The BU Law Advantage

05 Dec 2018

Globalisation is driving the demand for specialist LL.M. (Master of Laws) programs. Issues such as the Global Financial Crisis, sovereign debts and the emergence of cryptocurrencies have catalysed an explosion in new legislation, and this is something you could spearhead.

If exploring and creating new legislation to regulate our rapidly-changing world piques your interest, you should consider studying an LL.M. at the School of Law, Boston University; an institute that would put you at an global advantage in terms of your career.

Boston University, School of Law (BU Law) is a top-tier legal institution. Founded in 1872, its faculty is recognized nationally for exceptional teaching and pre-eminent scholarship. The university enables students to virtually explore any area of the law in 200+ classes and seminars, 20+ clinics and externships, and 21 study abroad opportunities.

Boston is one of many universities worldwide that’s stepping up to the plate and creating new specialisations in LL.M. programs, allowing you to keep ahead of the game in a rapidly changing world.

At BU you can choose from five LL.M. programs, all highly respected, three of which rank in the US top ten (Banking & Financial Law, the Tax Program, and Intellectual Property Law). You’ll be able to specialise in particularly fast-growing areas of law such as Banking, Compliance or Tax.

The specialisation opportunities at BU Law will increase your employment prospects and personal growth, particularly if you’re an international student. Studying at BU Law, you will become a specialist in your chosen field, highly sought-after by employers.

Source: Boston University

If you’re an international student deciding on which university to choose for your LL.M. you’d be well placed studying at Boston University – not only will there be a strong cohort of international students on your course, but you will benefit from learning about US models in one of the oldest cities in the states.

The Associate Director for Outreach at BU Law, Matt Jennings, says that the Banking and Financial Law LL.M. historically has been a top choice for students from Latin America, but has also seen an increase in applicants from Asia in recent years.

Jennings says that BU Law sees “a lot of interest from countries where there’s a need to educate key policy makers in financial services—to gain strengths from learning about the US model” and to take home post-graduation.

After the global financial crisis a decade ago, global law programs have had to adapt their curricula to include compliance due to a surge in demand among employers, both US and international, for professionals versed in the subject to avoid another economic meltdown. Jennings reports particular growth in demand for such positions in Latin America.

Of course, BU Law has remained ahead of the curve, launching a certificate in financial services compliance as an offshoot of its Banking and Financial Law LL.M. in response to this surge in demand.

The program is truly international with students from Indonesia, Mozambique, and other emerging economies coming with the intention of returning home and developing their country’s fiscal policy. Students from China and Asia are often looking for a return to private practice, Jennings adds.

Source: Boston University

BU Law knows that the job market for work in compliance has increased worldwide, and Jennings notes that many BU students show strong interest in the private equity sector.

Other interesting areas of growth include the development of alternative currencies, cryptocurrencies, which has had monumental implications over the legal field, and law programs have consequently been pushing their curricula to catch up to high-speed changes.

“That’s where the profession is going—regulating cryptocurrencies and platforms,” Jennings notes. BU Law sees financial technology as a huge growth area, and has been looking to add more and more courses in the field, so if this interests you, be sure to cast your eye over the BU Law website – the recent alumni reunion weekend even held a panel on the subject.

As previously mentioned, the career paths made possible by studying one of the specialised LL.M. courses at BU Law are contemporary and lucrative whether in a private practice law firm, business and industry, government, etc. You will have the support of a global network of nearly 24,000 alumni and a robust Career Development & Public Service Office, allowing you achieve remarkable career success after you graduate.

BU Law is located in the heart of Boston, a historically significant city for the US and you will be studying in the ultra-modern Sumner M. Redstone Building and Law Tower. For an overview of all of LL.M. Programs, download the BU Law LL.M. Brochure here, or, compare the LL.M. programs here.

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