Financial, Banking and Securities Law

<h2 id="section---IsFinancialBankingAndSecuritiesLawForMe">Is Financial, Banking and Securities Law for Me?</h2> <h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3> <p>Banks, lending companies, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/International_Trade_Classes_and_Training_Programs_FAQs.html">international trade</a> businesses and major corporations all hire financial attorneys to oversee their legal situations. Many experts in banking law work independently for several clients at a time through their own private offices. You would need to earn not only a 4-year bachelor's degree, but also spend at least three years in <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Degrees_Prepare_You_for_Law_School.html">law school</a> and possibly an additional year focusing on financial, banking and securities law. </p> <h3 id="section---WorkEnvironment">Work Environment</h3> <p>As a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Lawyer_Become_a_Lawyer_in_5_Steps.html">lawyer</a> you would act as both an attorney and advisor in matters of both the public and private spheres. If you choose to focus on financial, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Online_Banking_Classes_and_Schools_Your_Questions_Answered.html">banking</a> and securities law, you may be able to work for the federal government, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Can_I_Do_with_an_International_Business_Degree.html">international business</a> and a variety of law firms. You would most likely work in an office with some time spent in courtrooms. </p> <h3 id="section---SalaryAndEmploymentOutlook">Salary and Employment Outlook</h3> <p>You may expect to begin your career in a salaried position, advancing later to better positions within a law firm or going into private practice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for lawyers is expected to grow by 10% between 2012 and 2022 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). In May 2013, the mean annual wage for a lawyer was $131,990. </p> <h2 id="section---HowCanIWorkInFinancialBankingAndSecuritiesLaw">How Can I Work in Financial, Banking and Securities Law?</h2> <h3 id="section---EducationInformation">Education Information</h3> <p>You should first obtain an undergraduate degree, preferably in the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Does_Liberal_Arts_Mean.html">liberal arts</a>, business or finance. You would then need to score well on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) in order to gain admissions to a law school to pursue a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Can_I_Do_with_a_JD_Law_Degree.html">Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree</a>. While in law school, you may be able to concentrate on financial, banking and securities law, or pursue a separate Master of Laws (LL.M.) in banking and financial law during or after your J.D. degree program. You should expect a varied student body, as some participants in an LL.M. program may have already obtained their J.D. and significant experience practicing law. Others may be new to both degree programs. </p> <h3 id="section---TopicsOfStudy">Topics of Study</h3> <p>The curriculum for an LL.M. program concentrating on financial, banking and securities law may include regulatory, transactional and business-oriented aspects of the legal framework. Areas of concentration might include international banking and financial law, lending and credit transactions, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Careers_in_Financial_Services_What_Are_My_Job_Options.html">financial services</a> transactions, American banking and financial law, securities transactions and compliance <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Management_Doctoral_Degree_Programs.html">management</a>. Potential courses might include bankruptcy, mergers and <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Does_an_Acquisitions_Manager_Do.html">acquisitions</a>, commercial lending, securitization and hedge funds. </p> <h3 id="section---ProgramRequirements">Program Requirements</h3> <p>Typically, earning your J.D. would take three years, while earning your LL.M. in <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Finance_Bachelors_Degree_Program.html">finance</a>, banking and securities law may require one additional year of full-time study. You could pursue both simultaneously through a joint J.D./LL.M. degree program. After earning your degrees, you will need to successfully pass the bar exam of the state in which you plan to practice law.</p>