Recent graduate shares experiences from the Penn State Law LL.M. Program

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Victoria Celine Brovoll, a recent Penn State Law LL.M. graduate from Norway, not only wanted to learn about the U.S. legal system, she wanted to immerse herself in American culture.  When she discovered her school, the Bergen Faculty of Law School in Norway, has an exchange program with Penn State Law, she knew that’s where she wanted to study.  

Brovoll chose Penn State Law because she wanted a law school where she could study law, practice English, and experience American culture. Penn State Law’s location appealed most to Brovoll.  She loved the intimate feel of State College, full of life with 40,000 students, while its close proximity to New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia allowed Brovoll to easily travel and see other parts of the country.

“I knew that I wanted to go to an English-speaking country, and I chose the United States because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get an education and live in the U.S.,” she said. “Getting an LL.M. degree from Penn State is one of the best choices I have made for my career.”

She credits Penn State Law professor Thomas Carbonneau and his arbitration class with making the biggest impact on her future career. At Norwegian law schools, the curriculum focuses on the theory of law and students are taught to think academically. At Penn State Law, Brovoll says, in addition to furthering her doctrinal knowledge, she learned more practical skills.

“Professor Carbonneau taught us how to be lawyers,” she said. “He taught us to look at the law to find the best scenario for our client.”

Penn State Law also taught Brovoll to be well-prepared.  In Norway, she said students don’t raise their hands in class, because professors don’t take questions in class, nor do they call on anyone. Rather, students must email questions to their professors. Practicing the Socratic Method in her classes here forced her to keep up with the assigned reading and be ready to give analysis.

“I was a bit nervous at the beginning of the fall semester because the Socratic Method puts you on the spot in class,” she said. “But I got used to it, and this prepares me for any professional scenario where I have to stand up and talk in front of people. This prepares you to argue orally and speak in public.”

In addition to her education at Penn State Law, Brovoll also enjoyed American culture. When she befriended an American Penn State Law student, she experienced a family Thanksgiving at his home.  She also attended a Penn State football game and tailgate, which she calls one of the social highlights of her time in the U.S.

“There is nothing like this in Norway, seeing people of all ages barbecuing, playing games and just spending time together; it was amazing,” she said. “And meeting someone has really allowed me to experience living as an American.”

Brovoll will return to Norway in July and go to work for a law firm there. She hopes to use her U.S. legal and arbitration skills there. She is also considering taking the U.S. bar exam in the future.