http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579 en Take JD/Master @ Cornell/Sorbonne or try for Assas? - LLM GUIDE Discussion Board Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:31:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579/last#45579 I'm facing a bit of a dilemma: I'm an American set to begin law school this August. I ultimately want to practice in Paris at a high level. (think Sulllivan & Cromwell, Linklaters, etc.) I've been accepted to the JD/Master en droit dual degree program at Cornell/Pantheon-Sorbonne... I've also been accepted to a few US schools which are ranked slightly higher than Cornell. One offers the possibility of applying for the DESS at Sciences Po, though there is no guarantee I'll get in (though I have a Master II from the ENS - Ulm in an unrelated discipline...) Also, there is always the possibility of doing my JD at one of the higher ranked schools and then applying to do a DSU (Diplôme Supérieure de l'Université) at Paris 2. So my question is this: Is Assas sufficiently better than the Paris 1 that I should skip taking the Cornell/Sorbonne route, and try for Assas (or Sciences Po) later? Or can I get where I wanna get by taking the Cornell/Sorbonne route? (PS. I'm obviously particularly interested to know the opinions of French law students/lawyers; if you're one, please mention it in your response) Thanks Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:54:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579/last#45723 Hi Eu US, French law school student mom and forum traveler speaking (just to situate my lack of credentials :-) If you haven't discovered the 5 forums below, give them a look and ask the local specialists. http://www.village-justice.com/forum/ (Professional and students exchange advice - well visited) ASSAS' Magistère: http://4683.alloforum.com/liste_sujets-4683-0-96106-0-0-1.html (3 year Magistère - L3, M1 & M2 - which follows any L1 & L2 program - it culminates in their DJCE in M2) Assas' DJCE, for those not in the know, is France's most prestigeous corporate law program. Normal Assas law student form: http://www.assas.net/forum/ (well travelled forum... lots of visitors) SORBONNE: Magistère: http://mdae.aceboard.fr/i-236605.htm (also a 3 year Magistère which you can apply for after your L1 & L2 in law) Also highly selective. As opposed to ASSAS, multiple specializations are available in year 5 (not just corporate) Normal Sorbonne law student forum: http://saint-hippolyte.superforum.fr/espace-etudiant-c2/ (mostly visited by 1st and 2nd year students) I think that the Cornell/Sorbonne JD/Mastère will get you a first interview almost anywhere if you're looking for a generalist position. Honors and a great personality will do the rest :-) If you do shoot for Assas (which is certainly not more difficult to get into that what you've already achieved - ENS Ulm, yikes!) keep in mind that you may have to start as an undergrad in L1 if you've never studied law before. That makes a lot of years of studying to go (L1, L2, L3, M1, M2 & 18 months école du barreau). Additionally, as an Assas student, you have no guarantee of being accepted to an M2 at Assas (which is the year that counts for future employers). Good luck, Goteborg Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:14:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579/last#45756 Hey! Sorbonne/Cornell is great and you'd get a god job without any doubt! I would say that Assas is slightly better than Sorbonne (I'm from Assas myself), but seriously, I don't think it really matters. In addition, if you're not sure to get in to that DESS at Sciences-Po, it could be a bit risky to go to another university even though I don't think you should worry, you seem to be pretty qualified! Which other American universities have you been admitted to? Cornell is very well known in Europe, whereas some other top 10 American universities aren't (ex: Michigan, Northwestern etc). But of course, if you want to work in an American law firm in France, I guess they know the rankings pretty well :) Finally, I'm not sure that a DSU would be enough to work in a law firm in Europe, in the sens that you wouldn't have enough knowledge about French law. Good luck! Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:46:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579/last#46053 Hello, I am from Paris 1 and I can tell you that la sorbonne is much more better than Paris 2 assas for the diplomas dealing with private international Law- european -anglo american Business... Assas is better for "pure" business law. yet if you go to la sorbonne you will be graduated from a university which is well known all over the world contrary to paris 2 which is very excellent but inside the french boundaries.. So, I do think that the cornell Paris 1 is great! Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:09:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579/last#46054 I don't think you can say that one university is better than the other, they're are both really good! Assas has a well known master in European Business law, excellent professors in private internation law and Sorbonne's famous competition law professor has just switched from Sorbonne to Assas. I choose Assas because I prefered the program and the professors. In addition, Assas is just as well known as Sorbonne if you ask American professors or partners from big law firms. Both are great! Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:18:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579/last#46123 hello! I agree that both uni are great. but i think you should accept the offer you got already rather than wait and make another application for Paris 2. If you want to practise in France in a big law firm i wouldnt advise you to take sciences po DESS as for many it seems a bit light. most lawyers in anglosaxon firms went to paris 1 or paris 2. good luck! Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:41:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579/last#47988 Hi I am a former student of Assas, which is def. a great law school, just like Sorbonne is; there is not much different. just a lot of competition between those 2. Assas hates Sorbonne and vice versa ;) But regarding your question, if I were you I would immediately sign in for Sorbonne/Cornell. I don't know how Cornell is considered in the US, but if you want to practice in France, Cornell has a very good reputation. hope this helps Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:43:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/45579/last#47989 Hi I am a former student of Assas, which is def. a great law school, just like Sorbonne is; there is not much difference. just a lot of competition between those 2. Assas hates Sorbonne and vice versa ;) But regarding your question, if I were you I would immediately sign in for Sorbonne/Cornell. I don't know how Cornell is considered in the US, but if you want to practice in France, Cornell has a very good reputation. hope this helps