Notaries receive and draw up legal deeds inter vivos (conveyancing, mortgages, donations) and wills; they accord them public status in their capacity as public officials; they register and transcribe them on public registries; they preserve and authenticate them; they issue copies, extracts and certificates.
Notaries also ascertain the will of contracting parties and translate this into legal idiom, vouching for the legality of the final deed; they advise the parties as to the most suitable document for their ends; they check the legality of deeds and transactions; they verify the conformity of documents; they perform document searches (at the mortgage and land registry offices) and provide specialist advice (excise and revenue tax, civil law, etc.).

• Competencies associated to the function:

- Knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, case law, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by lifelong learning, as well as by:
- The ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian;
- Interpersonal skills (relating to clients, colleagues, staff, etc.);
- The ability to analyse the client's needs and decide which service they relate to;
- ICT skills;
- Managerial skills;
- Familiarity with the practices and principles of economics and accountancy;
- Strong command of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages.

• Career opportunities:

The notarial profession is a career achieved through steps:
1) 2nd cycle Law graduates begin their careers as apprentices at a notary's office, enabling them to hone knowledge gained at university. One partial alternative is to attend a Specialisation School for the legal professions. During the practice period they not only broaden their own legal background but get to know the various legal offices and learn how to handle routine practice of the notarial profession.
2) After passing the State notary exam, they are appointed to a professional practice which they are expected to open to the public within three months

Judge (upon passing the nationwide competition as foreseen by current law)

• Function in a professional context:

The single cycle degree programme in Law is required in order be admitted to the national competition procedure run by the Ministry of Justice.
Judges first establish the facts of the case and then adjudicate criminal, civil or administrative disputes. They arrange and conduct hearings, examine trial proceedings, appoint legal experts; they collect and assess evidence or information; they listen to the parties and their counsel, set investigations in motion, pass judgment. Judges are also expected to monitor prison conditions, decide corrective measures as an alternative to prison, check that the constitution or law is being observed, supervise the work of administrative staff, preside over economic resources and public spending mechanisms.

• Competencies associated to the function:

- Knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, case law, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by lifelong learning;
- The ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian;
- The ability to relate to the public and professionals (lawyers, contending parties, colleagues, judiciary police, etc.)
- The ability to apply investigative techniques;
- ICT skills;
- The ability to interact with other professionals and understand the dynamics of business organisation;
- Knowledge of administrative and office procedure;
- Familiarity with archiving techniques;
- Strong command of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages.

• Career opportunities:

The profession of judge is a career achieved through steps:
1) Law graduates must attend a restricted-access specialisation course at a Specialisation School for the legal profession (2 year programme).
2) They must pass a national competition set by the Ministry of Justice.
3) They must attend an obligatory 6-month course at the Higher School for Judges.
After the exam, a twelve-month apprenticeship (tirocinio) in judicial offices takes place.
After eleven more years they can be appointed Appeal Court Judge and another seven again are declared eligible for appointment to the Court of Cassation.
Judges may practise at the following institutions (in some cases conditional on further selection by competition): Superior Council of Judges, Superior Council of Military Judges, Constitutional Court, Court of Cassation, Appeal Court, Ordinary Law Courts, Assize Courts, Assize Appeal Court, Juvenile Court, Surveillance Court,
State Auditors' Court, State Legal Advisory Service, Regional Administrative Courts, Council of State

Company Legal Expert

• Function in a professional context:

Law graduates may also work as legal experts in businesses.
The profession involves managing and coordinating a company legal office as well as dealing with legal points arising in company business. Business, procedure and documents must be checked for conformity with law; contracts and other documents of legal weight need drawing up, for the home and international markets. As well as legal opinion to be given, there are files and dossiers and administrative matters to be looked after, relationships with outsiders (such as other lawyers). The legal side of the business must be run in support of administration and other offices; credits need retrieving; institutional bodies must be attended (committees, consultative bodies, etc.).
The legal expert's job is also to prevent disputes and, if this proves impossible, to handle them under his/her responsibility, acting as a go-between for the company with external lawyers.

• Competencies associated to the function:

- Knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, case law, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by lifelong learning, as well as by:
- The ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian;
- The ability to liaise over administration and business management;
- Knowledge of administrative and office procedure;
- Familiarity with archiving techniques;
- Managerial skills;
- Familiarity with the practices and principles of economics and accountancy;
- The ability to manage staff and human resources;
- The ability to interact with other professionals and understand the dynamics of business organisation;
- Familiarity with the principles/methods of presenting, promoting and selling products and services;
- Interpersonal skills (relating to colleagues, users and clients);
- ICT skills;
- Strong command of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages.

• Career opportunities:

Company legal experts may be consultants or employees of industrial or manufacturing concerns, banking or insurance institutes, professional chambers (lawyers, notaries, accountants, technical consultants, architects, etc.).
They generally work at head office or headquarters of regional branches.
This is a specialist career ranging from junior legal assistant to manager of the legal and disputes office.
Legal experts may complete their education by attending a Specialisation School or second-level Professional Masters Degree.

Legal expert for public offices

• Function in a professional context:

Law graduates may exercise the profession of legal expert for public offices.
The profession involves managing and coordinating a legal office as well as dealing with legal points arising in Public Administration institutes. Activities, procedure and documents must be checked for conformity with law; contracts and other documents of legal weight need drawing up, on the home and international fronts. As well as legal opinion to be given, there are files and dossiers and administrative matters to be looked after, relationships with outside bodies (law courts, State Legal Advisory Service, etc.). The legal side of the institute must be run in support of administration and other offices; institutional bodies must be attended (committees, consultative bodies, etc.).
The legal expert's job is also to prevent disputes and, if this proves impossible, to handle them under his/her responsibility.

• Competencies associated to the function:

- Knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, case law, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by lifelong learning, as well as by:
- The ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian;
- The ability to administer and manage the institute in question;
- Knowledge of administrative and office procedure;
- Familiarity with archiving techniques;
- Managerial skills;
- Familiarity with the practices and principles of economics and accountancy;
- The ability to manage staff and human resources;
- The ability to interact with other professionals and understand the organisational dynamics of in-house work flows;
- Interpersonal skills;
- ICT skills;
- Familiarity with the main apparatus, policies, procedures and strategies to ensure safety and security at a local and national level with a view to protecting persons, information, property and institutions;
- Familiarity with group behaviour and dynamics, social trends and influences, migration of peoples, ethnic group phenomena;
- Strong command of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages.

• Career opportunities:

Legal experts for public offices may practice in Italy, Europe or worldwide.
1) In Italy, by winning competitions set by Public Administration, they may hold top-level local government positions (Municipalities, Regions, Provinces); or in public authorities (health boards, Chambers of Commerce, Universities, public companies); in national organisations (Government, Parliament); the Inland Revenue, Works Inspectorate. He/she may also hold positions in the administration of justice (Law court offices).
2) In Europe, by winning public competitions set by the European Personnel Selection Office, they may occupy prestige and responsible positions in European bodies (Commission, Parliament, Council, Court of Justice, Auditors' Court, Regional Committee, Ombudsman, Data Protection Supervisor).
3) Worldwide, he/she may pursue a diplomatic career and rise, by competitions, to prestige and responsible positions in governmental and non-governmental organisations. Legal experts may complete their education by attending a Specialisation School or Professional Masters Degree.