LLM Discussion Board

Don't look at Alabama, but apply in a broader range of schools, also some in top 20 such as Vanderbilt.

I don't really know if you will get in though.

Thanks for the advise. But, an online program at Alabama, and, to the above post, didn't think that Vanderbilt had a program, let alone at a top 20 school?

Boston typically accepts students ranked top third, USD: top half, and Washington more like top 60% (spoke to admissions at these schools), and NYU, I know people that have been accepted in the top 25-30% range.

I'll be graduating top third to top 25% trom an upper tier 2 school with as of now a B average in tax classes with a final in corp. tax manana. I think I can do better than an online program and a non-existant one ranked in the top 20 that I might or might not get in to.

Thanks for the input, though.
Cheers!

[Edited by KimchiTax on 07 May 2009]

[Edited by SteveB on 07 May 2009]

re: “Should I apply again for next year” Ask yourself, “what would make my application any stronger next year? What will give me an advantage over next year’s applicants?” Unless you already have a clerkship/fellowship/volunteer/public service job already lined up (to show that you *intentionally* took a year off between JD and LLM to help in with a rain forest/judge’s chambers/public defender/the needy) just listing “worked at a small law firm” won’t give you a leg up. Remember, the schools that reject you all know they said “no” already – how are you going to convince them to change their mind? It’s not like the DMV, where if you wait long enough you’ll eventually get in – you need to demonstrate why you are now more qualified than when they rejected you.

re: “Should I settle on school in the geographic area” That’s a tough question for this board to answer. Where is your geographic area? Where is your *dream* geographic area? Have you talked to your Professors and Career Services people about the need for a Top 3 LLM program v. Top 25 in the markets/firms where you want to practice? There’s a big difference in what is expected at Skadden Arps in DC v. the IRS in Kansas City. What specialty do you want? Which program has that?

re: “Temp position with the IRS” There is no such thing as an IRS temp job these days. And it’s too late to for the fall clerkships and the honor’s hire program.

re: “Sit for another bar.” Only if you plan on moving to that state with or without the LLM. Just sitting and passing won’t open the door to a better LLM program.

re: Hangfire’s comment about “Applications are up at all schools, due to the economy.” That’s not exactly true this recession. Apps are down at many schools (Undergrad & Grad) because the economy is actually so bad that people are afraid to spend $60K on college or $150K for law school or $30-$60K for an LLM when the result might be the same pay check as a nurse with a community college degree. This story made the NY Times, WSJ and even Parade magazine this semester. I tend to believe it because UCLA just re-opened their LLM application period. Their press release made it sound like they were doing it for the good of the public, but the reality is that they still have empty seats to fill and a budget to meet. I suspect that many programs will be dipping into their wait list or quietly accepting late applications.

I am really curious about your meteoric rise in class rank. The cumulative weight of the GPA scheme means that as each semester ends, you can move less and less. Even w/o counting your transfer classes, a 20%-40% move in your last year seems a bit odd unless you go to a very small law school – are you sure that is accurate?