Arlindo Eira Filho

Hometown: Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
HLS Class: LL.M. class of 2008

Prior Education: B.A. 1997, LL.B. 2001, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil; MBA 2004, Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Management), Evanston, Illinois, USA

Prior Experience: Associate / Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company, São Paulo, Brazil, 2004-07;  Junior Manager / Managing Partner – Moinho Amazonas Ltda – Manaus, Brazil, 1993–2001

Career goals: Corporate Finance practice (either in consulting, private equity or investment banking), law teaching (in the field of law & economics) and public service (consultant to or member of government advisory boards or public interest offices).

Being a student at HLS will be extremely beneficial for my future career, both in private practice as well as in public service. The array of courses offered is so wide – I’ve been able to tailor my course plan to my needs, ranging from courses focusing on very specific topics (e.g., the Regulation of Private Funds [Private Equity/Hedge Funds] and Mutual Funds Regulation), to more general ones like Corporations, International Finance, and Mergers & Acquisitions. I really appreciate the teaching approach of making law students think as if they were legislators. We not only learn the law, but we understand its rationale and examine, from various perspectives, whether it achieves its policy goals. The fact that the school has so many resources and that we study with such influential scholars makes you feel empowered that you can be instrumental to legal change.

My advice to prospective applicants may seem like a commonplace, but I think it may be worthwhile to hear it from a former applicant. Starting the application process early is to your advantage: not only does putting together a strong application take time, but you will probably also want to let it “sit” for a while so you can review it with a fresh perspective before sending it out. I encourage you to research the school well, and if possible talk to current students or alums; hearing their personal impressions will help you get a better picture of the program. I also felt comfortable that I took the time to talk to each of my recommenders and explained to them why I wished to pursue an LL.M. at HLS; I benefited from their comments and advice about my plans. And finally, do not let a non-traditional background deter you from applying. HLS values students with a variety of experiences; diversity in the LL.M. class reflects just that.

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