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As an up-and-coming lawyer in Lisbon, Portugal, a few years ago, Diana Rosa knew she needed more than just her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Law and Commercial Law to excel in the competitive field of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). She sought a programme that would bridge the gap between legal expertise and business/economics – and that’s when she discovered the Institute for Law and Finance (ILF) at Goethe University.
The ILF’s LL.M. Finance programme was a revelation for Rosa. “The variety of classes offered, which spanned from Law to Finance, Business and Management — all-important know-how for an M&A lawyer to have — quickly convinced me that this was the right programme for me,” she says. “And indeed, I joined the Class of 2022 the next year and was not disappointed.”
Established in 2002, the ILF is a non-profit powerhouse for legal and financial education. However, what truly sets the ILF apart is its location: Frankfurt, Germany. In this charming European city, you will find the European Central Bank, the central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Stock Exchange, regulatory authorities, many commercial banks and consultancy firms as well as top international law firms. More than just a physical representation of the intersection between law and finance, these are also the setting of the LL.M. Finance’s mandatory internships for its students.
For Rosa, the internship was a great introduction to the city’s job market. As the ILF was well-regarded here, it was a strong draw for students like her to move and establish themselves in this city. “It was through the ILF that I first got acquainted with the team I currently work with as an Associate in the M&A Department of the German law firm Hengeler Mueller (Frankfurt office),” she says.
The LL.M. Finance’s interdisciplinary approach equips you with a holistic understanding of the complex interplay between law and finance. You will immerse yourself in courses exploring legal frameworks and economic principles, such as Drafting of Contracts, International Capital Markets Law of Commercial Banking, Law of Project and Acquisition Finance, Law of Corporate Finance, Accounting, Global Economic Environment, Sustainable Finance and ESG Strategies and many more. You can choose from over 35 law and business/finance courses, creating a personalised curriculum that aligns with your desired area of specialisation. All these enable you to grasp the financial implications of legal decisions and keep up with the numerous rapid changes in the global financial markets and new requirements for financial, banking, central banking, capital markets and insolvency laws and regulations etc.
Comprised of international experts with vast industry experience, the ILF faculty brings theory and practice to life in every class. This diverse group hails from over 10 European and American countries, cultivating a truly global learning environment. Just ask graduate Ketki Kulkarni who benefited from the expertise and experience of these distinguished faculty members.
“I enjoyed the case studies approach, which gave me the opportunity to put what I had learned in class into practice,” she says. “The classroom discussions were made even more exciting when we exchanged differing viewpoints based on diverse legal systems in our respective home countries and our professional experiences, thereby widening the horizon of our discussions.”
A close-knit cohort allows students to fully embrace the rigours of the curriculum. With around 50 students admitted annually, you benefit from direct and personalised contact with the lecturers. This allows for in-depth discussions and a more tailored learning experience.
Lecturers are by no means your only source of support here. As the ILF is a forum of exchange for members of the legal and financial industries, you gain invaluable insights from those at the forefront of the industry. Through conferences and seminars, you have a platform to network with potential employers. Networking sessions let you forge more meaningful relationships with ILF alumni and seasoned lecturers who understand your background and career aspirations.
Internships are mandatory, and Goethe University facilitates placements within Frankfurt’s financial institutions, banks, law firms, and consultancies. Source: ILF, Goethe University
The best part? A mandatory internship that exposes you to cutting-edge practices and the working culture of top-tier organisations. Imagine gaining valuable real-world experience through seven-week or eight-week internships at the European Central Bank, central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany, the leading international law firms, major banks, accounting firms, and more.
“The programme’s thoughtfully crafted internship structure was quite impressive as it provided me with a direct path to the financial industry, which was in line with my career aim of gaining real-world experience to complement the theoretical knowledge I was studying in class,” says Kulkarni.
Having completed the programme, Kulkarni believes it has significantly broadened her knowledge base and provided crucial insights into the complex interactions between law and finance.
Graduate Kristin Lyaskova, now a manager at PwC Legal in Frankfurt, agrees. “I never expected such a wealth of experience in one place and I never thought Frankfurt would offer such amazing job opportunities,” she says. “Most of which I would have been unaware of, if it were not for the wonderful lecturers, staff and the inbuilt internship at the ILF.”
Beyond academics, ILF has a vibrant social scene. You can participate in various extracurricular activities throughout the year, including networking dinners, industry tours, and alumni roundtables. These events provide valuable opportunities to connect with peers, industry leaders, and alumni, creating a strong professional network that will take your career far.
Interested in the ILF’s LL.M. Finance programme, ranked Top 10 worldwide for Banking, Finance, and Securities Law by the LL.M. Guide? Click here to learn more.
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