Derek Heath — a US law graduate — sought a Master of Laws (LL.M.) programme that was designed for students who wished to work while in school. When he saw the diverse range of subject fields covered in the LL.M. in International Business Law at the University of Lausanne (UNIL), Switzerland, he realised that it had many other advantages.
It trains attorneys from across the world to face legal challenges in today’s global business environment. It’s delivered in a hybrid format, combining online and in-person courses. You can tailor the curriculum to match your work schedule. And regardless of the format, learning is rigorous, and the community is vast.
“I highly recommend this programme for those wishing to meet a diverse background of both students and professors, all of whom are helpful and do their best to get you where you want to be,” says Heath.
UNIL itself is home to a community of nearly 15,000 students and 5,000 staff members, comprising about 120 nationalities. Class sizes stay small, but the exchange of ideas is anything but. You’ll learn alongside and from peers coming from Italy, Chile, Kenya, the UK, Turkey, and beyond, each bringing insights from their legal systems and industries.
Source: University of Lausanne
That’s not all. With UNIL’s interdisciplinary, comparative, and practice-oriented approach to business law, learning takes you far beyond the classroom. Real-world experience is embedded into the curriculum. UNIL’s location adds to its appeal even more. Set by the shores of Lake Geneva, near 25 sports federations, including the International Olympic Committee, it offers both beauty and strategic opportunities.
The LL.M. administration’s career support has led many bright individuals to secure internships in renowned companies, such as Archer Daniels Midland, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, FIFA, and the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation. Sometimes their classmates, who already work in industry, further expand the LL.M. network. While completing her LL.M. degree at UNIL, Natalia Shkarban had been working at PPG –– recognised by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s most innovative in-house legal teams.
Every year, UNIL hosts a major international conference, providing loads of networking opportunities sponsoring international organisations, law firms, and companies. Source: University of Lausanne
Work, study, network
When you enrol in the LL.M. in International Business Law, you can arrange your schedule in either two- to three-day blocks or four- to six-day blocks, depending on your commitments. Tests and exams are administered immediately after each course, and you may choose to write the LL.M. thesis under the remote supervision of an instructor.
Courses are taught fully in English by world-class law professors: from Stefano Agostini, a commercial lawyer with more than 30 years of practice, to Sandrine Giroud, who specialises in domestic and international litigation, and is a regular speaker at global conferences.
If you’d like to enter the global marketplace through a particular field, then you can opt to pursue one of the five specialisations offered. For example, if you’ve got a passion for sports regulation, then the International Business Law and Sports specialisation is exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll take a total of 60 credits — 18 related to the field, 18 for the LL.M. Thesis, and 24 freely chosen.
Whichever you choose, expect to make an impact. For Prathiba Karthikeyan, an Indian law graduate, the “Practice of Philanthropy” course empowered her to make a difference. “After the successful completion of the source, I have been selected for an internship with Impact Philanthropy Advisors,” she says. “The world needs every helping hand possible, and decluttering legal issues related to the philanthropy sector will definitely serve well.”
LL.M. students also engage in other meaningful opportunities, remaining just as active as the faculty and staff. The LL.M. programme was involved in the drafting of the Updated International Bar Association Guidance Note on Business and Human Rights. Exchange programmes are popular among students keen on applying knowledge –– participants benefit from negotiated discounts in US LL.M. programmes. Others may choose to complete their research in countries like Canada, China, or India.
On campus, students join Swiss-led associations focused on Art and Law, Sports Law, and Climate and Innovation. Through these, they get to curate networks that matter. Some go further, earning credentials as ADR-ODR-accredited Civil and Commercial Mediators or Digital Dispute Resolution Specialists, thanks to UNIL’s partnership with ADR-ODR International.
Learn more about the LL.M. in International Business Law at the University of Lausanne.
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