Ignacio de Benito Aldea

Ignacio has always been interested in the world of economics and business, so when he had to choose what to study, he opted for a dual degree in business administration & laws. Although he was not familiar with legal practice, he felt that this discipline would complement his business training very well. However, as he progressed in his studies, he discovered—to his surprise—that he was more passionate about law than economics. Specifically studying commercial law convinced him he had found his vocation: this was the specialty he wanted to dedicate himself to in the future.

He then began to explore programs that would allow him to leave his city to continue training after graduation and enter the legal profession. While evaluating his options, he had the opportunity to participate in the IE Challenge 2022. The experience was so positive that his decision was clear: the next step would be to study a dual master's degree (LL.M.) at IE Law School.

"If I had to define the IE Legal Challenge experience in one word, I would say decisive," Ignacio says as he describes his time in the competition. He says that the IE Legal Challenge "allows you to test yourself in many ways." It helped him discover that he not only had the potential to solve a case study, but also to work on a team, perform under pressure and demonstrate his organizational and leadership skills.

The semi-finals took place at the Pérez-Llorca law firm, which allowed him to demonstrate his skills to lawyers and human resources professionals in this prestigious firm. Ignacio also found that he fit in very well with the culture of the firm, and decided that Pérez-Llorca would be his first choice when he completed his master's studies. Thanks to his talent for law and the support of IE Law School, Ignacio has been able to fulfill his professional goal. He now works as a junior lawyer in the Corporate M&A / Real Estate team in the Pérez-Llorca office in Madrid. The firm offers a long-term plan for organic and structured development, which Ignacio feels very comfortable with. Little by little, he has been taking on greater responsibilities, although he says that he is still learning every day. As he points out, "If there is one thing that must be clear to us, it is that lawyers never stops learning." His professional routine is demanding and intense, but also very rewarding. Ignacio is well aware that "the key is to organize yourself well and know how to prioritize." He also recognizes the importance of knowing your own limits and not trying to take on more than what you can complete with responsibility and rigor.

The dual master's degree at IE Law School gave Ignacio a solid base of knowledge—both general and specialized—in law and in the discipline of corporate M&A, to which he is currently professionally dedicated. He is convinced that having these fundamentals is essential to starting a successful career, and from there, everything depends on your effort and dedication. In this sense, he highly values the practical and dynamic approach of IE Law School's classes, which encourage you to hold yourself to high standards, right from the beginning. A good example of this is the capstone project, which is presented as a real legal competition, very similar to the IE Legal Challenge. It is a perfect opportunity for students to learn how to organize themselves and work as a team. Students face real cases that put them in direct contact with the professional world. Ignacio's team won this competition in 2023, an achievement he values highly. "I couldn't be prouder of my team," he says. The experience helped him to understand that there is not always a single solution, and that the key to a lawyer's work is to find the best possible solution for the client's interests. Ignacio aspires to continue growing as a lawyer in all aspects. One thing he has learned over time is not to rush—things will arrive at the right time as long as you approach them with effort, perseverance and commitment. For students who are considering following a similar path, he recommends that they seek excellence and strive for the best version of themselves. In this quest, IE Law School can be a great ally.