Hello,
I'm a first year attorney extremely interested in International Law. Specifically international commercial arbitration. Over the past year, I've been fortunate to participate in proceedings against several foreign sovereigns relating to commercial transactions, for which I moved to DC. This is an extremely high powered field of the law and, unfortunately, I do not have the IVY League education to match it, which means that my prospects of truly advancing within the field to the forefront of leadership positions is null. If I were to get an LLM in international law from a world class university, would that overshadow my unfortunate past of attending a subpar law school (second/third tier)? What if I receive an LLM from a British university (Cambridge or UCL), would that be recognized by american employers? Or is that all a big waste of time, effort, and money?

Getting an LLM from a British university is a total waste of time for an American lawyer.

Some to the top Attorneys in the US went to subpar law schools. Look up famous high profile cases and research where the legal participants got their JD's from - you'll be pleasantly surprised. Experience is the key and you seem to have it.

Thanks for the insight. But do you think that an LLM even from a top 20 US lawschool would also be a waste?

For a JD I think it is a waste of time. Firms know you did it just to "pad" your resume. If anything it enhances the fact your JD was from a less prestigious place.

LLM's are for foreign students looking for an American experience, or to qualify to sit the bar exam.

I really see no utility in getting one unless you have limitless funds and are willing to take a year off.

As an alternative, why not try more creative ways of enhancing your prospects through networking or volunteering.

That said Oxford or Cambridge might be a good way to diversify your education. It shows you have international interests.

Thanks for the response. With regards to your recommendation to volunteer and network, I have been doing contract attorney work for some of the most prestigious firms in the world over the past couple of months in the field that I want. Which seemed like an excellent step. Unfortunately, as a contract attorney you get exposure to lots and lots of "inferior officers" at the firm, but not the seniors. In two months, I think I have only got through to two partners. That's it. They are simply unavailable and usually too busy to welcome you in with open arms. Second, the type of work assigned to contract attorneys is practically secretarial work that they assign to contract attorneys so they can bill clients at attorney rates rather than secretary rates! I cannot imagine volunteering to be much more productive.
With regards to an LLM, having seen the way huge megafirms work from the inside, my impression is as follows: If you are Yale/Harvard graduate and not much else, you will be treated as a star and pampered and groomed for greatness. If you are a junior associate from an inferior law school, you will be handed down the superstar associate's dirty work. Of course, I'm hopeful that my impression is just a generalization from fairly dissappointing experiences at two mega firms.
So, this is why I'm considering an LLM from a world class law school. If it's from the US, it would be to establish credentials as an international law specialist. If from the UK, then to establish my firm commitment to the field by flying to the other end of the world building my credentials.
Am I completely off track, or is there any logic to my statements?