Dong Ke, China

MSc Law and Finance Bursary winner 2012-13

I graduated from DMU, China in 2011 with LLB Maritime Law and I pursued my LLM Maritime Law at University of Southampton from 2011 to 2012. Obviously, the MSc Law and Finance at QMUL is my second master degree, which is thought a little redundant by some of my friends. But I made the choice to do this MSc at QMUL with strong reasons and precise aims.

As is well-known, shipping, finance and marine insurance are the essential parts of maritime law, international shipping and trade. After graduation, if possible, I will choose jobs related to shipping finance or insurance according to my interest and background, so it is really necessary and helpful for me to acquire some knowledge about finance for my career. In addition, undoubtedly, it is worthwhile to know much about finance, including knowledge about asset management and investment portfolio in temporary society. However, my background is law, without any mathematical or financial background which is largely emphasized by business or finance school. Consequently, the MSc Law and Finance programme suits me best. Furthermore, Queen Mary’s law school is renowned for its high quality research and teaching by sophisticated teachers of different subjects and modules, like IP Law, Financial and Banking Law, and so on. Moreover, QM is in London which is of high level of internationalization, competition, I can be offered more chances to get in touch with up-to-date information and cutting edge knowledge and a broad social network. Consequently, QM is my best choice.

As for the study here, it is really interesting, challenging and helpful. Without background knowledge in math or finance, it’s really challenging for me to learn and master the finance modules with completely new financial terminologies, theories and challenging financial equations and models. Notably, the School of Economics and Finance has arranged support classes for students who need support in math and statistics, which has helped me a lot. And regarding the law modules which are specifically selected for this program, they are firmly related to the financial issues that are happening, like the financial crisis, EU debt crisis. In addition, besides the outstanding professors in the law school, some guest lecturers from other universities or big banks come to give classes for us. Last but not least, all the academics and teaching assistants from both the School of Law and School of Economics and Finance are really nice. I think it is worth taking this program with its challenges which will be helpful for my career.

Ramiro Sandoval Garcia, Mexico

MSc Law and Finance 2011-12

Admitted in Mexico only, Dechert LLP

Shortly after graduating from law school in Mexico I was offered an associate position at Galicia Abogados, S.C., a leading law firm based in Mexico City, and focused my practice mostly on finance and M&A transactions representing both domestic and foreign clients on a wide variety of transactions.  As my professional development at the firm continued, I realized that studying for a Masters degree would continue improving my skills as a practicing attorney and complement my professional profile; however, at that point I decided that given the scope of my practice and my day-to-day transactional work, a hybrid course which combines legal content and financial subjects which would not only make me a better attorney but also fulfil my professional needs given my current practice, so I began to search for alternate courses which were unique and provide a higher learning experience different from traditional LLM.

When I learned about the newly created MSc in Law and Finance programme offered by Queen Mary I knew that it was precisely what I was looking for, and my year in London proved me right. The synergies between the strictly legal classes I chose and the rest of my financial courses were truly enriching. Soon enough I realised that I made the right choice and that the MSc in Law and Finance would provide me with the academic and practical input that I was expecting from the course.

Following the end of the course - and before going back to Mexico City - I came to New York to work for a year at Dechert LLP as a visiting attorney, an experience that has allowed me to put into practice my new legal and financial skills and to cherish the valuable nature of my stay in London studying at Queen Mary.

Luke McCann, Ireland

MSc Law and Finance 2011-12

''I had spent a considerable amount of time working in financial services with the Royal Bank of Scotland Group and later complemented that experience with a period spent at a leading commercial law firm in Dublin. After obtaining my law degree in Ireland, I wanted to re-align my academic and professional focus on my area of interest – capital markets. At the same time, I wanted to be able to leverage my legal background while pursuing this interest. The School of Law and the School of Economics and Finance at Queen Mary are world-renowned highly prestigious academic seats in their respective areas. Since, this course is jointly taught by both, I was confident when I applied that this would be the ideal degree programme as it would provide me with the best of both worlds.

The MSc Law and Finance at Queen Mary is specially designed for both lawyers that are interested in corporate legal practice and for lawyers interested in making the leap into high finance. The courses offered allow law students to look at legal issues through the lens of a financier, and also allows business students to look at financial issues through the lens of a lawyer. The course work is varied, challenging and practical, but also takes a broader perspective such that the student is able to understand complicated concepts and apply their learning in a meaningful manner. I found the teaching to be of an excellent standard. On the rare occasion that I required assistance from a lecturer they were very accommodating. Moreover, my supervisor for my dissertation is very approachable and of great help and openly discusses his research.

I found the experience of meeting other fellow students who were highly accomplished, personable and from all over the world most enriching.''

Letícia Moresca, Brazil

 MSc Law and Finance 2011-12

''I had just finished my first degree in Law at Federal University of Tocantins, and I had no work experience. I was not sure about what career I would like to follow, when I decided to come to UK and look for a course, and an experience abroad. I had never been to another country before, but with a bit of research I realized Queen Mary was one of the most recognised universities, with the best quality of law courses in London. On the top of that, I found my current MSc course, where I would be able to study Law and Finance together, which in my opinion is a mix of knowledge that every lawyer and judge should have, since many cases involve calculations of money, as in cases of damages, pension, patrimony division and many others. Nowadays, still not even in the middle of the course, I have already got an internship in an international law firm and have had the chance to start learning a third language. I strongly believe this course can also give me the opportunity to work in other areas then in court.  Furthermore, since my country is emerging and receiving more investment from foreign companies and people every year I have plans to continue my studies and specialize in investments in emerging countries. Even with the crisis, I believe with my future qualification, there will always be space in the market for me, overseas or in Brazil, where studying abroad still has a huge weight and value. Besides, moving to London, one of the biggest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world, has also changed my perception of other cultures and put me in touch with people from countries all over the world. I have to admit that I’m facing some hard work adapting myself to a different country, speaking and studying in another language and challenging myself with studies that go beyond law, but I also should mention that in my weekends and breaks, I'm realizing my dream of travelling around Europe!''

Ekaterina Kitanina

MSc in Law and Finance 2010-11
Associate, Hannes Snellman, Russia – Full Time Student and Bursary Winner

"I started my professional career in one of the major international law firms, Baker & McKenzie that I joined as an Intern. After completing my Master degree in Civil Law at the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University summa cum laude I was promoted for a position of a Trainee and then a Junior Associate. Then I upgraded my knowledge, completing a PhD degree in Business Law at the Faculty of Law of State University – Higher School of Economics, which led me to develop my professional career. So I joined Hannes Snellman, a Nordic firm with a strong foothold in Russia, as an Associate.

I have been practicing in the sphere of corporate and commercial legal issues but as my background was purely legal, I felt that in order to understand the core concepts underlying any M&A transaction I need to have basic knowledge of economic aspects. So I decided to apply for a degree relating to financial and banking services – either LLM in Banking and Finance or MSc Law and Finance course. Although I had been offered places by almost all top law schools, I made the best choice by selecting Queen Mary. First of all, after careful selection of the proposed programmes I decided to develop fully my economic knowledge to supplement the legal one, so made a choice in favor of MSc Law and Finance programme. Secondly, Queen Mary University of London is well-known for providing not only excellent research opportunities but also for delivering business concepts and approaches which is so valuable nowadays.

The MSc Law and Finance programme allow the students to choose the modules to be attended depending on the practical needs for the future profession. There are 3 specialisations – 1) Banking and Financial Services, 2) Law and Financial Regulation, 3) Law and Corporate Finance, so there is an opportunity to select between them according to the career path chosen. I really enjoyed my time here, as I had the opportunity to meet outstanding people and get a truly international experience."

Rebecca Thorpe, UK

MSc in Law and Finance 2010-11
Consultant Bovill, Part-Time Student

"The seed of the idea of undertaking a postgraduate course was planted back in 2006 by one of the partners of the firm that was my previous employer, Deloitte, when I was working in their regulatory consulting practice. But then soon after I moved to Bovill (a small boutique regulatory consulting practice) and with the challenges that helping grow a small consulting firm bring, somehow I didn’t get around to pursuing it seriously for another four years.

I was looking to push myself and broaden my academic horizons (and in my opinion a consultant that thinks she knows everything is a bad consultant!) And whilst I have spent the last eleven years making a career out of financial regulatory consulting, and collecting various industry qualifications along the way, I have always been conscious that, unlike the professions of law or accountancy, there is no recognized formal qualification path one must take as a management consultant.

I chose Queen Mary for its excellent reputation, and because the newly established Law and Finance Masters seemed the perfect fit for furthering my career in financial regulation. It also suited my mathematics background, which was the subject of my first degree from the University of Durham in 1999. The fact that it was twelve years since I had sat any degree level exams was a little daunting, but also part of the challenge.

And it has very much been the correct choice. I am taking the course part time, over two years. Although it wasn't quite the plan, I still seem to be working full time as a Principal at Bovill, and the time pressures of balancing work, study and lectures have made it especially tough. But challenge is what I was looking for, and my colleagues and clients have been understanding and supportive.

The MSc in Law and Finance has surpassed my expectations in terms of the quality of teaching, and access to professionals in their field. The combination of law and economics modules provides new depth to thinking about very current and very topical issues, for example through examining and dissecting the root causes of the financial crisis. It has been refreshing to hear new views, and the teaching has provided more formality to my understanding of the subject of law in particular, and an approach to problem solving using more formal quantitative research techniques. The course has renewed my interest in my subject.

Particularly interesting have been the guest lecturers that have been invited in- from a visiting overseas lawyer that is a specialist in US securities law to a volatility trader working in one of the largest investment banks, all of which helped bring the subjects alive and encouraged thinking about the subject matter from a different and very practical, as well as academic, angle. What I hadn't expected was how my fellow students would enrich the experience - I have made new friends, from many nations, and this has definitely helped make some of the challenges much easier and lectures very enjoyable.

I'm not going to pretend that the time pressures of balancing work and study has been easy (there are only a hardcore handful of fellow students willing to attend lectures from 6 until 9pm on a Friday evening) but I am lucky to have a very understanding and supportive husband."