Jana studied the Banking and Finance Law LLM. She graduated in 2010 and is currently part of the cross-border financial crime team at BlackRock Asset Management in London. She focuses on managing regulatory engagements and audits. Read about her time at CCLS:
I just finished a law degree in the US. For me, coming to study Banking Law and Finance at CCLS provided a great opportunity to focus on a specific area of law. Furthermore, Queen Mary/CCLS combined a large variety of study programs and opportunities with outstanding faculty and prestige. Also I was attracted to London as it is one of the largest international financial centres in the world.
I have many fond memories from my year here. For me, probably the best memories are connected to the almost seamless interactions between the academics and the student experience. As part of the academic program, we attended classes, interacted with amazing faculty (such as professors Rosa Lastra, George Walker and Peter Aldridge) and discussed topics ranging from bank secrecy laws to money laundering and financial regulation within the EU. The interactions, however, did not stop at the end of a class. Students socialised frequently and I particularly enjoyed meeting people from other parts of the world and learning from their experiences. It was the beginning of many long-term friendships with classmates and professors.
For me it has been an honour to be a member of this community. Being part of the CCLS network has not only provided me with the knowledge and academic credentials for my professional future but also allowed me to meet and interact with many great professors, legal colleagues and professionals.
CCLS has reshaped my career path. The CCLS experience has helped me to develop my legal knowledge and skills, spark an interest in new areas of the law and propel my career forward.
I believe that prospective students should focus on their academic interests but, at the same time, take the opportunity to explore other legal areas. Out of the three modules available to the full time LLM students, I took two modules in legal areas I knew were of interest and benefit to my career. The remaining third module, which was an introduction to financial crime, was a random choice. It sounded interesting and the rest, as they say, is history. Since my Queen Mary/CCLS days ten years ago, what started off as an interest has turned into a career. In a nutshell, CCLS can be decisive in defining and enhancing the abilities and aptitudes of its students.
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