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US LLM

  • 19-06-2012 10:20pm
    #1
    J77
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 315 ✭✭


    Hoping to apply for a few top 10 US LLMs later this year. I've got very good extra-curriculars and will have done 5 internships (3 law, 2 business). Only thing is my GPA is only approx 3.5 so a bit short of the first(3.68GPA). Will the the extra-curricular and internships mitigate the high 2:1 or is a first necessary for these law schools? I'm not talking Yale, but NYU/Columbia/Michigan, which I realise are still quite difficult to obtain.

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    seb65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 402 ✭✭seb65


    Well I believe a high 2:1 (over 65) converts to an A- average in America, obviously a very good result. Also, I assume you are not American and classified as an international student. LLM's are known to be easier to get into as an international student because you are a cash cow and charged much higher fees.

    Is there a reason for doing the LLM in America besides wanting to live there for a year? It won't allow you to practice there or increase your chances of getting hired as firms only take those with JDs. I've heard most American's classify them as a waste unless you do the investment banking something or other LLM offered at - NYU I think?

    With the cost and such wouldn't you be better off doing the LLM at, say, LSE or UCL (given you don't have the first required for Oxford or Cambridge)? Both of those are held in very high regard.

    As an add-on, I wouldn't bother with Michigan.


  • #3
    chopser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 269 ✭✭chopser


    seb65 wrote: »
    Is there a reason for doing the LLM in America besides wanting to live there for a year? It won't allow you to practice there or increase your chances of getting hired as firms only take those with JDs. I've heard most American's classify them as a waste unless you do the investment banking something or other LLM offered at - NYU I think?

    Surely foreign educated Lawyers/ Solicitors are hired every day in America that do not have a JD ?


  • #4
    seb65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 402 ✭✭seb65


    chopser wrote: »
    Surely foreign educated Lawyers/ Solicitors are hired every day in America that do not have a JD ?

    Nope. The JD is a second degree and regarded as a Masters. The job prospects in America at the moment are little better than Ireland when you take into consideration the amount of new JD graduates produced every year. It may be easier in Canada to transfer over though, but I've heard American firms are much less inclined to hire foreign trained lawyers.


  • #5
    J77
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 315 ✭✭J77


    seb65 wrote: »
    Well I believe a high 2:1 (over 65) converts to an A- average in America, obviously a very good result. Also, I assume you are not American and classified as an international student. LLM's are known to be easier to get into as an international student because you are a cash cow and charged much higher fees.

    Is there a reason for doing the LLM in America besides wanting to live there for a year? It won't allow you to practice there or increase your chances of getting hired as firms only take those with JDs. I've heard most American's classify them as a waste unless you do the investment banking something or other LLM offered at - NYU I think?

    With the cost and such wouldn't you be better off doing the LLM at, say, LSE or UCL (given you don't have the first required for Oxford or Cambridge)? Both of those are held in very high regard.

    As an add-on, I wouldn't bother with Michigan.


    I'll be an international student. A US LLM can be an amazing experience academically, socially and career wise. People do get employment in big american firms with LLMs and I know of many who have. But if you do want to guarantee employment then the JD is definitely the way to go. Many people with US LLMs go work as American attorneys in Europe too.

    NYU has a high intake but its still only 450 out of 2500 applicants.

    Good point about LSE though, I'm gonna look at those too.

    I just think the US LLM will be a great chance to have a new learning experience in a different jurisdiction and it opens alot of doors on both sides of the Atlantic. That said they are damn expensive so I should really only do one if I manage to get into a top 10 law school in order to realise a return on investment!

    I was under the impression Michigan was very good, have you heard something bad about it?


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