Alumni Spotlight | Lucas van Hattem, LL.M.’21
In this first article of our Alumni Spotlight series, we are delighted to feature the profile of our alumnus Lucas van Hattem. With a passion for European Law and International relations, Lucas has charted a remarkable career path since earning his LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context in 2021. This article delves into Lucas’ journey and accomplishments, providing a glimpse into his experience at Católica Global School of Law and the impact he has made in the legal world after he graduated.
Can you share with our readers where you are currently in your professional journey and how you got there?
I am currently working at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) in Brussels. After earning my master’s degree in law in Antwerp, Belgium, I decided to further my studies with an LL.M in Lisbon. Following my graduation, I went to Brazil to complete several internships focused on Brazil-EU relations.
About six months after graduating from Católica, I was accepted into the European Commission’s Blue Book traineeship program (March 2022). At the end of my traineeship, I was able to extend my stay with a short-term contract and after successfully passing the mandatory tests, and working in different teams in DG RTD, I now hold my current position as a contract agent.
How did your time at Católica Global School of Law help you prepare for your current role?
Obtaining an offer to be a trainee at the European Commission is not an easy task since the competition is very high. I’m convinced that my LL.M. Law in European and Global Context, the international aspect of it and co-publishing an article with a professor during the LL.M. have significantly improved my chances when applying for the traineeship since I believe it made my curriculum more complete and in line with what the European institutions look for when pre-selecting their trainees. In addition, spending a year immersed in various aspects of the European Union provided me with a strong foundation in European integration, its processes, and its global relations.
What advice do you have for our current students or applicants who aspire to follow a similar career path?
Since the competition to work for the European Commission, or the other institutions is very high I believe it is crucial to obtain the right qualifications and ambition. This of course includes a relevant academic background, but I believe it is equally important to show good (inter) personal skills, as working together is part of my daily routine, and other specific (soft skills). I’m convinced it will not only make you stand out, but these are also skills you need as a European civil servant. For the latter reason I believe it is worth it to invest in particular professional and social skills that are not necessarily taught in a classroom.
In addition, while rejection is not always easy to be confronted with, I would recommend to not give up to quickly when things don’t directly go your way. I was for example only selected for the traineeship after applying for the second time and invested substantive time in studying after hours to pass the mandatory tests.
Lastly, there are plenty of opportunities to work with the European institutions or have an impact on the future of the European Union without working in the Institutions themselves. The beautiful city of Brussels (and other places in the European Union) offers various great opportunities to contribute, leave you mark and help shape our European future.