Hi everybody, this is my first time that I post here but I've read this web for years. Anyway, I'm really interested in LL.M.at Chicago Kent, Financial Services Laws. Because I have been working in the Banking and Finance area for almost 10 years. And I've just graduated LL.B. from Bangkok, Thailand. Actually, I got BA and MS.Finance from University of Baltimore, MD. I wonder if someone can help me to
1.find other programe, LL M. in Finance that for me it's quite hard to find. And since I have quite budget, therefore, I could not afford some expensive one, unless, they give me some scholarship!
2.What about the reputation of Chicago-Kent in term of Financial Service Laws.
3.Is it a plus for me to have CFA(Chartered Financial Analyst) to get a job in US.
Thanks for every help, I'm really appreaciated.
Ek V.

Boston University has a very good banking law LL.M. program. If you are interested in securities and financial regulation, Georgetown University has a top quality "Securities and Financial Regulation LL.M." program. I think these alternatives are far better than the LL.M. in Chicago-Kent.

Securities and Finance? The HLS International Finance Concentration is probably the best in the business. This year, it's headed by Hal Scott, who is presently in the media as the head of an influential group advocating key capital markets reforms.

http://www.economist.com/finance/displayStory.cfm?story_id=8316406

The related classes are incredible as well. Last term's Mergers & Acquisitions classes, for example, featured guest panels amounted to a who's who of the American M&A and investment banking practices, from Marty Lipton himself to the CEO of Time Warner. The classes were taught by a Delaware Vice-Chancellor (an M&A judge, if you will), a former HLS dean, and a former Wachtell partner.

The Corporate Governance classes are headed by, among others, Lucian Bebchuk, who has been in the media on topics such as executive compensation, reform of takeover defenses, and shareholder activism.

Moreover, the school's resources give access to equally interesting non-finance classes to round out one's stay, particularly in Constitutional Law and legal philosophy. Finally, the same resources give rise to a wide array of supplemental talks and activities, with visits by American and foreign Supreme Court Justices not uncommon.

(Well, it's expensive, but they are generous with financial aid for those who need it, and the job prospects are great if you are interested.)

Yes, if you want a focus on Banking in particular, Boston U has the focused Banking LLM.

Thanks for your advise, Anyway these programes at Boston U. or HLS are expensive and I can only study there if I can get some grant let say 50% of tuition fees if it's possible! and as for HLS, do they seperate LLM programe between General LLM and International Finance LLM?

For HLS, I don't think 50% grant is uncommon.

There is no separate program. They have "concentrations" with a set of three required subjects and a special seminar with a senior professor in that field, but I think it's a better idea that you're free to take what you want and tailor the curriculum to whoever the best professors at the time are. For example, M&A is one of the best subjects for 2006-2007 but is not in any concentration.