Choosing the right location for your LL.M. is a crucial decision. While various destinations around the world offer reputable programs, the United States stands out as a particularly compelling choice, providing a host of unique advantages.
One is the opportunity to be immersed in a diverse legal landscape. The U.S. legal system is a complex tapestry of federal and state laws, providing students with exposure to a wide array of legal principles. This diversity can be valuable for those aspiring to practice law internationally or in multinational corporations, where an understanding of various legal frameworks is essential.
Additionally, U.S. law schools place a significant emphasis on practical legal skills, providing students with the tools they need to excel in real-world legal practice. Through clinics, internships, and moot court competitions, LL.M. candidates in the U.S. gain hands-on experience, enhancing their ability to apply legal theory to practical situations.
“Unlike learning in many parts of the world, where students’ participation in class is generally limited to passively listening to professors distill information, legal education in the U.S. occurs through the Socratic method, where students are tasked with engaging one-on-one with their professors,” says Maureen Leo, Director for International Graduate Programs at Boston University School of Law.
“Students must come to class having read the material and be prepared to engage with their classmates and professors,” she adds. “There’s nothing like it anywhere in the world.”
Specialized courses and concentrations
American law schools are also renowned for their flexibility, with students able to tailor their LL.M. programs to suit their professional goals. The U.S. legal education system allows students to choose from a vast array of specialized courses and concentrations, ensuring that they acquire expertise in their chosen field. “Study in the United States in the following areas are remarkable, given the innovations that have occurred: Intellectual Property, Arbitration, Negotiation, Corporate Law, Environmental Justice, Human Rights,” says Leo.
Another thing that is notable but often is overlooked is the difference in legal education in general in the U.S. versus most other countries, says Karen Jones, Executive Director of Global and Graduate Programs at the University of Houston Law Center. “In the U.S., the LL.M. is pursued after students have completed their undergraduate degree (4-5 years of study) and a very rigorous juris doctorate degree of legal studies (3 years full-time).”
“In many other countries, the law degree is achieved within 4 or 5 years of bachelor’s or first level degree of higher education,” she adds. “So when studying for an LL.M. in the U.S., the program tends to be quite dynamic.”
Moreover, Jones says that some programs in America have J.D. and LL.M. students taking some of the classes together. “Law degrees in the U.S.A. are considered professional degree programs, so that may also distinguish them from some of the more purely academic programs in other countries.”
Financial considerations
However, when considering the total expenses associated with pursuing an LL.M. in the U.S., how do they compare to costs in other locations, factoring in tuition, living expenses, and potential financial assistance?
“In the U.S., the cost of an LL.M. program can greatly vary,” says Jones. “The high end for tuition fees tends to be around $76,000 for a one-year LL.M. program at an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. The lower end for a comparable program at an ABA law school is around $30,000.”
Living expenses vary greatly depending on where you live. “In the U.S., cost of living along the East Coast (i.e. New York, Washington DC, Boston etc.) and West Coast (i.e., Los Angeles, etc.) tend to be the highest,” adds Jones. “The south and central states are generally more affordable.”
The cost has to be weighed against the career outcomes to form a total return on investment (ROI). One key factor to consider is whether you plan to stay in the U.S. after graduation or go back abroad, says Sandra Friedrich, the Assistant Dean for International Graduate Law Programs at University of Miami School of Law.
“For those wanting to stay in the U.S., you should consider applying for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) one-year work permit and seeking admission to a state bar. If you want to stay in the United States for longer than just the OPT year, you should make sure you are eligible to sit for a state bar exam in the U.S., either through your prior studies or through the LL.M. itself.”
She adds that the job prospects in America, the world’s largest economy, are fairly strong. “Specific areas that we have noticed currently are in high demand include immigration, compliance, in-house corporate practice, bankruptcy, and international dispute resolution,” says Friedrich.
