A Honeymoon, an LL.M., and a Life in Paris: One Couple’s Assas Experience
“We used to joke that the LL.M. was our honeymoon. Looking back, the joke held more truth than we realised.”
One week after celebrating their wedding in the South of France, Mary Nagel and David Mazza arrived in Paris with suitcases, ambitious plans, and the excitement of beginning three life-changing journeys at once: marriage, an LL.M., and a new life abroad.
For the newlyweds, joining the LL.M. International Business Law at Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas was much more than an academic decision. It was the fulfilment of a dream they had been building together since the beginning of law school in the United States.
Pursuing Two Degrees, Together
Mary and David chose to spend the final year of their U.S. Juris Doctor (J.D.) completing the French LL.M. International Business Law at Assas. The experience allowed them to earn both degrees simultaneously while immersing themselves in one of Europe’s leading legal and business environments.
Their journey also marked a first for the programme.
They became the first married couple to graduate together from the LL.M. International Business Law.
As classmates, study partners and now husband and wife, their learning extended well beyond the classroom.
“Some of our best discussions happened while cooking dinner after class, debating the legal issues we had explored that day.”
An International Legal Education
Throughout the programme, the breadth of the curriculum enabled each of them to pursue their own academic interests while sharing the same educational experience.
The combination of courses delivered by renowned professors and practical sessions led by French and international law firms gave them valuable insight into the realities of cross-border legal practice.
For Mary, whose interests include international finance, mergers and acquisitions, and public international law, the programme reinforced her ambition to practise between New York and Paris.
David, passionate about corporate law, startups and technology, similarly benefited from exposure to international business practice before beginning his career as a corporate associate in New York.
Discovering Paris Beyond the Classroom
Life at Assas was equally defined by the moments outside lectures.
Over the months, they developed small traditions that made Paris feel like home: visiting their favourite cheese and produce vendors at the markets on Avenue du Président Wilson and Place de Passy, taking Sunday walks along the Seine, and enjoying picnics in the Luxembourg Gardens between classes.
Whenever long weekends arrived, they explored France’s remarkable regional diversity.
From walking the historic beaches of Normandy in the footsteps of David’s great-grandfather to discovering the vineyards of Champagne and Burgundy, every journey became part of their French experience.
More Than an LL.M.
For Mary and David, the year at Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas became much more than an academic milestone.
Living, studying and building a new life together in Paris strengthened both their professional ambitions and their personal relationship.
Their experience illustrates what many international students discover during their time at Assas: an LL.M. is not only about acquiring advanced legal knowledge. It is about joining an international community, experiencing French culture, building lifelong friendships and creating memories that extend far beyond graduation.
As they look ahead to their legal careers, one thing remains certain: while the LL.M. provided an exceptional legal education, their first year of marriage in Paris will remain one of the defining chapters of their lives.
About the Authors
Mary Nagel is an alumna of the LL.M. International Business Law at Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas. Her interests include international finance, mergers and acquisitions, and public international law. She intends to practise law between New York and Paris.
David Mazza is an alumnus of the LL.M. in International Business Law at Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas. His interests include corporate law, startups and technology, and he plans to practise as a corporate lawyer in New York.
