LLM Discussion Board

1) “Why do you think Yale accepts only 30 people and Stanford 20?”

I think that this question (asked in this post) is interesting

I could add: Why does Chicago admit only 50-60 people?

2) Don’t you think that an LLM program can be too big? Do you think that an LLM Program (for example at Columbia Law School) with 800 students would be a good thing?

3) Do you really think (based on your experience) that there is no difference, IN GENERAL, between a Yale/Stanford/Harvard LLM student and a LLM student at NYU?

Sorry to say that, but my experience is that, IN GENERAL, there is a difference between a Yale/Stanford/Harvard LLM student and an NYU LLM student (in terms of academic achievements and opportunities).

My experience is also that in Europe it's much easier for a Harvard/Stanford LLM graduate to find a job (especially in a top US law firm) than for a NYU/Cornell/Georgetown LLM graduate (it doesn’t mean, of course, that nobody from the Cornell LLM program works for Sullivan & Cromwell in Europe).

4) Have you ever heard about JD students complaining about the “invasion” of foreign students in SOME law school?

5) Don’t you think that LLM programs can also be a significant financial resource for SOME law schools?

I was an LLM student at HLS last year and, believe it or not, I received MUCH MORE offers than my friends enrolled at NYU. I’m a little bit upset to hear (both in the US and in Europe) that LLM programs are just cash cows (but, unfortunately, I have to realize that, in some situations, it’s not so far from the truth…) and I very much hope that HLS will never accept 450 students in its LLM program each year.

450 LLM students at NYU… it’s almost the TOTAL number of students (all 3 year JDs and LLMs) at Yale Law School (585 students) or Stanford Law School (527 students) !!!!

Maybe in the near future, the LLM program at NYU will be bigger than the whole Yale Law School…

1) “Why do you think Yale accepts only 30 people and Stanford 20?”

I think that this question (asked in this post) is interesting

I could add: Why does Chicago admit only 50-60 people?

2) Don’t you think that an LLM program can be too big? Do you think that an LLM Program (for example at Columbia Law School) with 800 students would be a good thing?

3) Do you really think (based on your experience) that there is no difference, IN GENERAL, between a Yale/Stanford/Harvard LLM student and a LLM student at NYU?

Sorry to say that, but my experience is that, IN GENERAL, there is a difference between a Yale/Stanford/Harvard LLM student and an NYU LLM student (in terms of academic achievements and opportunities).

My experience is also that in Europe it's much easier for a Harvard/Stanford LLM graduate to find a job (especially in a top US law firm) than for a NYU/Cornell/Georgetown LLM graduate (it doesn’t mean, of course, that nobody from the Cornell LLM program works for Sullivan & Cromwell in Europe).

4) Have you ever heard about JD students complaining about the “invasion” of foreign students in SOME law school?

5) Don’t you think that LLM programs can also be a significant financial resource for SOME law schools?

I was an LLM student at HLS last year and, believe it or not, I received MUCH MORE offers than my friends enrolled at NYU. I’m a little bit upset to hear (both in the US and in Europe) that LLM programs are just cash cows (but, unfortunately, I have to realize that, in some situations, it’s not so far from the truth…) and I very much hope that HLS will never accept 450 students in its LLM program each year.

450 LLM students at NYU… it’s almost the TOTAL number of students (all 3 year JDs and LLMs) at Yale Law School (585 students) or Stanford Law School (527 students) !!!!

Maybe in the near future, the LLM program at NYU will be bigger than the whole Yale Law School…

This is the email I received from the University of Chicago when I was admitted:

"It gives me great pleasure to inform you that our Graduate Studies Committee has approved your application for the University of Chicago Law School's...

[…]

I know you would find Chicago a wonderful place to pursue the LL.M. degree. Our program is small - about 50 people each year - and that creates a real sense of community among the students. We also make extra efforts to insure that LL.M. students have lots of contact with faculty and our J.D. students. Unlike many schools with substantially larger LL.M. programs, this is not a place where LL.M. students tend to isolate themselves with other students from their own country or region.

[…]"

I just love the last sentence... It’s so true and accurate… and it comes from one of the best American law schools…

[Edited 19 Apr 2007 by Etzmolch]

This is the email I received from the University of Chicago when I was admitted:

"It gives me great pleasure to inform you that our Graduate Studies Committee has approved your application for the University of Chicago Law School's...

[…]

I know you would find Chicago a wonderful place to pursue the LL.M. degree. Our program is small - about 50 people each year - and that creates a real sense of community among the students. We also make extra efforts to insure that LL.M. students have lots of contact with faculty and our J.D. students. Unlike many schools with substantially larger LL.M. programs, this is not a place where LL.M. students tend to isolate themselves with other students from their own country or region.

[…]"

I just love the last sentence... It’s so true and accurate… and it comes from one of the best American law schools…

[...] and in my home country (Germany), NUY graduates have more and more difficulties finding a job following the completion of their LLM.

[Edited 18 Apr 2007 by Etzmolch]

[Edited 18 Apr 2007 by Ayzac]