Pursuing an LL.M. degree can lead to a significant step up in a lawyer’s career, as it offers an opportunity to specialize in a particular area of law and deepen expertise. However, choosing the right career path after graduation can be a challenging decision, as it can significantly influence future opportunities and job satisfaction. So how do you select the post-LL.M. career path that best aligns with your interests, skills and career goals?
Firstly, take the time for self-reflection and career assessment. Two key factors to consider are the expertise and ongoing intellectual enthusiasm you have developed in a particular area of law, as well as the legal market conditions for the geographic area you are targeting, according to Julie Anne Alvarez, LL.M. Career Advisor at Fordham Law School in New York.
“Many LL.M. students have already thought through their general career path before embarking on their studies, but for those who have been inspired to revise those plans or have used their studies to pivot their career goals, keeping these factors in mind will help them focus on opportunities in alignment with work they will find satisfying,” says Alvarez.
But market alignment is critical too. There are industries or sectors that are currently in high need of LL.M. graduates. “Specific areas that we have noticed currently include immigration, compliance, in-house corporate practice, bankruptcy, and international dispute resolution,” says Sandra Friedrich, Assistant Dean for International Graduate Law Programs at University of Miami School of Law.
She adds that it’s important to choose a program with curricular strengths in the sector of law most interesting to you. “To help students discover their area of interest, we encourage them to meet with their career advisor regularly and utilize additional resources such as the job search database to look for opportunities in different legal fields,” Friedrich adds. “We also discuss specific career plans and develop a personal curriculum for each student that will help them attain their post-LL.M. goals.”
Additionally, there are important financial aspects to consider -- such as salary potential, student loan debt, and return on investment, when choosing a career path post-LL.M.
Location: a key factor in post-LL.M. careers
One of the biggest financial aspects to consider is location, says Friedrich. “Salaries differ within the U.S. and abroad so it’s important to understand the potential salary opportunities or constraints of the location you are interested in.” Some cities, like Miami, are hubs for “Big Law”, with several large international and national firms opening offices in Miami in recent years.
Fordham Law also stresses the importance of assessing the financial aspects, including beyond the location. “There is a cost to obtaining an LL.M. degree in terms of time, energy and tuition fees, so it is wise for students to assess if this investment is right for them,” says Alvarez. “Students do need to analyze the potential ROI both when choosing an LL.M. program and their post-graduation goals. Fordham offers merit-based scholarships for LL.M. candidates, which can help defray the monetary impact for selected students.”
The law school also provides other resources to help LL.M. students explore and decide on their career paths. For those who want to expand their goals, Fordham offers the option to pursue a “Dual Concentration” in two aspects of the law, such as International Business and Trade Law or International Dispute Resolution Law, for instance.
Fordham also offers resources that include career advising, practice interviews, as well as review and critiques of job application materials.
Tailored mentorship and career support
It is a similar story at Miami Law, which takes a personalized approach to mentorship and career support to help ensure that LL.M. students are successful after graduation. Overseas candidates, for example, are assigned a dedicated career advisor who specializes in the placement of foreign-trained lawyers. This can help them from the time they arrive on campus through to graduation and beyond.
“Our LL.M. career advisor meets with students one-on-one and helps with resume and cover letter writing, conducting mock interviews, building networking skills, and developing individualized job search strategies locally, nationally, and internationally,” Friedrich says.
She adds that students should think about what they hope to gain from the LL.M. from the get-go, and use the resources available throughout the entirety of the student experience to move closer to those goals. “It’s imperative to not wait until graduation to figure out your goals, so you do not lose out on important resources and opportunities available to advance your career.”
It is equally important to balance the LL.M. studies with activities outside of the classroom, Friedrich continues. “While grades and classwork are important, we advise students to get to know their fellow students, as the peers they meet today will be their future colleagues tomorrow,” she says. “We also recommend students to attend and volunteer at conferences, participate in networking events to get to know the major players in the legal industry, and join local organizations such as a local student chapter of the Bar Association.”
