As part of its mission to advance the teaching
of banking and finance, the Center for Banking and Finance offers professional
development and enrichment programs for law students interested in careers in
these industries as well as financial support for law students studying banking
and finance.
Students Attending Programs for Professionals
The Banking Institute
The Banking Institute is a two-day continuing legal education program for bankers and their lawyers. Student attendees have an opportunity to interact with bank counsel, private practitioners, regulators, and nationally recognized speakers in the industry.
Most of the center’s programs are open to law students to attend free of charge including the Financial Services Compliance Boot Camp.
North Carolina Banking Institute Journal
Each year 13-15 students are selected for the staff of the North Carolina Banking Institute journal, which publishes student notes and comments and solicits articles from banking industry professionals. Ten 3Ls are selected each year from the 2L staff members to serve as journal editors. The journal is published in conjunction with an annual continuing legal education program on banking law, the Banking Institute, which attracts nationally prominent speakers. Staff and editors work closely with the journal’s faculty advisor, Professor Lissa Broome.
Staff members receive advice on their journal notes from members of the center’s board of advisors and interact with board members at the Banking Institute. The editor-in-chief and the institute editor serve as ex officio members of the center’s board of advisors for the year they are in office and the year following law school graduation. They attend the board’s two meetings each year. Editors on the journal also receive scholarships.
Career Development
Career Trek
Students visit a law firm and an in-house bank legal department to learn more about life as a practicing attorney and the career paths of the attorney participants. Registration preference is ordered: (1) North Carolina Banking Institute journal students, (2) students enrolled in Banking Law, and (3) Transactional and Corporate Law Association members.
Career Lunch
Students on the North Carolina Banking Institute journal have the opportunity for a virtual session with journal alumni. Attorneys provide feedback on students’ resumes and give general career advice.
Other Enrichment Opportunities
Practitioner Pop-Ins
Four or five practitioners are invited to join Professor Broome’s fall Banking Law class and answer questions about their careers and areas of expertise. Recent speakers have talked about the Volcker Rule, derivatives, bank supervision and enforcement, and FDIC deposit insurance and failed bank resolution.
Scholarship and Grants
Scholarships for Journal Students
Funds provided by sponsors of the annual Banking Institute program fund scholarships for the 3L editors of the banking journal. Rising 3L editors apply to be considered for a scholarship. Two scholarships in the approximate amount of $7,300 are awarded and the remaining editors are eligible to each receive a $3,000 scholarship. The Banking Institute sponsors also offset part of the lodging costs for journal students to attend the Banking Institute in Charlotte.
Global Summer Enrichment
The center provides funding to help offset the costs of summer study abroad related to banking and finance. This support is geared to rising 2Ls. Support varies by year and may range from assisting one student ($5,000) to five students ($2,000 each) to offset the costs associated with summer study abroad for academic credit.
Summer Public Interest Grants
The center funds multiple summer public interest grants to students working in unpaid public interest positions related to banking and finance.
Conference Travel Fund
The center provides up to $1,000 to offset travel, lodging, and registration fees for professional conferences in banking and finance for up to 10 law students each year.
Research Assistants
Professor Lissa Broome hires one or two research assistants to provide support to her and the Center for Banking and Finance during the summer and the school year. Other law faculty teaching and researching in related areas also hire research assistants in the summer and during the school year. Rising 2Ls should consider this potential summer employment opportunity. Students may work part-time (15-hours per week) or full-time (defined as 30-hours per week) for half the summer or a full summer. During the school year, students work 5 to 10 hours per week.
