I applied for UCL, KCL and LSE by early Jan. i heard from KCL after 2 month while it took more than two months to receive my offer from UCL (it was by ordinary mail and they totally refrained to inform me via telephone). LSE put me in waiting list after two months and it took nearly two months more to hear that i had been rejected!
Just as an advice, be careful with your personal statement!

Finger crossed

Hello,

I am investigating whether ILF's LLM Finance program is right for me. My criteria for determining the investment in any program is employment and career potential. The best people to do this are the program's graduate and especially non-German and non-Law graduates.

If possible, Rafael, I wish to communicate and hear of your career out come after graduation.

I would also appreciate to hear from any other alumni of the ILF.

Thanks,

LLMsought.

Hi,

I presume that you have graduated by now. Congratulations.

How was your post graduation employment experience? Are you a German citizen or Permanent Resident? Are you a lawyer?

Did the school help you in employment search?

Thanks,

LLM Sought

Hey Guys,

Let me tell you something.

The school may help you to bridge connections, to get to know important people in the legal community of Frankfurt, but it is up to you to take the right steps in order to find a placement.

Also, employment is often overweighed among LL.M applicants. You will see that after a year at the ILF your mind will be certainly changed. My priorities and intentions had been substantially modified. I found the topic so interesting and so vast that decided to further my studies in the business side for another year.

Regarding the course, I can guarantee to you that it is indeed fantastic. I loved every minute I spent in Frankfurt. It helped me to find my path. Today, I have very good contacts with Linklaters, PWC and KPMG. I have interned in the former two institutions and received an offer from the later. I am currently in contact with the World Bank and the Inter-American Bank of Development, both in D.C.

Hope it helps.

Best,

Rafael

Dear Rafael!

I'm a current student and for the time being we are preparing for the final exams. But, even though its too early to make an evaluation, i wanted to appreciate your sharing of your information with us last year when we applied.
As you said, the level of course is very satisfactory and everything is ready to benefit from the program. The course is very well structured and enjoys the combination of both theoretical issues together with practical subject which covers every aspect of finance.
I totally share with you that placement is another story, and the program would help to build up solid foundation for a fruitful placement but the rest is left to us and our abilities and efforts in this regard.

Hi guys,

I am preparing the application to ILF and the admission manager asks the information regarding "Class Rank" in my application.

I am not sure how much the school considers my Class Rank - or to be honest, if I am not the best at my previous school, would they disqualify me?

I am also thinking of the letters of reference. May anyone tell me advices on which characteristics or qualities of mine that the school may find relevant or interesting to their LLM course?

Moreover, people say that German is needed to live in Frankfurt, then, I am not sure how good I should be at German - beginner, intermediate or better level? Because I am not having much time and quite nervous that so poor German may be disadvantaged to me.

I don't know about your first question, as it is up to the admission committee to decide, but i'm pretty sure there is no need for German skills. But if you know it, this makes life easier.
good luck with yr application!

Hi everyone,

I am wondering about the versatility of the program and if it is right for me. I really don't know what I want to do after I graduate Columbia Law. Is it worthwhile to go to the ILF exchange program to get the LLM instead of spending a third year at Columbia in New York?

hey,

does anyone know, how many applications the ILF receives on average?

Hi guys, Im an Irish law graduate that needs some help in deciding which LMM to pursue.. The choice is between ILF LLM in Finance or London School of Economics LMM(specialisation in Banking and Finance)..Just offered both, Which one has a better reputation.. I'm leaning towards the ILF.. Any views would be appreciated, Thanks!

Hey! Interesting, I'm also an Irish graduate doing the LL.M. Finance this year and was stuck between LSE and ILF! I really like the course over here, and I'd recommend it, but from my experience law firms at home don't seem to know much about it..LSE would definitely be better-known at home. But on the other hand, it's nice ot stand out!! Once u tell them a little bit about the course, and who it's run by etc they're impressed! In my opinion the work experience (which u are guaranteed to get) in either a law firm or bank is a great bonus! It's pretty hard to get similar internships on your own in this climate!

Hi AMC,
if i have a law degree in civil and then get my LLM in common law for iLF, can I practise the law in a common system? or do I have to do an LLB after the LLM...?

if i want to apply for 2010-2011 what is the deadline, what are my chances of gettin accepted plus scholarship?

thaank you!

Dear All,

today received conditional acceptance (low toefl results and it should be re tested)
I wonder the next thing - to apply for local grant I need to know the amount of all expenses (excluding tuition fee). Therefore, can someone share with me/us on approximate amount of money for the whole academic year?
Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone! I am also hoping of attending the program, it sounds really worth it and thank you all for sharing your experience.
Although, I strongly agree that a one year's program should be demanding, I would like to ask how difficult the program actually is. In particular, is it only a matter of working hard or has it also to do with students failing exams and therefore dropping out and so on. I have no friends who have attended the ilf program but others who have attended other master's programs have told me that in some cases the professors aren't cooperative and helpful enough and so students tend to fail the exams over and over again because they actually don't know what to study!
Moreover, are there any students going on doing a phd? In other words, apart from graduates who find jobs in law firms and banks, is research promoted through scholarships etc?
Thanks in advance!

1. @ Marko F..

Unfortunately I don't know about that, but I would have some doubts, as we don't actually focus on any one jurisdiction at the ILF. Maybe it's worth finding out though!

2. @ Ramsai..

I have a scholarship of 750 euro per month and it's pretty tight! The student dorm I live in is 235 euro per month. I guess spending varies hugely from person to person..but if u want to be able to travel every now and then at weekends and socialise a bit, I'd guess around 800 - 900 per month.

Apply asap. I think there are still places available, but perhaps not for very long more.

3. @ Homatianos..

Nobody that I know of failed any exams in the first semester, and it isn't a common thing here. You have a lot of flexibility to make it as challenging or as straight-forward as you'd like! Each semester you must pass 5 exams (10 in total), but you are allowed to take on up to 9 per semester (up to 18 in total), and choose your best 10 for your transcript. Of course there are certain subjects that have a very high workload, and others which are not as demanding..so if you want to you can strike a balance between both!

Not sure if anybody is going on to do a PHD..but after completing the LL.M. Finance we receive certain 'concessions' to do the MBA at the Goethe Business School (also in the House of Finance)..i.e. we can complete it at a reduced price in a much shorter period, so some people from last year are doing that now.

Thanks a lot AoifeMcCabe!

thanks AoifeMcCabe !

Thank you, Man!

to AoifeMcCabe

Would you be so kind to mention that scholarship program?