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JD/LLM in the US - does anyone know?

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AYones

Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 8
JD/LLM in the US - does anyone know?
Fri Dec 09, 2005 02:22 AM

I'm a newly admitted attorney. I went to lawschool in the US. Currently, I work as a Court Attorney for an Appellate Court, it's sort of like a clerkship.

I've posted on this website before with little, if any, reply. My impression of this website, and LLM's in general, is that they are only for non-US aspiring lawyers. So perhaps, there is no one that can point me in the right direction. I have even contacted some of the law schools to no avail. If these schools want our money, why don't they do a better job in soliciting our business.

Well anyways, my question and aspirations...

Personally, I would like to obtain a higher degree at an elite law school. For some reason, I believe that having this on my resume will make it easier to land a federal clerkship and/or a prestigious position in the Public Service, e.g. federal prosecution or even in the Justice Department and then eventually a nice firm job.

But I don't know what program will be most valuable. A little birdie told me that if you went to law school in the US then only Tax LLM's mean anything.

Further, if in the end it will only cost me a lot of money and I won't end up in any better position, then is it really worth it?

And if no one here knows, and if the law schools can't tell me, then who do I ask? Is there like an alumni network? Should I look at every single Martindale LLM listing?

Sorry to vent. Just a little frustrated.

-AY
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ontario75

Joined: 08 Dec 2005
Posts: 3
JD/LLM in the US - does anyone know?
Fri Dec 09, 2005 05:53 AM
AY, actually you're one of the few ones who shouldn't be very frustrated around here. If you have a JD and you're clerking, what do you need more? There's no LLM that could increase your (already high) chances to secure a job at any level in any area (public and private). Go get yourself a drink and be happy! :)
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AYones

Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 8
JD/LLM in the US - does anyone know?
Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:52 AM
Ha. Thanks for replying. Well, it's a state clerkship, so it's not an eye-opener as a federal clerkship would be. But it's at an appellate level, so it's not bad. But it's not a golden ticket, I'm pretty sure about that.

But as I said. I still would love to advance my education and coat my resume with a better law school.

I guess it will have to be tax. Thanks, knew it.

-AY
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ipforme

Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 48
JD/LLM in the US - does anyone know?
Wed Dec 21, 2005 05:37 AM
Hi AYones.

I'm an American JD, went to a top 20 law school. Now I'm at NYU getting my LLM (which is top 4 or 5 depending on the year). I wouldn't necessarily say that going to a more prestigious school for your LLM will help by itself....you really should be committed to a certain area of law and go to a highly ranked school that also has a good reputation in that area.

Also, I am finding that it isn't a easy way to get a better job, etc. Employers always look at where you went to law school for your JD first, and what your grades were. A lower ranked law school still seems to hurt people's job prospects or at least limit them -- (especially outside of the top 35 schools, and definitely outside of the 1st tier). I'm not saying it's fair but that's the reality. Getting a LLM from a prestigious law school is never going to be the same as getting a JD from one. I think in my case it is helping my resume, but not because I made a big leap from the reputation of my JD school compared to my LLM school -- but because I already went to a good law school for my JD and my LLM school adds onto that. It's not such a drastic leap that it seems like I did an LLM because I didn't have any other options.

Also, law firms often don't know how to evaluate American LLM students (except for tax) since it is still a uncommon thing for American JDs to go on to LLMs unless it is in tax.

If you're interested in tax, I'd say if you go to a highly ranked school in tax (NYU, Georgetown) and do your studying, you'll easily benefit and get a tax job. For the other specialties, its not that easy. All that being said, I've gotten a lot of approval from practicing attorneys at prestigious firms about my decision to get my LLM and also for the school I am attending. So it definitely can't hurt. But it is a very expensive route to take, so I'd be absolutely sure you wanted to do tax, or you wanted to fully focus on a certain area of the law before you decide to go.
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ipforme

Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 48
JD/LLM in the US - does anyone know?
Wed Dec 21, 2005 05:43 AM
AYones:

I just reread your post. Start researching schools that offer LLM programs that you're interested in. I have to warn you -- many of the top schools do NOT allow American JDs in their LLM programs. For example, Stanford, Boalt (except via special permission and I think that's really only if you are accepted to the JSD program), Columbia, Harvard...don't take American JDs. I don't think Yale does either.

But decide what area of law you're interested in getting your LLM in. If tax, look at the top tax schools. Do a little research about what's out there in what geographic locations. Then start researching practicing attorneys. That's what I did when I was deciding whether to do an LLM. I searched firm websites, used Google, etc. for attorneys who were in the field of law I want to practice in, and looked for any who had done LLM programs -- and found mostly people who had done the program I'm in now. I emailed many of them and most were helpful in telling me their opinon about the program and its benefits. Of course many of them had done the LLM 10-20 years ago, which wasn't that helpful for me now, but it was still good to talk to them.

Also, I know that some schools will match you up via email/phone etc. with an LLM alumni if you'd like to ask questions etc. At my school they did this after I had been admitted, however, so you may not be able to contact alums until you're admitted somewhere. Good luck!
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jin

Joined: 19 Dec 2005
Posts: 6
JD/LLM in the US - does anyone know?
Thu Dec 22, 2005 01:47 AM
IPforme:

May I ask what percentage you graduated from? Or if you don't feel comfortable telling me, can you tell me if you feel that we have to be in the top 10% or so to have a shot of getting into NYU (I also went to a top 20 law school)?

I replied to your post in my NYU LLM--Should I Apply thread but I'm not sure if you saw it... thanks!
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AYones

Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 8
JD/LLM in the US - does anyone know?
Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:54 PM
Thanks for your response, I really appreciate it. I'm not sure if you wanted to know my credentials, I think he wanted to know yours (IPforme).

I have done more than cursory research. I've also thought about it for the last two years. I understand that LLM's are designed for foreign students with the exception for specialized programs. With that said, do I pretend to enjoy specializing in Tax. Or maybe I'll love it. I don't know. But it will definitely be NYU.

What are you studying if you don't mind me asking? And how will it help your career.

I tell you some of these schools though aren't very responsive to my inquiries. If I could get in touch with some alumns from programs it would be great.

I think I'm gonna audit a tax class in the summer and then apply to NYU tax. Around the same time I'm going to reapply for federal clerkships.

-AY
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