About Me
Name
Leonie Schwannecke
Prior Education
Bucerius Law School (Erste Juristische Prüfung, 2022)
Before Ann Arbor
I lived in Hamburg, Germany.
Before My LLM Year
I worked as a research assistant at Bucerius Law School (Hamburg) in the area of contract law, while also starting to write my PhD thesis in private international law, with a focus on international succession law.
What Makes Me Different From My Classmates
My career goal is to work in legal academia, and I wanted to use the LLM to gain insights both in areas of law that I am already focusing on in Germany as well as some new ones. This also meant that I never planned to take a bar exam in the United States, which gave me more flexibility in choosing my classes—a flexibility that I greatly appreciated.
I ended up with a mix of classical “doctrinals,” like Contracts, but also classes from wholly unfamiliar areas, such as “Shakespeare and the Law.”
My Time at Michigan Law
Why I Chose Michigan Law
The small LLM class and the great communication with everyone during the application and admissions process. Another key factor was that I wanted to (and then did!) work with one of the professors at Michigan Law because his research focus is close to what I would like to do.
What Makes Michigan Law Special
Definitely the Michigan Law community. I have met so many great and incredibly smart people in Jeffries Hall, Hutchins Hall, and on the Law Quad. Plus, most classes are rather small, which makes it easy to get in touch.
What is also special is how open and encouraging the professors are to ask questions, even outside of class, and to stay in touch. From my experience, they are genuine about this, and it provides an opportunity which cannot be overvalued. Michigan Law really allows you to build both personally and academically meaningful relationships with a variety of people.
My Favorite Class
I genuinely loved all of my classes. To pick one, perhaps Formation of the Common Law with Professor John Hudson because this class introduced me to an area of legal research that I had not engaged with before and found to be very interesting.
What Surprised Me Most About Michigan Law
How engaging and interactive most of my classes were—not just the seminars, but also the lectures. (Hello, Socratic method!) While this may sometimes be stressful, it definitely helped to learn a lot and stay focused.
The Most Difficult Thing About the LLM Year
Being far away from my family and not having the option to go home for just a weekend.
On a lighter note: the air conditioning in the lecture rooms and the libraries. Especially on warmer days, I always carry around an extra sweater to stay warm inside.
The Best Things About Ann Arbor
It is a cute town that feels very welcoming. There are numerous nice cafés to meet up with friends, the Nichols Arboretum allows for some time in nature, and pretty much everything you need is within walking distance.
If I Could Time Travel, I Would Give Myself This Advice at the Start of My LLM Year
Don’t panic. You are in the right place and will feel at home soon enough!
Extracurricular Activities
I joined the Michigan Campus Symphony Orchestra at the beginning of the LLM year. This allowed me to connect with people outside the Law School—and to perform in Hill Auditorium.
Fun Stuff
When I’m Not Studying
I’m playing the violin; going to a concert in Hill Auditorium; or meeting up with friends for food, coffee, or walks in the Arboretum.
My Favorite Way to De-stress
Yoga, music, or reading a non-law book.
Favorite Book
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Favorite Movie
Jenseits der Stille (Beyond Silence)
Favorite TV Show
Gilmore Girls
Favorite Beverage
Tea in all variants
Favorite Item at the Kirkland & Ellis Cafe
A cappuccino with oat milk is the go-to to make it through afternoon classes and long study days.