The legal landscape is evolving rapidly with new technologies, shifting regulations, and rising client expectations. With the right qualification, however, legal professionals can stay ahead — regardless of existing responsibilities. Today, flexible, career-focused programmes exist, designed specifically to meet the needs of working professionals.
One of the most innovative examples is found at the University of Fribourg’s Institute for International Business Law (IBL). Nestled in the heart of Switzerland, Fribourg’s Faculty of Law has shaped legal minds for over 250 years. Its fully bilingual environment unites law, business, and politics in a uniquely international academic setting. Graduates leave not only with a respected degree but also with the confidence and capability to navigate complex global laws and multinational teams effectively.
To make this possible for all professionals, the IBL offers Master of Laws (LL.M.) and Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programmes specifically tailored for working lawyers and legal-adjacent professionals. Programmes are delivered in English and offered full-time, part-time, in person, hybrid, or fully online — enabling students to customise their learning path while balancing work and personal commitments.
Courses are co-developed with top-tier international law firms and global corporations, ensuring students engage with real-world issues — from managing cross-border transactions to navigating sanctions, and from drafting robust contracts to mitigating compliance risks.
IBL online students can complete the exam online in a self paced manner. IBL students have the flexibility to attend lectures in person, online, or in a hybrid format. Source: Pexel/Stock photo
Learning that works around you
The LL.M. programme offers specialised tracks in International Business Law, International Contracts & Arbitration, Compliance, and Commodity Trading. Each combines rigorous theoretical grounding with practice-based learning. Students engage in legal clinics, draft agreements, simulate negotiations, and analyse sanctions regimes — all anchored in real cases. The result? Graduates who are not only well-informed but immediately effective in their next professional role.
A standout feature of IBL is its inclusive admissions policy. Unlike traditional programmes that prioritise a legal degree, the IBL welcomes high-performing candidates from various disciplines. This creates a powerful learning environment where legal professionals, compliance officers, finance executives, and cybersecurity specialists, to name a few, exchange perspectives and collaborate. The curriculum tackles advanced issues such as export controls, banking regulations, ESG risks and AI governance — turning the classroom into a vibrant space of practical and cross-functional learning.
Blended learning is central to the IBL’s educational model. Live seminars, Zoom lectures, and on-demand content ensure that no matter the time zone or life situation, students remain actively engaged. Whether students participate in person or are logging in from a boardroom, home office, or hotel suite during travel, every participant can interact with faculty, collaborate in group work, and contribute to classroom discussions.
Importantly, this is not passive, lecture-based learning. Students bring their own casework to the table, share real challenges they face in their organisations, and brainstorm practical solutions. The international faculty act as sparring partners and facilitators, helping refine arguments and providing sharp, contextual feedback. In this way, learning becomes personal, relevant — and immediately applicable.
IBL’s flexible online option prepares students for a global career in international business law, compliance, contracts, arbitration, and commodity trading. Source: Pexel/Stock photo
An investment that pays off — personally and professionally
Balancing a demanding job and studies takes discipline — but the payoff is significant. Professionals report that their new knowledge translates directly into better decisions, stronger compliance structures, and more resilient legal strategies. A systematic and curated curriculum also closes knowledge gaps that ad hoc learning often leaves. The result: stronger performance, faster promotions, and readiness for international roles.
IBL’s impact also lies in its unmatched access to a global professional network. The institute is connected with leading law firms, global companies, regulatory bodies, and top compliance experts. Regular events — from collaboration with industry to networking events — turn learning into opportunity. These personal connections often translate into job offers, internships, or even cross-border collaborations.
Perhaps most telling of the programme’s success is this: many students are promoted or hired into new roles before they even graduate. Whether seeking to accelerate their career, switch sectors, or relocate internationally, students consistently describe their IBL experience as transformative — professionally and personally.
