http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290 en Northwestern Two-Year JD Program - LLM GUIDE Discussion Board Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:11:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#44290 Hi All! I am a NW 2Y JD applicant for 2008/9. Like most other applicants, I applied in Jan. and took the on campus interview in Feb. My application package was indicated COMPLETE in late Feb. Interestingly, the online checking system updated my COMPLETE status again yesterday (Mar. 27th). I find some last year applicants chatting records in this website. To my surprise, they were still in the "waiting list" until mid May and after that no relative discussing records could be found. Such a long way for the final results! Are there any friends here also applying NW 2Y JD program this year? What's your story? Let's start chatting! Henry W. Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:22:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#44356 I applied. My application package is complete in March. How to check the status? Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:30:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#44357 Hi, there! Nice to know you. Go to "NW LAW main page"-"admissions" tab-"check status" tab That's it! Do you know any other applicants? Did you take on campus or phone interview? Btw, where are u from? Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:10:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#44592 Hi guys, I applied to this program as well, and my application went complete in March, no update till now. Have you heard anything from NU recently? Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:51:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#44636 Welcome here, passenger! I can check the status now. But where did you guys find when it is updated? Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:37:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#44780 Hi, Arabian. I just kept on tracking. Probably we have to wait until the late April. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:39:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45678 I just got the admission this morning! Anybody else? Contact me throught message here. thansk Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:42:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45679 Is anyone who got admitted willing to share their LSAT score in a private message to me? I am very curious to how high I have to aim. Thanks. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:16:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45700 I got admitted today via email as well. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:19:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45701 hey, Passenger. Where are u from? Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:03:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45734 I haven't got any news yet. Allison and Passenger, when are your applications complete? Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:25:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45739 Hi Arabian, Mine was completed in March. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:45:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45852 I have been put on the Wait List. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:38:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45876 I called the admission office before and I was told that the 2Y JD program only admits 7 or 8 students out of the total students which may be 70 or 80. Anybody got admitted this year please leave a message please? Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:25:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45902 How many schools in the US offer the 2 year JD program? Is northwestern the only top 20 to offer it? As a foreign lawyer, would be interested to know as may like to come to states eventually. Thanks. Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:49:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45954 Hi everyone! I applied to the 2 yr. program at NW too, but I also applied to three year programs. Does anyone know if it's harder to find work coming from the 2 year? I did the LLM thinking that I'd find work afterwards, I did not- I would hate to be in the same position again two years from now. Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:20:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45957 I don't think it matters that much, if you do 2 or 3 years, as long as you get your JD. Esp. from NU. BUT it might be a problem that you don't have a work permit so that the firm will have to sponsor you with a H1 visa/green card (assuming you are not a permanent resident). Also, if your English isn't close to perfect, that might also create problems. Esp now that the job market isn't exactly booming. I would try to e-mail people with JD degrees (get a list of alumni from i.e. NU) who are foreigners to see what happened to them. Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:07:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45961 Thanks- I'll try to get in touch with past students. You make good points, who knows what this recession will bring or how it'll last. Hopefully it'll be over by the time we graduate (2 or 3 years). Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:22:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45962 Hey, Alexa, Have u received the NU decision yet? Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:44:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#45967 How many schools in the US offer the 2 year JD program? Is northwestern the only top 20 to offer it? Thanks. Look at this thread: http://www.llm-guide.com/board/35343 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:17:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46057 I don't know of any other school that offers a 2 year JD, however, UPenn and the University of Virginia let LLM's apply as transfers (alongside students who just finished their 1L). If you get in, you're admitted as a 2L. In the end the result is the same- or better because it's not a JD "for foreigners" whatever that means. You graduate alongside everyone else. I think UPenn only lets its own LLM's apply though. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:33:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46294 Does anyone have any additional details on the waitlist process? I'm specifically wondering if 2 year JD students are on a specific list for 2 year JD spots (meaning, someone accepted as a 2 year JD would have to decline in order for someone on the waitlist to be picked) or if there is a general waitlist. Thanks! :) Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:25:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46303 I don't know how does it work either, but my application was placed on the waiting list as well. Do you know what kind of additional recomendation letters should we send in order to update our original applications? Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:58:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46306 I was put on the waiting list. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:15:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46308 When is you guys response deadline? Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:18:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46342 I am a little reluctan about this program because is not very well known and I know a lot of lawyers who haven't heard of the existance of this program and think is more reliable to do a 3 year J.D. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:37:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46346 Dude, it is NU. I really don't think employers will care if you did 2 or 3 years, just as long as you have a JD from NU and you passed the bar exam in whatever state you want to practice in. However, employers might care if your English skills are poor or if you don't have a work visa so they have to sponsor you, but those problems will be the same with both programs. I really don't think taking on another $50k or so of debt is good advice. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:47:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46526 Hello everyone. Just thought I'd add my 2 cents. I graduated from NU's 2-year JD program in 2005 and thought the program was excellent! As a JD candidate you are treated exactly the same as “regular” (3-year) JD students, you are seated with them in class and are by no means “set aside” because of the program. The only differences with the 3-year students are that (i) you get a 1-year credit for your LL.B (undergraduate degree in law) and (ii) are required to take some mandatory courses. The interviewing process for jobs is also a bit different (see below). The 2-year JD program also has some differences when compared to the LL.M – the most important of which are (i) you are required to take the 1L (first year) course curriculum (core courses like Constitutional Law, Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law, etc.) during your first year (which some firms find as a plus at the time of hiring), and (ii) you are able to participate in OCI (on campus interviewing) with dozens of the most prestigious law firms from throughout the country (which LL.M students do not have access to outside of the LL.M fair in NYC). Because NU’s interviewing system does not allow firms to preselect students, you have a great shot at interviewing with very prestigious firms and impressing them at the interview – which is something you’ll need to do given that, unlike most other candidates who will be interviewing, you will not have grades to show yet (2-year JDs interview on the outset of the program, while 3-year students interview between the 1st and 2nd years), which can be seen as a downside. Therefore, I partially agree with some of the posts before: your level of English must be up-to-par, you need to be well-versed in the US style of interviewing and will need to highlight your accomplishments and experience during the interview to offset the absence of 1L grades (which are a big factor in how firms normally recruit their Summer Associates). If you do, you should not have a problem. I got 5 offers to join Summer Associate programs by large firms, ended up accepting 2 (I split my Summer) and eventually got placement as a Corporate Associate in Sidley Austin in Chicago, which is one of the top firms in the US. (By the way, I chose not to practice international law, so even if you are foreign and have an LL.B, you are not restricted in your choice of practice. Because you become a US attorney with the JD degree + the bar, you can choose to specialize in whichever practice you prefer). I hope this helps! Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:53:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46527 Very very good comments on this subject. Thank you very much J! Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:27:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46533 Hi everyone, Since my post earlier today, I have received several questions about NU's 2-year JD (particularly about participating in OCI or the on-campus interviewing program). Here are my thoughts for everyone's benefit: Some of you (particularly those who have already been admitted) are wondering whether you should participate in OCI and how early that should happen. As a general principle, as I tell my students at LL.M Studio (and previous 2-year JD mentees), my advice is to be a self-starter and not wait until things are handed or told to you. So they earlier you start asking questions, the better. This is particularly true of 2-year JDs. Because the 2-year JD program at NU is very small (it will likely be only 5-10 students per class), the Career Services office may not fully have 2-year JDs on its radar --in part because they will not know who the students are until they actually arrive in Chicago. That is unless you are proactive and take the lead. This is especially important because the needs of 2-year JD students are unique. 2-year JDs are able to participate in the OCI program during the fall of their first year (which is quite a perk compared to other programs). Moreover, they absolutely SHOULD, as that will be their best chance to get positions as Summer Associates and later, get permanent placement at law firms. Because 2-year JDs will only have 2 years at NU, they will be interviewing with rising 2Ls (students who will have completed their first year), as this is when interviewing for Summer Associate positions normally takes place. However, they will have to interview right off the bat. What this means is that they will be going to orientation and interviewing for jobs at the same time (or almost the same time). Therefore, they will have to be prepared and front-load the work. (No worries, from experience, I know it can be done. It takes effort and foresight but it can totally be done). So my advice to you newly admitted (or soon to be admitted) 2-year JDs is contact the Career Services as soon as you can, ask for the OCI info + account login/password and set it up (it may not be enabled yet, but definitely get on their radar - once you do, they are extraordinarily helpful). Also, start researching firms and get your CV in order (make sure it meets US standards) with enough time before you leave home to come to Chicago. A few good places to start researching firms are vault.com and NALP.org (www.nalpdirectory.com). I know this all sounds somewhat crazy, but that is the way it works (due to the 1 year credit 2-year JDs get). You still have plenty of time (so no need to freak-out), however you’ll soon have to start getting busy. Thinking ahead will put you on the right track. Being prepared is the best way to do well during your program. Cheers and good luck! Johana Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:43:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46542 Excellent post! Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:25:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46586 Hi guys!! Unfortunately, I was put on the waitlist. I am very sad about it. Is there anyone who know about this waitlisting in detail? How many applicants on the waitlist will get usually a final acceptance from NU? and who and how made it last year? If there is anyone who has any useful informations on this subject, please share it with me. I really appreciate it. Sat, 03 May 2008 03:04:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/44290/last#46785 Are there anybody out there that are waitlisted, the content of the letter. Also, want to know if anybody has been accepted from the waitlist