LLM Guide on Selecting an LLM Program

by kira on May 7, 2012

Given the expense and opportunity cost of getting an LLM degree, applicants don’t tend to devote nearly enough attention to selecting the right LLM program for them. Researching this topic yields a massive amount of conflicting information that doesn’t inform the applicant’s decision. The approach to selecting an LLM program should be based on a particular applicant’s personal goals. This LLM guide will attempt to provide simple guidelines for those applying to LLM programs.

  1. Qualifying to take the bar in the US as a foreign lawyer. There is value in attending a US school for an LLM degree to foreign attorneys interested in taking the bar exam in the US.   Go beyond this LLM Guide and ensure that graduates of any LLM programs you are considering are entitled to take the bar in the state in which you would like to be licensed to practice.  You can contact the school directly and ask.
  2. Demonstrating English proficiency and exposure to western culture. Completing any LLM program is effective at showing to potential employers abroad that you have successfully completed a program taught entirely in English and have been exposed to the culture, but keep in mind that actually getting a job in the US will usually require than completing some sort of an LLM program.  The name recognition and the specialized nature of the program you complete will generally be key.
  3. Programs focusing on a specialized area of law. This may seem like an obvious point, but in order to get the benefit of obtaining skills in a particular area, such as corporate law, tax, international law, or human rights, make sure the school has them.
  4. Western lawyers upgrading their alma mater. Take it from this LLM Guide.  If you hold a JD from a US or UK school, simply adding an LLM to your resume is unlikely to significantly improve your employment prospects.  For most western lawyers this is simply not a great reason to go through an LLM program.  If you do proceed, it only makes sense to apply to the best-recognized schools, ideally with a very specialized program in your field.  The one exception to this rule is that attending NYU Law’s tax program is a great boost to any aspiring tax attorney’s career.

On LLM Rankings in the US – an LLM Guide Exclusive

by kira on April 7, 2011

It is well known that enrolling in an LLM program is a time consuming and extremely expensive endeavor.  In selecting programs to apply to, prospective applicants often look for LLM rankings in an effort to determine which programs are most desirable to them on the basis of the programs’ appeal to a broad survey audience.  Unfortunately, there are no such official rankings for LLM programs and, conceptually, there cannot be.  As we explain in this LLM Guide, selecting the program to attend is ultimately dependent on the question of why a particular applicant is interested in obtaining an LLM degree.  There are at least three separate possible motivations for obtaining an LLM degree in the United States that we address in the LLM Guide:

1. Improving one’s resume by adding an LLM degree.

2. Obtaining specific professional skills through the LLM degree.

3. Becoming eligible to take the bar exam in the US.

A common misconception that we can try to correct is that official law school rankings are applicable to LLM programs.  While it is true that US News rankings are relevant to some applicants, they certainly should not be the authority for all. In this LLM Guide we provide ides for selecting an LLM program suitable for different types of applicants.