Goodbye Yale and the LL.M. Board

By tmalmine in Law According to Yale on Sep 09, 2007

This will be my last posting on this blog. I was graduated from the Yale Law School in June 8th. Our commencement took place in May 28th. It was a very special day: My girlfriend flew from Austria to participate. It was a sad day, too—a day of many farewells.

After the commencement, I moved back to Finland. I also decided to start looking for a new job. As some of you may remember, my original plan was to continue teaching after my LL.M. studies. Due to several personal and financial reasons I made a change of plans. I will soon start practicing in a major Finnish law firm. I hope to continue working on my dissertation, though, whatever it requires. My new job will be anti-trust advocacy, and I’m delighted to say that I’m looking forward to it.

Was Yale LL.M. worth it? For good and ill, the past year was one of the most remarkable periods of my life. Great studies, great friends (S. and M.,especially, will stay in my memories), great times, great life. I believe that my year at Yale had a profound impact on my scholarly vision--and on my personality. Whatever the future holds, I am better prepared for it, thanks to Yale.

This will be my last post on this board. I found the board in December, 2005. During the past 18 months, I have posted c. 250 messages, sent and received approximately 200 personal messages, and my blog updates have been read about 200 000 times. I have met several people here with whom I still correspond via email (or Facebook). It has been a great community. But I’m old news now. New students have taken over the responsibility for circulating the common wisdom of this board. I will step down now, sending my best wishes to all of you out there.

Yours truly,

Toni

Comments

dam, Oct 25, 2007 19:36

Dear Toni,
I am one among so many people that benefited greatly of your posts on this board, and it is also thanks to your tips that I made it into Columbia, where I'm currently studying. Thank you so much.
Just a few further words on your last (let's hope not really the last) post. Obviously, I don't know the reasons that led you to embrace the private practice of the law, which may be the most diverse. Nevertheless, I must admit I was struck by this move.
I came to the US as an academic too, and, unlike almost all of CLS LLMs, have no experience whatsoever in corporate law or in subjects even remotely related to it. But once here I decided to switch to private practice: I have my reasons, too, of both personal and, obviously, economic nature.
It is however worth of serious consideration that many would be law scholars (I don't think I'm the only one here; and you have under your belt the degree that, quite possibly, is the strongest asset in building an academic career; plus, you come from a country that is supposed to be one of the most generous towards its talented sons), are turning down teaching positions after a long period of study devoted to it (I know how hard it is pursuing a Ph.D.). I'm afraid stories like ours (especially yours) are not a promising sign of European universities' strenghth.

Thank you again, Toni: May you get whatever you desire

Dam

SeaDragon, Oct 23, 2007 04:39

Congrats Dear from a YLS former LLM...No it's just Time to say BG, Toni and I would say I love so much YLS community and also your country, Suomi ...With Love from SeaDragon (Hanoi, VIetnam)

Russ, Sep 13, 2007 22:09

Goodbye Toni. Thanks for all your post in the board and in your blog! It's a bit sad too see you leave the LLM-Guide. I am one of the "oldest" members now :-(

Good to know that you are still active on lawyrs.net. See you there!

Russ

michaelcor..., Sep 10, 2007 15:27

hey toni, thanks very much for all the information that you have generously shared. i didnt apply to do a US llm, but the info you shared has universal value. :) congratulations with graduation and best of luck in practice! i hope that you'll get the chance to pursue academic pursuits in some form in the future!

Lit, Sep 10, 2007 11:55

Toni, come on, what are you talking about, you're old news?! That's ridculous! Since I found this board some 14 months ago, I think you've been one of the most valuable sources of information for most people. Ricey even named his blog in your honour-that's how good it was. Anyhow mate, don't get swallowed in big law, it has its pros (cash money honey), but its often not really as mentally stimulating as researching, writing, which is what some of us really want to engage with.

Go well my good man...