Hello,

Is there anybody else applying for the LLM in Finance at the ILF to 2008/2009?

Is there anybody that had attended this LL.M in the past to provide me a feedback?

I heard a lot of great things about them in special regarding a high rate of scholarships granted and a high rate of graduates getting jobs in the prestigious market of Frankfurt after the program.

Also, there are one of the few programs that accept business guys and lawyers. Thus, discussions in class must be even better and considerable abrangent.

If somebody could share experiences and wishes it would be great!!

Cheers...

Hey Finance Guy,

If you are interested to know a bit more about the ILF, I would be very keen to help.

What exactly would you like to know?

ML

I wonder if i can get L.L.M schoolarship

Hello Everybody

It is really a nice idea to join Institute for law and finance. Specially since I am a student and know a lot about the program, I strongly recommend to everybody who is interested having LLM.

I would prefer not to talk much about it since the program by itself is self explanatory. May be you can get similar program elsewhere in the world. But I can 100% guarantee you there is no program that exactly resembles ILF.Some of the reasons behind this fact is
-almost 95% of lecturers are practitioners
-generous scholarship award
-internships in different big law firms, banks, accounting firms which helps to establish good career contact
-accepts both Law and Economics/Business students irrespective of their working experience and any other background
-small student body...

These are not the only benefits that you might get here. Still there are unmentioned hidden benefits of ILF.


Regards,

Fasil Mekonnen Alemu (Nationality Ethiopian)

Hello Everybody!

Firstly, I would like to cheer the initiative of Mr. Finance Guy for asking about the ILF. Without a doubt, I can say that the best way to evaluate a place and to know about its LL.M Program is asking to those who already took or are attending it.

Since nobody could properly help me when I was selecting my LL.M and due to the fact that I do think I did a great job selecting the ILF, in spite of having more known British universities to go (where fellows here say the programs are not that intense) I am very keen to share my experiences with you.

The Institute for Law and Finance is part of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt, the really best university for Finance in Germany (See DAAD Ranking) and one of the most prestigious for Law as well. Nonetheless, even though it is part of the university, the Institute has its own facilities just for the students of the LL.M, an exclusive library, computer room and everything else. The vibe in the Institute is great, the Staff is always available and I just can say good things about here. Also, the university provide us a lot of help, as a fair Menza (food court) with good subsidized food, the Goethe Card which allows you to use all public transports in the state of Hessen, day-night weekdays or weekends, for Free.

But the main issue is the quality of the program which (I bet!) you may find something as good, yet probably not better. It is intense as an LL.M has to be (IT IS REALLY A LOT TO DO AND READ), mainly practical, not strictly academic with just boring questions. Another factor to consider is the size and peculiarity of the selected group: formed strictly with 40 Graduates (this year from 28 different countries) with different backgrounds (Business and Law).

As I have already mentioned, the professors are all practitioners from different countries (until now I got a British, a Swedish, an Italian, some Germans, a Portuguese and an American as far as I can properly remember) and from the main organizations (ECB, German Central Bank) and Law Offices (Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Price, etc...). This fact provides us an International experience and an opportunity to analyze important topics in different perspectives, enhancing our knowledge.

In addition, trying to not be that extensive, the ILF has a great Scholarship Program (They really can help you if you prove that you are good and need help to afford your tuition fees!!!!!). I got a scholarship by myself and am really grateful for them.

Another important factor to be considered is the relation that the institute has with major firms. They do arrange an internship for you in one of its sponsors and attending it is a requirement for a graduation (you may find it by yourself if you prefer to do so). Definitely, it helps you to get a job and to get experience. As a matter of fact, I got 5 months internship in Linklaters and am proud for that.

Finally, the ILF has good contacts with other universities. For Example, the two best students for the first semester get a chance to go Columbia University in the USA to keep studying for a semester after the LL.M. completion. Also, Columbia sends their graduate students to the ILF every year.

In any case, if you still have questions to address, feel free to write it down and I will be happy to help if I can. Please, just to not send personal messages, because I always forget to answer.

Cheers,

Rafael

Fasil and Rafael,

Many Thaks!!!

I really heard a lot about the ILF... a friend of mine attended it couple years ago.

I am still thinking, but if these are the conditions, I will be willing to apply as soon as I get my papers done!

How about admissions?

Cheers

Hey Mate!

Just go to the website www.ilf-frankfurt.de and see the proceedings there.

It is not that complicated...

But, as far as I know after the 40th placement, no one more.. so if you want to apply, I would suggets you to do so as soon as you can!!

See ya

Dear All,

I am very much interested to participate in ILF in 2008.

I've already sent my application. Is it too late ? Could anybody tell me how long ILF takes to take a decision after receiving the application?

I've a a particular question for Rafael Lima.

I am a lawyer from Bangladesh, got second position in my class among 100 students, have worked in a corporate law firm here for four years mainly on syndication and structured finance, presently I am working in a multinational in Bangladesh. My English is fairly good (IELTS 7.5) and I have good recommendation letter. I would ask your opinion abt my chances to get admitted to ILF?
Where r u from? Where did you do ur first degree?

Thanks all.

Ashraf

Hey Ashraf,

Regarding admissions, I just cannot talk too much... as you know I am just a current student.

As far as I remember, I got the admission letter 3 or 4 weeks after my application. They are quite fast here...

Just do not worry about when you applied, I do believe that since your CV and application documents are good, you have a chance to be accepted. I applied a bit later than you and I am here today.

By the way, there is a girl from Bangladesh in my class. She is great...

I had a background very simliar to yours:

- An IELTS of 7,5 (I think, it is their ball park);
- Two nice Recommendation Letters;
- A legal background;
- Had worked with corporate law in a Bank in Brazil.

I wish all luck for you and hope to see you here next year, since I will stay a bit longer practising..

See ya

Mates,

I totally support the ILF...

They are great!!!!!

If I can give you an advice is: Do apply!!!

Thanks Lima for your reply.

BTW, could you tell me the name of Bangladeshi girl and which university she is from? If she's studied in Bangladesh, then we might have common friends at least, it is a small world....

Thanks others also who have posted their reply here.

Ashraf

I would ask a thing to who has just attended the LLM.
The tuition fee is 15.000 Euro and it doesnt cover the life expenses.
How could I obtain a scholarship and what does this scholarsip cover?
Could someone that have just applied for this indicate me how many possibilities I should have to obtain a scholarship and the terms for that?
Thanks a lot ( I ve just red the indications shown in the LLM site but I should have more informations about the scholarship because only through this way I could apply for the LLM)
Thanks everybody :)

Guys, I am working in public finace sector (Tax, corporate and Investment) I have good first hand knowledge and practise in finance issues (Syndication, taxation, securitaisation as well as capital markets) am desperately looking for LLM scholarship 2008 or 2009 in either of the field, any sugestions?

Am now on the process to trying my lucky at ILF, I have heard enough of its superiority....! (indeed, is TOEFL or IELTS their major application criteria?)

Are there other alternatives, please please help...!

Hey,

I again can just help with my experience, once I really do not know how it works internally.

But, when I applied to a scholarship I filled the Application Form as required, I wrote a letter explaining my situation, how much I wish to attend the program and showing them that even though I could fulfill all their admission requirements at that time, I would not be able to attend the LL.M. without a financial support.

Unfortunately, I am afraid to say that they will require some proof of your financial situation. You cannot just ask for help, without needing it. So, you will probably have to disclosure some private information. Nonetheless, if you really need a help, they will certainly provide you something. Just keep in mind: Provided that you fulfill their quality standards for admission (anyway, it is better to try than to quit beforehand).

I can say that they were really fair with me! I got the scholarship in the extent I needed. It covers only the Tuition Fees. So, if it cost 15.000 and you got a 5.000 (for example), you will have to pay the remaining 10.000 as fees for tuition. If you got a 10.000, then you will pay 5.000, and so on.

In reality, there is no school that I know which cover your living costs, so it is a normal procedure. You may meet you shortage of resources getting a shared place to live here, a student wg, eating at the university. It is up to you!!

Regarding scholarships, I also know that the Institute has nice relations with some foundations that provide scholarships, but I don't know much about them.

In case you have doubts, I would suggest you to write to the admission office of the ILF and inquire them.

They will certainly provide all you need to know!

Thats it guys, hope Ive helped a bit!

Cheers,

Rafael

Rafael,

Thank you very lot for sharing your first hand experience with ILF. I am elated. For sure, I am ILF admirer, I have always dreamt of having my LLM at ILF, i feel like this course is very ideal to what i am doing daily....! I now need their wider exposure...!

let me throw my dice this week....!

However, do u happen to know any other alternative to ILF, ofcaurse with some scholarship?!

Erik

Mate,

It is quite difficult to answer your last questions...

I mean, LL.M in Finance is quite hard to find. There are just a few that you can really takes in consideration, specially in Europe. Here, I would say it is ILF and nobody else, if you want to have a goal in syndicatted loan, project finance, comparative company law, financial regulation, looking not only the law, but the business itself too...

Well, I think Kings College have sth, LSE certainly have too!!! Apart from then... maybe something in Holland... nut i would never go that far. Financial centres are London and Frankfurt in Europe and NYC in America.

BTW, in US, I would say Columbia, Stanford, NYU (??)... maily in New York city!

But, I know that they offer just a few scholarships and do not know how to get them, to be honest...

Just try!!!

What´s up guys!!

I am quite happy that we have a plenty of posts now!!!

As I ve learned in the School, in this world information is everything!

Therefore (You lawyers love therefores, thuses, e.g., and etc...) I would like to know how international is the group of students and if the ILF does have business students studying a bit of law, or just lawyers learning a bit of the business...

See ya

Hello Finance Guy

I am a graduate of Accounting in Ethiopia. But thanks to ILF, I increased my stock of knowledge in area of law as well.
As for the other question, the program is international in every respect: the curriculum, our faculty and students. For instance this year we all come from about 28 countries which sound impressive. We also study international and European laws in different areas and our professors are also from different countries.

Hey,

Someone asked about the Bangladesh girl at the ILF.

Well, her name is Arzoo and she is a former student of the Business School at the North South University,

Hope I have helped!

Cheers

Thanks Rafael.

I asked the name of Bangladeshi giri studying at ILF. Well, I thought she is from law background and thats why I asked for it to see whether I know her.

Though I know some ppl from NSU business school, the name does not ring any bell yet. If she agrees, you may give her email ID.

Thanks again.

Ashraf