For those looking for an LL.M., Germany is a great place in which to forge or further a law career. It’s Europe’s largest economy and holds significant economic and political influence among EU countries, and beyond. This means employment prospects can be excellent, with the country’s economy and job market currently booming. Another perk for international students is the ease with which they can secure study and work visas in Germany, an open, tolerant nation that embraces and values foreign talent. 

Fortunately, there’s a plethora of world-class law schools in the country, some of which have been around for centuries. And for international students seeking to study in the country, the good thing is that an increasing number of German law schools are offering LL.M. programs, in topics from business law to European law and more. 

See the top 10 law schools in Germany below.

Going to the Netherlands for your LL.M. offers several unique advantages: a highly international environment, a plethora of companies and legal institutions on your doorstep, ease of access to study and work visas. Law schools in the Netherlands are also affordable, with the Dutch government keeping fees lower for European Union students, with the prices not much higher for those from other continents.

Although many law schools in other European countries offer English-language LL.M. programs, law schools in the Netherlands offer an exceptional range of high-quality, internationally-oriented programs. From air and space law to tax law and more, whatever your interest is, you’ll most likely find an LL.M. program in the Netherlands for you.

There are many, many highly-ranked and prestigious law schools in the country. We’ve listed the best of the below. 

Alternative Dispute Resolution—sometimes shortened to “ADR” by its practitioners—refers to solving legal problems without litigation. As such, LL.M. programs in Alternative Dispute Resolution can help students understand the tools that they need outside of a courtroom: negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and more. Those who have studied their LL.M.s in the alternative dispute resolution field can go on to jobs as mediators or arbitrators, or simply add ADR skills to their legal toolkits.

An LL.M. in Environmental Law is increasingly relevant LL.M. specialization as activists, businesses, politicians and policymakers grapple with climate change and how to prevent it. It is also an increasingly popular specialization among LL.M. students. Environmental Law programs cover local and international frameworks for environmental protection, the use of natural resources and climate change prevention. Students are also exposed to various related topics including water law, business and trade, indigenous land issues, environmental justice and historic preservation.

A typical Environmental Law LL.M. program may include classes like "Public Policy," "Energy Law," and "Land Use Law,' among others. Sometimes, an Environmental Law LL.M. specialization may be grouped with another related specialization, such as Energy Law. (See the Top 10 LL.M. Programs in Energy Law here.)

The best LL.M.s in Environmental Law may be offered by law schools that host research centers in the space. This insures that the program curriculum is up-to-date and based on current thinking in the field.

An LL.M. in Environmental Law prepares students for work in private law firms, as environment and sustainability advocates, as educators and policymakers, and for work in international bodies. Some Environmental Law LL.M. graduates also end up working in nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), such as the Sierra Club, the World Wildlife Fund, and Greenpeace, among others.

See the Top 10 LL.M. programs in Environmental Law below.

Thinking about doing an LL.M. in Banking or Finance Law? Many are, since the world’s banking, finance, and securities sectors—not to mention related industries—are huge, highly regulated, and constantly evolving. Because of the size and dynamic nature of these industries, the laws that govern them are often highly complex, which means that lawyers skilled in these areas can be in high demand. That's why the best LL.M. programs in Finance Law or Banking Law leverage up-to-date research in the fields, which may be produced by research centers that are hosted by law schools. These finance- and banking-oriented LL.M. programs will cover a range of financial topics, ranging from financial law to corporate law, and may address issues like central banks, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy, among others. Some programs may also delve into subjects like international banking and economics. Some LL.M. programs also focus on corporate finance law. 

An LL.M. program in Banking/Finance/Securities Law can prepare grads for a variety of positions in the financial sector: some LL.M.s go on to work for law firms representing financial services companies; others go on to help individuals or corporations navigate the complex web of contracts and regulations. Additionally, an LL.M. in Banking or Finance can help for those looking to land a job as in-house counsel at a bank or another financial services firm, or even in a regulatory body.

An LL.M. in Energy Law can be extremely useful: Many governments and other bodies around the world play regulatory roles around energy, resulting in a complex patchwork of laws covering everything from coal extraction to pumping gas into a car. And increasingly, energy production intersects with laws governing environmental protection. This interplay between regulations and environmental protection creates an opening for attorneys who are specialized in energy law. (See the Top 10 LL.M. Programs for Environmental Law here.)

With an LL.M. in Energy Law, students can come to terms with the various aspects of the energy field, and get caught up on recent regulatory shifts, economic changes, and the related forces that are continuously affecting the industry. Some LL.M.s in Energy Law also look at emerging trends in the field, such as the regulations covering the production of clean energy or changes in land use policies.

An LL.M. in energy can help lead to careers in the public sector, in private law firms whose practices focus on the energy space, or NGOs and other international organizations.

Why pursue an LL.M. in European Law? The European project offers a fascinating case study for LL.M. studies, looking at how the laws of European Union (EU) member states and those of their union intersect.

As common EU law increasingly permeates the law of individual member states, with legal integration a common goal, there are ample career opportunities for students doing LL.M. programs in European law. As if this area wasn’t already dynamic enough, the UK’s exit from the EU—“Brexit”—has thrown a spanner in the works, and European law scholars are right on the cutting edge, analyzing how European member states will negotiate its legal fallout.

Those who pursue LL.M.s in European or EU Law often head towards careers in European institutions – the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the European Central Bank – as well as roles in the commercial realm, in advocacy, management and academia.

See below for the top 10 LL.M.s in European / EU Law

The demand for people with LL.M.s in Business Law are on the rise: Global companies are navigating geopolitical and financial tumult, so the demand for lawyers who understand business law is on the up. But with ever more savvy clients demanding more service for their money, competition for work is also heating up.

A formal qualification—be it an LL.M. or another type of degree—in business law can help you stand apart from the pack. ‘Business law’ includes a broad range of topics, including but not limited to contracts, securities, finance, intellectual property and employment law. 

A number of top law schools around the world – mostly in the US but in Europe and Asia Pacific too – offer such programs, either as entire LL.M.s or as certificate programs within their generalist LL.M. courses.

Here are the top 10 law schools for business law. 

Generally speaking, competition law—often referred to as antitrust law—seeks to prevent the rise of monopolies or cartels. Prominent cases like the litany of antitrust battles between Microsoft and the US government, as well as the legal difficulties that Google is facing as it expands globally, show the complex issues that firms face as they grow. Because of the delicate interplay between economics and competition, those who pursue LL.M.s in Competition Law might study a range of topics, from economic analysis to intellectual property rights. And indeed, graduates of LL.M. programs in Competition Law have gone on to provide expert advice in intellectual property and business law, serve with governmental and international regulatory bodies, and become specialized consultants for companies, legal firms and government.

From Beijing and Shanghai in the mainland to Hong Kong on the cost, China boasts some of the world’s best law schools. 

The fast-growing Chinese economy has produced many opportunities for law firms, which can bode well for post-LL.M. career prospects. 

Many of the Chinese LL.M. programs provide a solid grounding in local law and customs, as well as the chance to learn Mandarin. We’ve ranked the top 10 courses below.