Hey guys, sorry for cross-posting but I'm looking for an LL.M. in Business or Economics or Competition law, maybe a mixture would be best. I'd prefer to start in Fall 2016 and I have a Bachelor of Law and some work experience.

I had a look at the following options and I was hoping someone could maybe share his/her experience with any of the programmes?

- Master of Business, Competition and Regulatory Law (FU Berlin)
- LL.M. Advanced Studies in European and International Business Law (Leiden U)
- LL.M. Interntional Business Law (Tilburg U)

or also UK programmes:

- LL.M. in Competition Law (KCL/QMUL/UCL)
- LL.M. in International Business Law (KCL/QMUL)
- LL.M. in Commercial and Corporate Law (QMUL)
- LL.M. in International Commercial Law (UCL)

It seems like you really have to decide what you want (Bus/Com/Comp) with the London-based universities, do the Dutch universities and Berlin maybe over more of an all-around approach?

UCL, QMUL and KCL are the most expensive (just under 20K GBP each), followed by the Dutch with 15/13K EUR and the least expensive is Berlin with only 8K EUR (for me being slightly crumpy about not being a EU citizen^^)

Could anyone share some information about the programmes, lectures, maybe the lecturers or facilities or the student body? I'd quite like to be in a diverse and international environment^^ I already received some replies in the UK-section of the board but I was hoping someone from the Europe board could also share their experiences.

Thanks,
Juan

I would advise you against doing an LLM in Germany. Unless the school states otherwise, in my experience typically it would be very difficult to obtain any recommendations not to mention publications due to not very healthy social climate in academic community.
There might be some schools though that maintain a healthier atmosphere. I have heard ILS have career services that do their best to help with internships.

If you have a civil law background and intend to practice common law then you should definitely prefer UK universities over FU Berlin, unless you are otherwise qualified to practice. Leiden is a renowned University with some good programs as well.

Dear Juan

You asked about lecturers , student body, etc, in a Dutch university LLM. In Leiden's European & International Business Law Advanced Master's program, the lecturers are professionals from Europe. Some have experience and background in the US. There are more subjects that are European-law related than corporate/finance law. The student population is small in 2015, approx 36 people, and majority are international. More than half are from non-EU countries. The European subjects (Legal Foundations, Internal market) are quite heavy, extensive, and carry huge weights. The corporate subjects are interesting and fast-paced. Further, you can attend seminars (on current legal issues) that offered to students of this program.

Thank you AleksLLM and ReginaFVV,

@AleksLLM: What do you mean 'difficult to obtain recommendations'? IFL seems pretty focused on Finances, which might be too specific for me.

@Reginafvv: That sounds pretty promising! How about the city and the connection to The Hague, since I heard that it's not a big city with much going on and that students frequently go to The Hague?

Thank you for your answers and sorry for my late reply, must have slipped through.

Best,
J

@JJA1985,

I will try to put this problem as delicately as I can.
What I meant is a very very specific social climate that is everything but encouraging for one's career development.
Such a conventional thing as writing a recommendation or acting as a referee for a student/graduate/employee is not so conventional thing in Germany. Just being an accomplished, communicative and friendly person is far from enough.
This is where academic/workplace environment differs from what is typical for the UK or USA. The fact that you are not German (otherwise you would not be asking I assume) could complicate things even more.

Again, that it is what I know for sure about social atmosphere in the universities and research institutions or at typical workplace. We can only hope the LLM programs that are designed for foreign graduates try to maintain different climate.