Hi Everyone,
I'm looking for some advice.
I am currently working at a capital markets consultancy. I spend 80% of my time as a master agreement negotiator for an investment bank, negotiating ISDAs, GMRAs etc. Having already passed the SQE, I can get my 2 years QWE as a master agreements negotiator and qualify this way, as many others at my company have done. This should be included in a formal training contract, but even if one is not forthcoming, my supervising solicitor/line manager will be happy to sign off on my work as QWE to help me qualify.
My medium- to long-term ambition is to become an in-house junior legal counsel at an investment bank. My question, therefore, is:
Is it worth doing a part-time International Financial Law LLM at Kings/UCL? My knowledge of the law is probably somewhat limited compared to big law firm graduates. I don't think I stand out enough, or have the diverse range of legal knowledge compared to a recently qualified big law firm applicant when applying to in-house associate/junior legal counsel roles at an investment bank in the future.
I'm thinking that the LLM could:
- Deepen my knowledge of the law in the areas relevant to an investment bank.
- Perhaps I will be able to build a strong relationship with the investment bank I am already working at or another of my company's clients, by doing a dissertation around a topic of their choice and for their commercial use.
- Utilise the apparently strong networks that KCL/UCL have to help me secure the junior legal counsel role.
The downside I am worried about is the cost and the stress I will inevitably have to endure to get my LLM whilst working full-time. Do people think it would be worth it?
Would really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
I'm looking for some advice.
I am currently working at a capital markets consultancy. I spend 80% of my time as a master agreement negotiator for an investment bank, negotiating ISDAs, GMRAs etc. Having already passed the SQE, I can get my 2 years QWE as a master agreements negotiator and qualify this way, as many others at my company have done. This should be included in a formal training contract, but even if one is not forthcoming, my supervising solicitor/line manager will be happy to sign off on my work as QWE to help me qualify.
My medium- to long-term ambition is to become an in-house junior legal counsel at an investment bank. My question, therefore, is:
Is it worth doing a part-time International Financial Law LLM at Kings/UCL? My knowledge of the law is probably somewhat limited compared to big law firm graduates. I don't think I stand out enough, or have the diverse range of legal knowledge compared to a recently qualified big law firm applicant when applying to in-house associate/junior legal counsel roles at an investment bank in the future.
I'm thinking that the LLM could:
- Deepen my knowledge of the law in the areas relevant to an investment bank.
- Perhaps I will be able to build a strong relationship with the investment bank I am already working at or another of my company's clients, by doing a dissertation around a topic of their choice and for their commercial use.
- Utilise the apparently strong networks that KCL/UCL have to help me secure the junior legal counsel role.
The downside I am worried about is the cost and the stress I will inevitably have to endure to get my LLM whilst working full-time. Do people think it would be worth it?
Would really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
