Hello everyone!

I'm from India and I am really keen on pursuing an LLM with emphasis on Competition Law. I've read on various forums that the Freie University in Germany is one of the best for the same. I had the following questions regarding it:-

1. I intend to go for an LLM immediately after my LLB. While I won't be having any employment experience by then, I do have a huge number of internships to make up for it. As of now I've completed 7 one-month internships (Litigation:2 Law Firms:4 NGO:1). Will a lack of post graduate work experience take away my chance of getting into this university?

2. What are the job prospects after this degree? I intend to get into academia after completing this course, will I get opportunities in Germany? Or will this degree enable me to get better opportunities in other countries? I am also open to working at a bank, company or a law firm. Although, I'm not sure about my chances there since I don't know German.

I'll be very grateful if any of you would answer my queries. Thank you!

Dear rose111,

Thanks for contacting us, we're happy that you're interested in our programme and I hope I can help you with your two questions:

1. Unfortunately this will not be possible. While work experience during your studies surely provided useful and interesting insights and knowledge, we can only accept work experience after your graduation because most law firms, companies a governmental bodies will only then let you conduct the full work of a lawyer (or legal advisor). Sometimes, students manage to gather enough work experience between their LLB graduation and the application deadline (or the envisaged starting date) of our programme. In these cases, we can accept such applications (provided that they actually finish the full time of their work experience). I am not sure whether this will be possible for you, have you been working after your graduation? Otherwise, we warmly welcome you to submit your application next year!

2. Generally, job perspectives after graduating from our programme are pretty good! Two of the staff members and PhD students are graduates of the programme and I could get you in touch with them if you want me to. They are internationals (Spain and Brazil) like yourself. Furthermore, a graduate from Iran is currently finishing her PhD under dual supervision from a supervisor here in Berlin and in Teheran. As for working for German law firms and banks, here's an interview with a alumni from Syria who started working for the biggest German bank even before graduating from our programme: http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/international/berlin/testimonials/mbl-master/index.html Of course, you will have to proof your skills and knowledge to the employer but Germany is highly-connected on an international level, there's a demand for legal experts with knowledge in all different fields. Germany is India's six-largest trade partner, so there should definitely be an opportunity for a well-trained lawyer with a keen interst in international business and competition!

I hope I could answer your questions to your satisfaction?
Dominik
MBL-FU