IE Law School and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law launch the 21st edition of their executive LL.M.

On September 7, IE Law School and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law have launched the 21st edition of their Executive LL.M., a program designed to foster a global perspective on legal practice and prepare legal professionals to navigate increasingly complex international environments.

The new cohort brings together professionals from 14 countries, with an average of 10 years of experience. Participants contribute perspectives from Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. This diversity transforms the classroom into a collaborative learning environment, where every professional journey and legal tradition contributes to a broader collective understanding of the law.

During the opening session, Soledad Atienza, Dean of IE Law School, emphasized the importance of developing a global legal mindset,which means being curious about different perspectives, comfortable with complexity, and able to understand different legal, economic, cultural, and social environments.

"Your classmates are one of your greatest resources in this journey. You come from different backgrounds, countries, experiences, and perspectives. Learn from each other", Atienza said.

James Lupo, Professor of Practice at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, focused on the value of community. "Another way to describe a global legal mindset is as a diverse community of lawyers," he explained. The new cohort, he added, embodies this vision by bringing together legal professionals from a wide range of jurisdictions and cultures.

Lupo also highlighted Northwestern’s pioneering legacy. The Law School counts Harold Washington, Chicago’s first African American mayor, among its alumni and graduated Ada Kepley, the first American woman to earn a law degree. He noted that this legacy continues to be enriched by the presence and contributions of each new cohort.

Mercedes Blanco, Executive Director of International Graduate Programs at IE Law School, highlighted the strength of the long-standing partnership between the two institutions. She also emphasized that intellectual curiosity and consistency will be essential to meeting the demands of the program. "Meaningful growth is never easy," she reminded participants.

The Executive LL.M. is a transformative program designed for ambitious lawyers who want to reinvent their skill set and gain essential business knowledge. Its multi-jurisdictional focus offers a strategic legal-business vision to advance globally.