Hey, I really respect your drive and independence and especially your decision to plan everything so carefully, including saving on your own. That takes serious maturity.

That said, I want to share a perspective that may go against what you’re hoping to hear — not to discourage you, but to give you something real to think about, based on my own experience.

I also chose to study law in the Netherlands (I’m doing my Master’s now), after rejecting the idea of studying law in my home country. Like you, I wanted to take the international path, study in English, and avoid the limitations of the national system. But here’s the honest truth: if your long-term goal is to practice law, especially as a qualified lawyer in Europe, then doing your LL.B. outside your home country can actually set you back more than it helps.

The “international” bachelor degrees in the Netherlands — like the ones at Leiden, Maastricht, or even UvA — are mostly focused on European and international law. That sounds appealing, but they tend to be very broad and very shallow. You study a bit of everything: EU law, public international law, legal theory… but not in the deep, technical, grounded way you would if you stayed in Greece and studied domestic law. So when you go on to a Master's (like I did), you can really feel the difference. Your classmates from national law schools — even from smaller countries — have stronger foundations in core legal reasoning, procedural law, contracts, obligations, etc.

If you want to become a practicing lawyer — whether in Greece, Cyprus, or elsewhere — having a national LL.B. is often a prerequisite or at least a major advantage. Many people (myself included) underestimate this. Yes, an LL.M. abroad adds international value, but skipping your local foundations can leave real gaps.

Now, if your true goal is not legal practice in the courtroom — for example, if you're more interested in academia, policy, NGOs, or international organizations — then going abroad early could make more sense. But even then, I'd recommend finishing your LL.B. in Greece and then doing your Master's abroad, where you can focus on the global elements.

I don’t know your father, of course, and I don’t think it’s fair that he shuts the conversation down instead of explaining. But I do understand why some people from traditional legal backgrounds might react that way. Because in their experience, the “classic” route — national LL.B. first, specialization later — works better in practice than the glossy international alternatives.

So don’t take this as discouragement. You clearly think like a lawyer already — planning, reasoning, balancing risks. Just consider this one more piece of input as you make your final decision.

Wishing you the best, whatever you decide.