THEME: Law in Esbjerg - "we experience a fantastic energy from the business community"

You don’t have to talk long with Troels Michael Lilja and Per Andersen before you understand that here are two professors who are truly passionate about teaching and creating a good study environment. They have just welcomed the 48 students who have started law in Esbjerg. And as they themselves say, they can hardly contain their excitement. 

– Being part of building a program from scratch is truly a dream job. And because we work with a relatively small group here in Esbjerg, we have some different opportunities than in the big cities. We meet the students at eye level, and I already experience that they dare to open their mouths and accept making mistakes. That’s how you get smarter, says Troels, emphasizing that the two are not doing it alone, but are building on the foundation that the management in Odense has developed in close contact with employers of lawyers in Esbjerg and the surrounding area. 

– Maybe it’s also related to the fact that Per and I don’t care so much about how we appear ourselves. We don’t put ourselves on a pedestal but want to create a learning environment and a space where the students feel safe, Troels continues. 

Per explains that this also means keeping a protective hand over them in the beginning, so they don’t feel too pressured, neither by the reading load nor by taking a study-relevant job: 

– And it’s a bit of a balancing act, because we have a business community in Esbjerg that brings a truly fantastic energy. I have rarely experienced that before. It’s really cool, but we also need to shield the students a bit in the beginning so they don’t get too overwhelmed. Therefore, I constantly try to say to the business community: “It’s so great that you are here, and we will definitely reach out more later, but they need to settle well into the study and in Esbjerg in general,” says Per. He lives a bit outside Aarhus with his family.  

– We tried to demonstrate this during the introduction week, where we invited someone from the City Court to judge a procedural competition. I contacted them at a somewhat unfortunate time because they were really busy. Nevertheless, they found time for us and sent both a deputy judge and an associate judge. It was simply so cool because now we could show the students a mini version of how a case proceeds in practice. One thing is presenting something to your classmates or instructors, another is speaking in front of a judge wearing a robe. 

Talents for the city 

They agree that Esbjerg needs the law program and that a fantastic job has been done to attract it. It also helps to challenge the notion of capital city lawyers versus provincial lawyers. Previously, the trend was that the big city kept the best lawyers, while those who had difficulty getting a job were sent westward. Or they had to be attracted by a particularly high salary or favorable conditions.  

– It simply increases the talent pool in South and Southern Jutland that Esbjerg now educates lawyers, because many will automatically stay in the area afterwards, says Per.  

They look forward to getting even more started with the semester and building a healthy culture among the students, where, for example, they gladly share notes and generally take care of each other. Unlike many other instructors at universities, they also participate in creating new, fun traditions.  

– Before the introduction week, I had a logo designed, which we had printed on a T-shirt for the students. I chose to have the logo printed at Ki-Vi.dk here in Esbjerg. The owner said: “My niece just started law school. You won’t get her in that one.” But afterwards, with her consent, I could send a picture of her wearing the T-shirt – and the rest of the group also wore it. He thought that was funny, and it also shows what a smaller study town can do. It becomes more close-knit, Troels says with a smile.  

Education Esbjerg

Education Esbjerg was established as a secretariat in January 2020 with its own board and with contributions and support from Esbjerg Municipality as well as a number of the city’s companies and foundations.

The association’s mission is to make Esbjerg an attractive education and study city and it also has a stake in the establishment of the law program in the city.

Education Esbjerg was part of Business Esbjerg but became an independent unit with its own CVR number in January 2023.