Get hands-on training.
A unique feature of this program is the opportunity to gain practical training through the Financial Services Law Internship course. This experience will immerse you in the day-to-day operations of a law firm, financial services organization, financial nonprofit entity, or regulatory agency, allowing you to develop your skills portfolio and make valuable connections in the market under the supervision of a practicing lawyer.
The nation’s first and only.
The LLM in Banking and Financial Law is the oldest and only program of its kind in the nation. No other LLM program boasts its own dedicated faculty of senior industry practitioners who teach a curriculum designed exclusively for graduate study. Since its inception, the program has trained 2,000+ lawyers from 70+ countries around the world.
Comprehensive perspective. Specialized expertise.
Real world learning.
Practical knowledge.
Boston: the hub of everything.
Comprehensive perspective. Specialized expertise.
Explore in-depth the interrelated regulatory, transaction, and business aspects of banking and financial law with more than 25 courses to choose from.
The program’s one required class, Banking Structure and Regulation, will give you a foundational understanding of US banking and financial services law and where US laws intersect with international banking supervision structures and principles. All your other courses within the program are elective, empowering you to customize your study plan according to your professional needs and interests.
Courses fall into three main areas, giving you a comprehensive perspective on the industry’s players and dynamics.
Regulatory courses.
Regulatory courses provide a foundational understanding of the structure and content of banking, securities, and financial services regulations; the role of central banks and oversight agencies; and the interaction of commercial banks, the Federal Reserve System, and monetary policy.
Transactional courses.
Transactional courses provide hands-on training in structuring, negotiating and documenting transactions in numerous areas, including commercial lending, project finance, securitization, and mergers and acquisitions.
Business-oriented courses.
Business-oriented courses explore the legal structure of financial products and services, such as hedge funds, pooled investments, derivatives, and structured finance products; the taxation of international transactions; and the technology-driven innovations of cryptocurrencies, blockchains and other fintech products and services.
In developing your plan, you’ll be able to pursue any one of five elective concentrations in: The Business of Banking; Compliance Management; Financial Services Transactions; Lending and Credit Transactions; and Securities Transactions. Each concentration consists of a basket of classes that, when taken together, give comprehensive training in a particular sub-specialty of financial service law practice.
To meet the program’s 24 credit requirement, full-time students generally take six 2-credit courses each semester.
Online or in-person? Part-time or full? The choice is up to you.
Whether you’re looking to earn your degree as a full-time online student, a part-time residential student, or vice versa, BU Law’s LLM program can make it happen.
Both online and in-person classes lead to the same degree and are taught by the same experienced faculty. The online option is ideal for domestic and internationally-trained lawyers whose jobs preclude them from attending our traditional on-site program option in Boston.
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Top 10
in Banking & Finance Law
– LLM Guide (2024)
Top 10
Online and Hybrid LLMs
– LLM Guide (2024)
Real world learning.
Practical knowledge.
This program won’t be a dive into the academic literature of global finance. Students will learn to practice financial services law and hone the lawyering skills needed for success in the field.
Faculty are accomplished professionals who have served in leadership positions in a broad range of banking industry settings. They bring to the classroom their experience as senior advisors at the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve and other agencies; as law firm partners and heads of banking and financial services practice groups; as general counsels of state insurance departments; and as presidents, chief operating officers and general counsels of money management firms, banks, finance companies and Fintech enterprises.
They are adept at “showing you the ropes” of practicing banking and financial services law. In other words, you’ll be negotiating deal documents, not exploring the theoretical underpinnings of contract law.
Despite their diverse backgrounds, they share one thing in common: a passion and commitment to teach and train young lawyers.
LLM Internship Opportunities
Your practice-oriented perspective will deepen outside the classroom as well. In addition to the Financial Law Internship elective class, you’ll be immersed in co-curricular activities such as career panels, special guest lectures, and have an opportunity to serve on the staff of the Review of Banking and Financial Law, the nation’s oldest student-run law journal devoted to this subject.
Additionally, through our collaboration with the Global Career Center, there is also an opportunity to participate in a short-term, full-time, post-graduation, law-related internship in the US through our unique LLM Internship Program. Placements are intended to help students further their understanding of US legal culture, gain practical exposure to US legal practice and refine their professional development skills.
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#10
for “Best Classroom Experience.”
– Princeton Review
Boston: the hub of everything.
Boston is an epicenter for legal education and is a destination where the world comes together to learn and grow.
As a vibrant hub of legal innovation and progress in various sectors, studying in Boston gives you a front-row seat to transformative developments in the field.
Students gain access to an abundance of resources both on and off the BU Law campus. Boston is a legal hub in the heart of diverse sectors such as business, medicine, technology, and government. Home to thousands of law firms specializing in the most sought-after legal fields, the city attracts and employs some of the top legal minds from around the world. Boston is not just a city but a dynamic platform to boost your professional network and grow your knowledge.
Take advantage of the studying in Boston, a legal epicenter:
- Witness court proceedings
- Attend lectures with renowned guest speakers
- Participate in employment fairs
- Join Bar Association events
- Engage in many BU Law-sponsored social and networking events
The perfect place to study law and launch a career, Boston is a ready-made laboratory for legal training in a number of fields. Here, you’ll find a remarkable pipeline of experienced practitioners eager to impart their knowledge. From intellectual property to banking and finance, and health law, Boston’s legal professionals lead the charge in diverse sectors, representing the pinnacle of expertise in their respective fields. Few cities can rival the depth of this invaluable resource.
Immersed in American legal history and at the forefront of change, BU Law is the place to be.
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#1
QS Best Student
Cities 2025 ranked
Boston first
in the United States.
Flexible and online enrollment options.
Discover the possibilities with the LLM in Banking and Financial Law program at BU Law! Whether you’re balancing work, family, or other commitments, we offer flexible learning formats to suit your lifestyle. Join us as a full-time residential student in vibrant Boston or opt for part-time study if you’re a US citizen or permanent resident.
Prefer online learning? We’ve got you covered! Our online LLM in Banking and Financial Law program brings the expertise of BU Law to your fingertips, no matter where you are in the world. With asynchronous classes and interactive components, you’ll engage with instructors and fellow students in a dynamic virtual environment. Don’t let anything hold you back from advancing your career. With BU Law, if there’s a will, there’s a way!
Start with the fundamentals.
Need more of a foundational understanding of the banking and financial services industry? Enroll in Financial Services Fundamentals, a three-week summer course designed to provide essential background on subjects relevant to LLM In Banking and Financial Law studies.
Taught by the faculty members of the LLM in Banking and Financial Law program, the modules are curated to prepare students for their first semester of classes as well as build a strong foundation for success for the rest of their LLM program In addition, the course offers a unique opportunity for incoming international students, including those in the American Law and Graduate Tax programs, to immerse themselves in lectures, discussions, and readings on financial topics conducted in English.
You’ll miss out if all you do is study.
To make the most of your experience, you don’t want to spend the entire year in the library. Trust us.
Because networking is key to identifying and securing job opportunities, we organize networking events to get you “out there” and forge connections with potential employers, including those who attend the International Student Interview Program, held virtually each January.
We also plan social events throughout the year so that you can build connections with your classmates who will ultimately be your future professional colleagues, clients and referral sources – and most importantly, life-long friends. Whether this happens at the annual LLM “Lobster Feast” or annual Red Sox night at Fenway Park, you’ll be glad you took that hard-earned study break.
By the Numbers
#1
QS Best Student Cities 2023 ranked Boston first in the United States.
Top10
Top 10 in Banking & Finance Law
– LLM Guide (2024).
5
Optional Concentrations:
- The Business of Banking
- Compliance Management
- Financial Services Transactions
- Lending & Credit Transactions
- Securities Transactions
