LLM GUIDE Blogs > George Washington's LLM in International Law > FAQ Correspondence:
FAQ Correspondence:
By droit.est.philosophie in George Washington's LLM in International Law on Dec 12, 2006
Below, I have cut and pasted some email correspondence between myself and a prospective GW student, who stumbled upon this page. It contains some questions I think many would want answers to before coming to GW. Please note, the names and certain details have been edited for the purposes of this blog...
Prospective GW Student:
"Hey, just got admitted to the LLM program in International Law at GWU. It sounds from your posts that you find the program rewarding.What sort of things do they do to help students find jobs? Do most of the students have jobs when they graduate or does it take some time to find something? Is it tough to get financial aid? Any advise you can provide would be greatly appreciated."
Droit's response:
Congratulations! It's a very competitive program and you should feel pretty good about yourself right now. I think it’s great here. Although right now I'm feeling a little beat cause I just finished my first exam, drinking a nice Yuengling while writing you to cool down the brain cells.
As to jobs, they have a very active CDO, if you go to the gwu law website, there'll be a link on there. I scheduled an appointment before I even started classes. They offer a lot of good information, but if you're not motivated to find a job, then you're sol.I started with a RA position at the law school, the pay stinks but the hours are flexible and the work is interesting. I'm just starting to look myself for post-graduate positions. Have you passed a BAR yet? That's key. Where are you from? If you're looking for scholarships and you're American (like myself) it's almost impossible to get them. They're all for foreign students. If you are foreign then they have a lot of scholarships on the website.
And the financial aid: I suggest going through the financial aid's preferred lender list so you get it immediately. (A friend of mine didn't use a preferred lender and he just finally
got his check for August a few weeks ago). But they are loans and you have to pay them back postgrad.
I hear that most GW LLMs are employed within a few months of graduation, but I can't offer any data. Keep in touch and I'll let you know as my class graduates...
Let me know if there is any more info you need,
I'd be happy to talk to you about whatever.
Prospective GW Student's response:
Thanks for the feedback and congrats on being done with your exam. I know friends that have gotten LLM's in tax and patent law and they all say that it was worth it, but those areas tend to be a little more specialized than International...do you think an LLM in International carries the same weight? Are you going full time or part time? I am a US citizen and a member of the VA and DC bars, but I'm doing real estate law and don't find it all that rewarding....thus the idea to switch to international. Seems like most of the positions I've seen in firms in international are for project finance or international trade (anti-dumping, countervailing duty work), and of course they want experience. I'm hoping that they'll take the LLM in lieu of years of experience.
Droit's Response:
Sorry for the delayed response. We're still inexams for another few days.Marketability of the LLM in international?
Will they accept the LLM in lieu of experience?
Will the LLM in international make your life more fulfilling? -It depends on what you do with it. I can tell you it is a lot more interesting than real estate.
I'm doing full time. And, just so you know, they rarely waive the 100 page thesis you have to write. Where did you go to law school? How long have you been practicing? I came here straight from law school and just passed the BAR. Initially, I wanted to go on to a Doctorate and teach but when I found out there was no funding for the Doctorate, I decided I better find a more lucrative job for a while and try to teach later.
By the way, would you mind if I posted this correspondence on the Blog, I will change the names and everything? I think a lot of people are probably wondering these same things.
Prospective GW Student's response:
One or two more quick questions...are most of the students US JD's hoping to specialize in international, or foreign grads hoping to get jobs in the US market? Are there any professors I should avoid?
Droit's response:
No problem, glad to do it.
There are a lot of both. I don't know the exact percentage but I'd guess about 50%/50% foreign and domestic. The only problem with having so many foreigners in the class is that sometimes you can't understand what they're saying: sometimes the accent muffles the English. Everything else is cool, had many a beer with people from different countries and their perspective makes the education that much more interesting.
...No one I've had that I would say to avoid.
I hear you on the regional dilemma. GW has a good name and I hope it will carry wherever we go. Not quite Yale or Harvard, but people hear it and get all tingly inside (in a good way). Let me know if you think of anything else you would want to know. It helps me to think these things questions out too.
Procrastination time over, got to make a pot of coffee and get back to the exam studies.
...
Comments
Dear Sir,
I graduated from (Baghdad University) college of law since 2000, I interested in the LLM (Master’s) program.
I'm interested in finding out if your school offers correspondence study program in law studies
I would appreciate is will answer me
Thank you
Lawyer Ahmed Alaa
I am looking for post graduation in international law either in USA or Canada.Pls. send the information.Thanks.
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Dear droit, thanks for the support. I always read your blog too and I think you do a great job when it comes to give honest and practical information about what we´re all living here... Good luck and keep the good work!