For Students from India planning to do a LLM from UK

prashbez, Mar 27, 2012 07:07

For those of you asking about jobs in the UK, loans to study the LL.M and other related queries, please read the blog and all the comments/ answers carefully. All the information is given above, if you take the time to read through the entire blog, comments and answers to queries asked earlier.

For information on LL.M subjects and details of the courses, visa requirements, children's studies, spouse working in UK etc. please don't ask me since I don't have this information. Check the websites of the colleges, UK Visa authorities and other UK government websites. All the information is given there and is easily available if you do some research.

@abc123: Well you can write articles on different legal issues/ topics. Mooting would help. Exchange student may help too but it depends on where you study. Recommendations are most important. Work experience definitely helps. Your Personal Statement is the most important aspect so don't ignore that.

Unfortunately the first preference is always given to marks by the top Univs/ colleges like NYU, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge. So you need to ensure your marks are good. Remember all the top students across the world apply to these colleges, so competition is intense and the main criteria would be marks. However they also want to see an overall personality and not just book worms, so anything extra you can add to your CV helps.

@xyz: Law firms may hire people like you but it depends on your CV and your previous work experience and whether they have a requirements for someone like you. Just apply and take your chances. No harm in applying to the law firms. It also depends on what you want to do. If its litigation and you're working with a good Señior Advocate, it may be better to continue to work with him/ her. If you want to do corporate law, then of course a law firm is the way to go.

xyz, Mar 09, 2012 20:03

hello sir,
ur blog is very helpful for people. I really liked the information one can get from this blog.
I want to ask that i am not from nls law schools in india, i hav graduated in 2010 since then i have worked under senior advocate for few months, now i want to work in a law firm. I want to ask do the law firms hire people like me and if they do what is the way .

harikam, Mar 06, 2012 13:51

I have done LLB from India and enrolled as Solicitor with SCRA and want to persue LLM from UK.Kindly guide:
1.Whether my spouse will be allowed to work in UK.
2.Children can persue their education in UK.
Thanks
Hari

abc123, Mar 06, 2012 09:47

Hey,
I'm a II year law student (undergraduate 5 year course) from one of the top 3 national law schools in India. I understand it's way too early to decide but I am pretty keen on litigating (please ignore this fact for the purposes of this question) with a possibility of studying abroad at some point.

To get to the point, I was wondering if you could tell me what I can start doing as a II year law student to ensure my profile gets noticed at a law school abroad. And I mean a top one - I mean I'm sure I can somehow make it to places like LSE and UCL (without exorbitant amounts of extra effort) but I am referring to places like Oxbridge and Harvard.

I do reasonably well at national-level competitions and plan to have a couple of moot wins on my profile as well. But what more can I do to take it to the next level ? Would things like being an exchange student abroad help? My marks aren't great - there is time to remedy that but yet I would like to account for the possibility of my marks not being in the top 15%.

I'm definitely not ruling out the possibility of working for some time before studying (either under an advocate or with some funky international organisation or NGO whose cause I'm passionate about)

shailu, Mar 04, 2012 11:06

hi,
i have an experience of 18 months with fujitsu india working as associate consultant, FYI its an I.T company not an lpo so i have experience in I.T laws and i got admission to newcastle university but have arrange only 4lakhs the fees there is more than 8 lakh can u suggest if i should take loan and go or other ways possible and also tell me about the possiblities of jobs either in uk or back in india after my llm from newcastle university is completed...and more info about llm in international buisness

prashbez, Mar 01, 2012 05:49

@Bikash: That's correct. Keep trying.

@Mohit: Do you want to become a lawyer or a management person? You need to decide that first. Even with a MBA there's no guarantee you'll get a job outside India with the present market scenario. So my advice is not to go abroad just because you think you'll get a job there after doing a MBA.

If you want to practice law then CS is a better option in my view especially if you want to be part of the legal department of a MNC. A CS and LL.B combination is ideal for that.

Cheers

mohit, Feb 26, 2012 14:16

after reading ur blogs*

mohit, Feb 26, 2012 14:16

sir,
after reading ur jobs i dnt think there is any use of doing llm abroad....i want to knw sir i hv complted my ba,llb and will it be a good option to go for mba abroad to get a job there ?if not then if in india ...i dnt wnna join a legal firm ,i wnt to be a part of a legal cell of a MNC ,,,so what would be a better option cs or mba here?

bikash, Feb 17, 2012 08:07

Prashant

Your reply is very helpful.

I guess I should keep trying with the Indian firms. Some day, some time, I may get an opportunity right? I mean, as you said, people do leave these firms every year so they might have a vacancy soon.

Thanks a lot.

prashbez, Feb 13, 2012 01:28

@Bikash: No point going with an enormous loan. More so as you have studied at one of the National Law Schools and have decent marks. I'll answer your questions below:

1. Straight answer is NO. If you're very lucky you might get an interview provided your application meets their required standard. But in the present scenario its extremely unlikely and with the Indian market for legal services also not opening up to the foreign law firms there's less chance. I know persons who have done a LL.B from KCL and yet have not managed to get a Training Contract, so a LL.M (even from KCL) would in all probability not get you anywhere. Yeah its a big risk especially after taking a large loan. I would not advise it. The LL.M from KCL didn't get any of the Indian students in my batch at KCL a Training Contract.

2. Yes keep applying. Law Firms always have openings at some point of time or the other. People leave, work increases etc. so you never know when you might get an interview call if your CV is in the law firm's database. Graduating from a National Law School may also be an advantage. Its important to keep applying and also to follow it up with the concerned persons. You never know when an opportunity will come up in one of the law firms. I would suggest you identify the practice areas you're interested in and then apply to the Partner concerned. However, if the Firm has a proper procedure for recruitment then you'll have to apply through the normal route.

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Prash

bikash, Feb 12, 2012 16:09

Hi prashant

your blog has been a real help. I do understand your inclination against doing an LLM in UK only from a job perspective considering the present market scenario there. Plus I also have first hand knowledge that Indian firms do not really care for llm without adequate work ex.
However, please consider this. I will be graduating this year from a top national law school with decent grades. I was selected for a vacation scheme in a UK magic circle firm last year. Unfortunately, the dates coincided with my college recruitments and I had to forego interviews with the top law firms. I did not get a training contract in uk and by the time I returned, since most of the firms were already full up for this year I didnt get a chance to sit for interviews. I was therefore considering whether an LLM would open up new avenues in the sense whether these same firms would consider me a year later with an LLM from say KCL. But after reading your blog, it seems futile because I have to take up an enormous loan and the odds are against securing a job. However, please consider the following 2 queries-
1. Does an LLM from a college like KCL get you interviews/internships with UK firms for training contracts (considering you have a good degree from a National law Uni)? I mean, is it a very big risk to hope that I will get atleast some opportunity if I did the llm with a job perspective?
2. Would you recommend I keep trying with the Indian firms so they consider me when they have a vacancy? I mean, if a final year student hasn't gotten a chance to sit for the batch recruitments, is it probable that he might be considered after his graduation by the top law firms?
your reply will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Alaina Sarkar, Jan 16, 2012 17:58

thank u so much for the information... i am still a law student and wish to do my LLM but now i think it will be better if a work for a few years and then think about getting my Masters degree.

prashbez, Jan 16, 2012 15:17

@Avanti: Not having studied in US, I can't really comment on the US Vs. UK debate. Let me be frank and tell you that in the present scenario in India, your LL.M degree whether from UK or US would not be valued by the law firms in India. For most of the law firms the LL.M doesn't really matter in their hiring decision, though personally I think its the wrong attitude for the law firms to have. I would any day prefer a person who has a LL.M and a LL.B degree than just a LL.B degree. The law firms in India prefer that you have India experience and that too relevant experience for their specific practice areas. Your main purpose for the LL.M should be to study the concepts, get a broad understanding of your subject and do in depth research in areas of your interest. Depending on the subjects you choose, the LL.M will give you exposure to subjects, which might take you 5-7 years to get exposed to in Indian law firms. For example Derivatives and Securitisation is something I never got exposed to in my 10 years of working in India because the Indian law firms I was working for just did not get that kind of work. After the LL.M I feel that I can now deal with Derivatives and Securitisation even though my knowledge is only theoretical. At least the basic concepts are clear to me after the LL.M. That in my view is the biggest advantage of doing a LL.M; Your basic concepts become clear. As far as UK law and Indian is concerned, when you come back you will in any case have to know your Indian Acts/ Rules/ Regulations. I would suggest you continue working with the Senior Advocate for a few more years. You'd probably benefit more.

@siddhant: You're being naive if you think you can get a job in UK/ US after a LL.M in the present economic scenario. Have a look at the other replies I've put on this blog to similar questions. The scholarship details are all available on the British Council website and other websites. You need to do your own research on the scholarships.

@S1711: Please complete your articleship and then go for the LL.M if you want to. Don't leave your articleship unfinished. You'll realize the benefits of doing that once you return to India after the LL.M. Personally, I would not advise doing the LL.M at this stage. Get some Indian law work experience for a few years and then decide whether you really want to do the LL.M or not.

@pavan: Don't know much about New Zealand and Australia but it probably won't help you get a job there. They will definitely be cheaper than US/ UK but not sure of the benefits you'll get after you return to India.

@Bilalaslam: University of Aberdeen and University of Dundee in Scotland are good for a LL.M in Energy Laws. In fact the CEPMLP at Dundee has specialized Energy Law LL.M's. That's a good area to get into. Out of the choices you've given above, I would suggest Corporate, Commercial and Business laws (You'll have to decide the specific subjects in each area for yourself). But please remember doing a LL.M from UK is not going to get you a job in UK. Univ of Cardiff is supposed to be good for law. Not sure about the other ones but if I had to pick one I'd pick Univ of Cardiff.

bilalaslam, Jan 03, 2012 12:17

Member's please help me, i have options of doing l.l.m in
1> corporate,
2> human rights
3> commercial law
4> trade law
5> business law
I have interest in working in legal firms dealing financail matters and leagal matters of different companies/organizations.
I want to know which field of l.l.m will help me in this respect, as i have also plan of doing 1yr m.b.a (business management ) after completion of l.l.m as to give an extra boost to my career/job opportunities.
Secondly, I am academically week as i scored 53% marks in l.l.b and 6.5bands in ilets( no band below 6 bands), so which university do u think will be fit for me in u.k, in-order to get l.l.m degree.
my education consultant choose these univ for me
( Cardiff metropolitan univ,
London metropolitan univ
Bradfordshire univ,
Univ of East Anglia,
Univ of Cardiff,
univ of Aberdeen)
He also told me that , Scotland is good place for l.l.m as , lots of good law univ aw well as good opportunities of getting jobs )
Kindly, reply me briefly, as i am from a third world poor country, so don't have much info.

PAVAN , Dec 21, 2011 15:15

hi Prashant ,
thanks a lot for giving me a detailed insight of UK LLM and its Scope . I have done my LLB from Bangalore University in 2011 and working under a litigation senior in Bangalore currently . I am planning for LLM in New Zealand or AUSTRALIA...how are the prospects of doing an LLM in both the countries and I am planning to go with the only perspective of getting a job over there ...please advise me

S1711, Dec 15, 2011 09:09

Hey I'm presently in my 5th and final year of law in Bombay and pursuing my articleship as well of which half the period is already over...I wish to go abroad for an LLM immediately after my 5th year....is it feasible as by then I'd have been done with 2 years 3 months out of the 3 year articleship period....kindly suggest to me my future career options...

siddhant , Dec 03, 2011 21:28

awsum work sir! plz tell me the scholarship details sir! also sir i want to settle in uk only after llm what are the prospectives?

Avanti, Nov 22, 2011 08:20

Hi Prashant your blog has been very informative thanxs for sharing . I have completed LLB this year and am confused with which country is better for LLM course USA or UK.I also hold a post graduate degree in Commerce(M.Com) and since past two years have been doing internship under a Sr.Advocate in Mumbai prior to which i have work exp. of 2 years in non-legal field.Considering that India law is to a great extent derived from UK Laws whereas laws in USA are completely different would it be a better to do it from UK . I plan to come back to India and practice but would like to keep the option of working in USA or UK open.

akash, Nov 21, 2011 12:14

@ Prashant,
Thanks a lot for your reply.
what if i get hold of a good scholarship so that my college fees comes down to around 3-4lacs.

prashbez, Nov 21, 2011 10:13

@Akash: LL.B and CS is a great combination. I don't think in the present environment in the UK and US, you should do the LL.M especially for getting a job there. It will be next to impossible to get a job there after the LL.M considering the present state of things. Better to work in India after your LL.B and gain experience here for some years.

akash, Nov 19, 2011 04:44

Hi Prashant
Thanks for the wonderful post.
I'm thinking of doing LLM from either US or UK after I complete my LLB. Apart from LLB I'm also pursuing CS as I have inclination towards corporate law. I would like your advise on whether it's feasible to do llm abroad just after my llb. Along with that can you please give me some insights on llm and further job prospects if i do my masters from US.

prashbez, Nov 09, 2011 09:17

@Medha:

I hope your reasons for doing the LL.M are not from a job perspective. With the European markets in the doldrums, you won;t find a job there now. That said, since you have made up your mind to apply, each college has its own scholarships so you'll need to check the websites of each of colleges you apply to. In addition have a look at the British Council website or better still just visit them and find out the information. All the info on scholarships is available quite readily on the website of the British Council.

I really can't comment on whether your marks are good enough to get you a scholarship or not. 63% is pretty good by any standard but for the scholarship I suppose it depends on the individual university/ college. A lot also depends on the kind of essay you write for your scholarship. Most Universities would probably concentrate more on the marks than anything else. Work experience is a good thing always and also any articles that you have got published.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

Medha Sachdev, Nov 07, 2011 09:24

Hi!
My main query is regarding getting a good scholarship for LLM in UK.
I have done my law from a reputed university in Delhi but it is not a National Law College. My aggregate isn\'t very impressive either with a total of 63%. I am currently working with a renown Senior Judge in Delhi High Court and am about to complete one year of my researchership. Your blog has immensely helped me cogitate about \'to do or not to do\' an LLM.
I have decided to apply this year and decided once i get offer letters from the universities. But I will need a scholarship under any circumstance. Can you please guide me as to what could be the criteria of granting scholarship and with my marks and experience how good or bad a chance i have?

I see that you have been bogged down by so many queries already and have beautifully responded to all. Thank You so much for taking out the time. It really means a lot!

prashbez, Nov 01, 2011 06:37

@YT: NO. What's the point of doing a LL.M with a LL.B degree? You'll find it tough to get a job in the legal profession without a LL.B, so what's your exact reason for doing the LL.M?

@Ketu: In terms of exposure, it will be good but unless you apply that exposure practically, it won't benefit you that much. After doing the LL.M, I feel that one should be able to apply that learning in a practical situation to fully utilise the LL.M otherwise its just theoretical knowledge that you gain.

The LL.M should help you in the teaching profession but let me be frank and tell you that from what I have heard, the teaching profession is as tough to get into as any other profession. So don't bank on getting a teaching job after the LL.M. Competition is intense for the teaching jobs. I can't really comment on the 2 year LL.M in India versus the 1 year LL.M in UK/ US since I haven't done the Indian LL.M.

ketu, Oct 27, 2011 08:53

Hey,
Your blog was indeed very helpful.thanks a lot..I have done my LLB from Delhi and i want to do my LLM abroad mainly because of the exposure i'll be getting..i am into litigation as of now and the reason why i want to do LLM is to get into teaching..I heard that abroad we can finish LLM in just one year..Is it equivalent to the 2 yrs/3yrs LLM course here in India?Thanks .

yt, Sep 22, 2011 14:53

hi ... i am doing B.A HISTORY (HONS) from Delhi university .. now in my final year .. i am planning to do LLM from university of Sussex or Warwick in UK ... do you think its a good idea to do LLM without an LLB?? please help !!

kamal, Sep 17, 2011 10:25

Many Thanks Prashant. It helped me. There is a new trend in Indian legal industry as far as corporate are concerned. Now a days MNCs are giving preference for hiring LLMs form international universities. My growth path has been okay, but to make it more viable i wanted to do LLM. ANy ways, I need to re- think about it. Heard that IIM is also launching a course in Law management from shilong. Probably I need to look at that also.

Cheers (with Bud) :-)
Kamal

prashbez, Sep 17, 2011 07:23

Hi Kamal

My suggestion is not to do the LL.M at this stage of your career. It won't help you in getting a higher salary. You already have sufficient qualifications to get a decent salary. Unfortunately, most of the companies in India only look at your previous salary in deciding the package to offer you. Therefore doing a LL.M would not help you in terms of a salary hike. Your salary will in most cases depend on what you were drawing previously. I suggest you continue to work in companies/ MNC's and rise up over the years to a GC position. Its your work experience that will matter ultimately.

Cheers
Prashant

kamal, Sep 15, 2011 16:34

sorry for the "crime" ( not reading the message before sending !!) :-)

Kamal, Sep 15, 2011 16:30

Hi Prashant,

Its an eye opener. I am not sure if you read the messages to you regularly but just thought to write you. I am a company secretary (2006) and law graduate from osmania (2008) university, Hyderabad. I have done my chartered secretary also from UK, now planning to do LLM from UK. I have in total 10 years of exp. In litigation with NBFC and total (what you say generalized) legal exp. in one of the Top Interlational Alcoholic beverage Company. I want to do LLM for knowledge gain and of course for carrer advancement. Please help me with your views whether at this stage it will help in any salary gain in India. I am working as a legal cousnel and Company secretary and legal counsel want to see my self growing as GC of any of the Top MNC. I am 32 now. Thanks in advance for patience reading and reply.

karron, Sep 15, 2011 14:17

thank you very much sir....

prashbez, Sep 15, 2011 06:02

@Karron: Forget about getting a substantial increase in salary after doing the LL.M from UK and coming back to India. It just doesn't work that way. Your LL.M degree does not get you a higher salary in India compared to someone without a LL.M degree. Its better for you to work in a good law firm in India and work your way up to a good package, based on performance and experience. Depending on the law firm, starting salaries nowadays are pretty decent in the top law firms in India. The mid size firms are also paying reasonable starting salaries. The LL.M does not get you a higher salary, so if you're going to do the LL.M only for the purpose of getting a higher salary in India, forget about doing the LL.M. In the present market scenario in UK, I doubt very much whether Indian students doing a LL.M from UK will get a job in UK after the LL.M.

@Nihit: A LL.B from UK will probably cost you upwards of Rs. 50,00,000/- (Rupees Fifty Lakhs) over 3 years. Do you think its worth spending that much? With the present market scenario abroad, I don't think doing a LL.B or LL.M is really going to help anyone get a job in UK. Its better to do your LL.B from a good law college in India itself and work in India.

@Jasper: If you have been practising for 11 years, why do you want to do a LL.M? Is there some specific reason or is it just something which interests you? Each college has its own eligibility norms, so you'll have to check the individual college websites for information on admission requirements and the eligibility norms. You need to spend some time on doing your research. All the information is available online so just spend some time looking for it.

The QLTT is no longer available. It has now been changed to the QLTS. You can have a look at http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/qlts.page for more details.

Jasper Jacob, Sep 11, 2011 21:02

Hello Mr. Prashbez,
First i thank you for the most useful information provided by you for aspirants who like take LLM program from UK. i have certain quires to you. i am having a bachelor degree in law from the university of Madras and presently practicing as a advocate before the District and Sessions court at Tuticorin, Tamilnadu for the past 11 years. its my ambition to study LLM degree in any of the universities in UK. but i am not having good academic record. what is the eligibility norms (ie, percentage of marks in under graduation), for securing admission in LLM in UK. I had done my law degree in English. Secondly where can i get complete particulars about QLTT and is it possible to take QLTT exams from India and if so provide me the contact/URL address. I hope you will answer my quires.

somashree, Sep 09, 2011 14:49

thanx, its a lot of help! an eye opener especially for us just passed out llb students from india!

nihit, Sep 03, 2011 02:05

hi...
awesome blog.
well i am pursuing my graduation in b.com
and after that i want to study law, so should i do my llb from here or go to uk and do it over there and then continue with llm ....
urs thankful
nihit

karron, Aug 31, 2011 21:59

sir,
i am doing B.A,LLB(H) a 5 year course and after completion of my degree i am planning to go to u.k. for llm.sir what do u suggest ???that i should complete my llm and gain some work experience there and come back to india for a good package .basically i wanna know how to get a good package when i will return back to india.and what are the average salary packages given in india after doing llm from u.k.??
thank u

prashbez, Aug 18, 2011 19:52

@Arjun: I completely agree with you Arjun. What you have stated is the position nowadays as far as jobs in India or abroad are concerned. Good to see your inputs and wish you all the best for your second stint abroad.

Arjun is right that doing the LL.M doesn't make you a specialist but in certain areas of law, which are not taught in India in the LL.B (for example I never studied Derivatives and Securitisation in my LL.B), it does help you get a basic understanding so that you can apply it in your profession later. Of course, what you do after the LL.M with the subjects you studied in the LL.M is what really matters and how much practical experience you get after your LL.M in those subjects. For example all my batch mates who studied competition law in the LL.M are working with some of the top law firms in India now. At an initial stage, the LL.M might help but at a later stage, as Arjun said, its the kind of transactions you have worked on that will matter in getting a job whether abroad or in India.

@everyone: Please do not approach people who are advertising about financial loans on this blog especially if they have gmail Id's and do not have an official website or official email address or contact numbers. Please approach only recognized institutions/ banks for loans. The post by idiag desmond "do you need a financial loan if yes contact us via email idiagdesmond@gmail.com" is not endorsed by the author of this blog and may be fraudulent. Therefore idiag desmond's post is being deleted. Please be careful about anyone offering loans on the internet.

Arjun Aiyar, Aug 09, 2011 11:00

I'm about to embark on my second stint working abroad (previously at a law firm and now as head of legal for a company in-house) and I agree completly with the article. I haven't done an LLM (just an LLB from a University in India and I started my career at a law firm in Mumbai) and what I will say is this- once you've graduated, any law firm/company whether within India or outside is looking for- "what you can do for them?"...if you cannot convince yourself that you will bring somthing extra to their practice/company, then you really shouldn't be applying...what firms/companies are looking for is either legal specialists (specialised in one field of law-IP for example) or industry specialists (specialised/have a working knowledge of a particular sector- e.g. telecom lawyer, oil and gas lawyer etc...). Doing an LLM doesn't make you a specialist, it just indicates where your interests lie. In order be attractive to a foreign employer, you need to domonstrate via your CV and your interview process that you have worked on a significant number of specialised transactions/litigations etc...that are relevant to what the firm/company do themselves and that hiring you would add value to their business. It is harder to move countries if you are a litigator but if you are a transactional/complaince lawyer, your prospects of moving countries is reasonably good provided you have the relevant level of specialisation in a field so you can add value to your employer.

prashbez, Jul 30, 2011 05:55

@Dr. Sanjib: Sorry, I forgot to mention that if you budget about 10000 GBP for accommodation and living expenses, that should be enough provided your lifestyle is not too extravagant. Books are very expensive so my advice for the India students is to try and get the Indian editions of the course books (if they have been published in India) or to use the college library. The books cost will be extra over and above the living expenses and rent. Some of my course books were as expensive as GBP 300-350.

Cheers
Prash

prashbez, Jul 30, 2011 05:51

@Dr. Sanjib: I would say that the average fee structure at the time I did the LL.M was between GBP 11000 to GBP 13,500 pounds depending on the college. It has probably increased now. Living expenses if you're living in the college accommodation could be anywhere between GBP 400 to 500 per month just for the rent.

Of course there are a lot of expenses which depend on individual lifestyles. For example if you smoke (which is really expensive - 1 pack costs about 5 to 6 GBP) and drink and like to go out to pubs/ clubs then your expenses would definitely increase. Almost all the night clubs have an entry fee ranging between GBP 5 to even GBP 30. This is just the entry fee (not even a cover charge) so you'll end up spending much more once you're inside for food and drinks.

Tickets for various tourist places are normally quite expensive. It's best to plan ahead and book train and bus tickets well in advance. The Tube can be quite expensive if you need to travel a lot.

Food expenses can be kept under control if you shop at the right places like Tesco's, Aldi, ASDA etc. These places normally have a number of good deals, so you can plan your monthly expenses on food. Obviously its best if you cook your own food, that works out much cheaper and healthier. :)

Part time work is possible for 20 hours a week but depends on your Visa conditions. Depending on the kind of job you get, the hourly rate could vary between the minimum wage (roughly 5.85 GBP per hour when I was there) to 20-25 GBP per hour . A large part of your living expenses (excluding rent) like food, travel, some amount of entertainment can be taken care of by the part time work. Most of the college websites have options of searching for part time jobs and there are many other external websites.

My advice to students who want to seriously pursue the LL.M and do justice to the LL.M is NOT to take up a part time job or to take up a part time job where you can pick and choose work on the basis of projects, unless you have major financial constraints. The LL.M courses are not easy if you want to do it properly and learn as much as you can. The reading lists are extensive and even if you have only 3 classes a week of 2 hours each, finishing the reading lists for each subject is quite tough. A part time job really takes up a lot of time even if its only 20 hours a week. I worked part time on a project basis and that too from my residence but even then it took away a lot of study time which was required to prepare for the lectures and go through the reading lists.

Hope that helps Sanjib.

@Harnimrat: Sorry I don't have much idea about the LL.M in Australia, you'll need to do your research on the internet.

Dr.Sanjib Kumar Acharya, Jul 18, 2011 23:12

Hi!
Really a fantastic material for those looking for LLM abroad. Rarely in the internet one gets such an impartial article.
Only i wish the author could have mentioned the average fee structure and living expense during the studies. How about the part time work and earning possibilities during the studies.
I could gather lots of knowledge from this ariticle.
Best of luck.
Dr.Sanjib Kumar Acharya
Director/Career Counselor
New Delhi
Ph:011-41324643
Email:sanjibacharya@gmail.com

harnimrat, Jul 17, 2011 15:34

hello,, sir

im doin llb im in last yera...i want to do llm form australia plz help...

prashbez, Jul 05, 2011 07:10

@law aspirant: As far as brand name goes, it really doesn't matter nowadays in India. Of course if you do the LL.M, it is better to do it from a well established and reputed college but it doesn't have the same impact as it would have had 10 years back.

If your grades are good, then it should not matter if you're from NLS or not. Just keep applying to the law firms and wait for them to respond.

There are very few lawyers who have specialised knowledge in environmental law and climate change, so it is a good option for you to consider. I can only see that field growing in India. My suggestion would be to take a combination of subjects, which includes Environmental law as well as commercial/ corporate/ competition law.

Don't go with a loan.

Another area you can consider is Competition Law because there is a lot of demand now in India for Competition lawyers. More so since the Merger Control sections have been notified under the Competition Act. Most of law firms that I know of are all establishing Competition Law practices.

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Prash

prashbez, Jul 05, 2011 07:10

@law aspirant: As far as brand name goes, it really doesn't matter nowadays in India. Of course if you do the LL.M, it is better to do it from a well established and reputed college but it doesn't have the same impact as it would have had 10 years back.

If your grades are good, then it should not matter if you're from NLS or not. Just keep applying to the law firms and wait for them to respond.

There are very few lawyers who have specialised knowledge in environmental law and climate change, so it is a good option for you to consider. I can only see that field growing in India. My suggestion would be to take a combination of subjects, which includes Environmental law as well as commercial/ corporate/ competition law.

Don't go with a loan.

Another area you can consider is Competition Law because there is a lot of demand now in India for Competition lawyers. More so since the Merger Control sections have been notified under the Competition Act. Most of law firms that I know of are all establishing Competition Law practices.

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Prash

lawaspiran..., Jun 25, 2011 20:10

Hi! What a remarkable job you're doing!!

Im in my final year of law but from a non-N school background. I have good grades and internships otherwise. I have decided on applying for my LLM for two reasons:
1. So that I have a better 'brand name' qualification, since my LLB college is not an NLS which is given preference in India.
2. I was hoping to pursue an LLM in env law and climate change, because I thought it is emerging in scope nowadays.

However I have decided to go for an LLM only if i get a scholarship and am not forced into a huge loan.

Since Im fresh out of law school I would really appreciate if you could tell me whether the Env law programme has much/any scope, or if I should stick to the safer bet of Intl Commercial Law. I understand from your above posts that experience is advisable, but like I said I shall only go for LLm if it is not too expensive and if its a good college that will add to my CV. I'm terribly confused about the course. Kindly advice. :)

lawaspiran..., Jun 25, 2011 20:09

Hi! What a remarkable job you're doing!!

Im in my final year of law but from a non-N school background. I have good grades and internships otherwise. I have decided that on applying for my LLM for two reasons:
1. So that I have a better 'brand name' qualification, since my LLB college is not an NLS which is given preference in India.
2. I was hoping to pursue an LLM in env law and climate change, because I thought it is emerging in scope nowadays.

However I have decided to go for an LLM only if i get a scholarship and am not forced onto a huge loan.

Since Im fresh out of law school I would really appreciate if you could tell me whether the Env law programme has much/any scope, or if I should stick to the safer bet of Intl Commercial Law. I understand from your above posts that experience is advisable, but like I said I shall only go for LLm if it is not too expensive and if its a good college that will add to my CV. I'm terribly confused about the course. Kindly advice. :)

prashbez, Jun 19, 2011 11:02

@Samira: I'm sorry I can't advise you about the UN related jobs as I don't have enough knowledge about those. However a foreign degree may help you. You need to speak to someone who knows about the UN setup.

@legally speaking: Do your CS and LL.B and forget about the LL.M. With a CS and LL.B combination, you have much more chance of a job in India than with a LL.M. Just get a job in India and work your way up. The LL.M won't help you get a job/ higher salary in India and you'll be stuck with a huge loan if you go for it. Frankly, the job markets for Indians in UK, Singapore and other countries are not that great nowadays.

legallyspeaking, Jun 19, 2011 08:53

hi prashant

thanx 4 da information...it was really helpful
im in 5th yr of 5 yr llb course from a not so reputed college...i also pursuing my cs along..i want to work in corporate commercial feild either within india or abroad with a pretty high salary..nw i have 2 options i am confused about aftr i pass out

1.pursuing llm in commercial law from any universities in us/uk(of course for which i will have to take a huge amt of loan)
2. to get a job in india and persue MBL(master in buisness laws a correspondence couse from nlsiu) side by side
i would also like to know about the job oppurtunities in middle east,singapore etc ???

waiting.....

LLMHR, Jun 18, 2011 13:52

Hi,

Great info and very helpfull! I have a question. I intend to work for the UN after my LLB and i came across a info that one should have a Foreign LLM for that as it increases the Job prospect at the UN. Is it true? I have good CGPA and some other credentials. Please help me in this.

Thank you.

Kate, Jun 04, 2011 15:27

i want to be a homicide detective .. Can you suggest some good Criminal justice institutes in India .. Please ..

prashbez, May 05, 2011 06:17

@Su: I would not advise you to do the LL.M after 8 years of work experience unless you want to specialise in some specific subjects and areas of law. Forget about getting a job in UK just on the basis of a LL.M. It's not worth sacrificing your present job if you're doing well in your career. I'm not sure what your experience is but even after 8 years, the LL.M can definitely teach you some things, which you might never get exposed to while practicing law. But it's better to do a course in India without sacrificing your job.

@Kanwal: You'll have to decide for yourself about the GDL + LPC or LL.M. But the LL.M won't guarantee you a job in the UK. From what I've heard, the GDL + LPC is better to do from a job perspective in the UK.

@Yagyadeep and Satyakiran: Please don't do the LL.M if you are doing it to get a job in the UK. You probably won't get a job after the LL.M. The older you are the more of a disadvantage you are at in the UK legal profession. Age will go against you in getting a job in UK. UK market is in any case very tough to get into especially since the Indian legal sector has not opened up for the foreign law firms as yet.

yagyadeep, Mar 16, 2011 10:22

hi Prashant, i have read your blog and it is amazing for people like me who are new into Law studies. well, at present i have been pursuing LLB and will finish it in 2 years time.

Since begining og the LLB, i have been in dilemma whether to do LLM from some UK law schools or get it from Indian national law universities ( NLSUI or NALSAR ).

my age is 32 and by the time i get the LLB degree, i will be around 35. After LLB, i want to work in some Indian Law firm for 3-4 years and then decide upon my area of specialization for LLM.

I want to settle abroad as soon as possible but i want to do while working and earning. thing is that i want to go abroad when i have a job letter in my hands.

now, you please throw some wisdom, which is the good and workable way? Get LLm from Natinal law universities and get placed in some foreign law firms or directly go to UK for LLM.

satyakiran..., Jan 29, 2011 07:20

That was really helpful ....i am working as key accounts manager(sales) in a software company in India (after MBA) and am pursuing LLB simultaneously. I want to pursue career in UK in the corporate advisory system ....please suggest me in this regard.

waiting...........
kiran.badruka@gmail.com

kanwal, Nov 13, 2010 23:27

sir,
with due respect,
sir i have done LL.B. i need your advise what is better to do GDL+LPC or LLM in uk.due to which degree i can stay for longer time in UK. Please send me reply.
Thank you very much.
kanwal

Roger Dennis Chadwick, Oct 29, 2010 12:06

WARNING: Please note that there is a firm in the United Kingdom which provides private tuition for university students, the majority of whom are from overseas. This firm, called the Institute of Independent Colleges and University Teachers (I.C.U.T.), based in Coventry, United Kingdom, is headed by a man called Dr. Vincent McKee...

Check out http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=204942&sectioncode=26

su, Jul 01, 2010 19:27

Hi pras,

really appreciate your guidance on llm. i have questions to pose too.

i recently enquired with a student in uk about job opportunites and she said uk is closed for indians.i
hold 8 yrs. of exp. and intend to study llm. will i be eligible for scholarships and which is the best country to study llm and in which good subject.


i have my reservations on llm.
A. I do not intend to spend all my earnings on studying llm;
B. I do not know the prospects and if it is worth sacrificing my current job. Many of my frends who completed llm in uk, struggled to find a job in india;
C. After 8 yrs. of experience what can llm teach me? it is just an add-on?
D. So what should i do better to upgrade my skills?

thanks

Ravi.L, Jun 26, 2010 01:49

Hi,
I am delighted to know about the reality of studying LLM at UK.I have passed QLTT in November 2009 and still am unable to land in law firm.So I made up my mind to study LLM in UK.I am having 13+ yrs of experience in India as an advocate and now I'm 41 yrs of age.Can you please suggest me that how will I be benefitted from my LLM.I hope you will certainly reply my query.
Regards,
Ravi.L

prashbez, Feb 15, 2010 10:14

@Chavi: Please check out the websites of the individual colleges you're interested in. They all have different requirements so you need to check each college. Your marks are pretty so work on your personal statement and recommendations. Those are key things to get admission.

@Ashi: Sorry to say there are no job opportunities available in UK for most Indian students in the present market. Your litigation experience won't help you get a job in UK. That's a frank and straightest answer I can give you.

@Ashish: Don't do the LL.M is my advice unless you get some work experience. If you want to work as lawyer ultimately I'm not sure how much the MBA/ MBA-MBL program will help you if you're working as a lawyer. No doubt it will help you in enhancing your knowledge but there's no substitute for practical work experience.

@Saumya: If you have a scholarship then go ahead. Also depends on what kind of scholarship they are giving you. I think you will benefit from doing a LL.B in UK. I know someone who did his LL.B from Cambridge and then did litigation in the Indian courts. But if your intention is to practice in Indian courts my suggestion would be to come back here and join the Courts in India after enrolling with the Bar Council. As far as employment with Indian law firms is concerned, you need to have practical work experience either in UK or in India before it will help you. From the Indian law firms perspective an Indian LL.B degree would be better because the system is different here as compared to UK even though both follow a Common Law system.

saumya, Jan 25, 2010 17:39

Hey Prashant,
Thanks so much for this blog!
I am completing my undergrad degree in politics from Delhi university. I have a couple of offers from UK Univs for an LLB degree (With scholarship).. They are all recognised by the Indian Bar Coucil. I want to do litigation and I am certain I'd want to work in India. Do you think I should do it from an Indian Law college? Will I be employable in Indian Law firms or courts after a UK LLB degree?
Thanks Saumya.

Ashish, Jan 15, 2010 10:54

Gr8 work Prash...!! Thanks a lot for the valued information...!!
I have completed my LL.B.
I was also intending to fly to UK for LLM in Business Law, but your information made me to pause before jumping on my decision.

Well, now after completing my LL.B. from India three options are running into my mind;-
1, MBA-MBL 3 years programme from Jodhpur University.
2. LLM from UK - 1 year programme
3. MBA from Institution in India depending upon the score - 2 year programe.

I am confused in opting from the above mentioned options, I don't want to go for Court Practice.

Please guide me.

Ashish

ashi, Jan 11, 2010 16:31

Hi Prashant,
Thanks a ton for sharing your info and research with all of us..its very useful....
i have completed LLB from CLC faculty of Law Delhi university with 52% and have 4 yrs of experiance in litgation in criminal and family matters in Delhi courts..i am planning to move to UK..pls. suggest what kind of job opportunities and options are available for indians like me in legal field..


Regards,
Ashi

Chavi, Jan 02, 2010 14:29

Hello Prashbez.....i m doing LL.B. I hv scored 68% in 4 yr. i want to do LL.M. frm u.k. plz tell me abt d chances to get admission der nd how to start d process of admission.

prashbez, Dec 14, 2009 09:52

@Ekta: From that perspective I guess you need to do the LL.M from a top notch university and preferably a US one and then gain some work experience. Ultimately it's your work experience that will help you get a job with the UN or an international organization but a LL.M/ Ph.D. might be useful for that. A masters degree would definitely help from your career goals perspective. Just be prepared for a struggle initially because your subjects are not mainstream as I said before. I know people who have struggled to get jobs after doing human rights law etc. I suggest you also speak to people who are working in those kind of organizations to get some feedback from them.

@Ketu: I'm not very sure about the teaching scenario in India. I don't think the LL.M from a foreign university is going to make much difference in teaching in India, but you need to check that from people who are actually teaching in India and get their feedback. Ask the professors in the law colleges and see what they say. Sorry I can't give you advice on the teaching aspect. But keep in mind that teaching like any other profession is also very competitive.

ketu, Dec 01, 2009 15:46

hi prashant,
thanks 4 all the informations.i am doing my 3rd yr llb from delhi university and i am interested to go out either in australia/other asian countries for my llm.
The reason why i want to do my llm is because it is a masters course and i am interested in teaching in law college in india.
I would be very thankful if you could please tell me whether abroad 1 yr llm programme is equivalent to india 2 yrs llm programme and also whether after finishing my 1 yr of llm from abroad i can come back to india to teach in a law college.
Thank u.

ekta, Nov 25, 2009 07:45

hey thanx alot for replying me....i was planing do my LLM ,thinking it might help me to get into better organisations or United nations...and many top research organisations demand masters to be a researcher... ...with in few years even India will b having criminal justice commission like other countries....n jst LLB wont help me to raech a height i want......

prashbez, Nov 17, 2009 13:30

Hi Ekta

It depends on why you are doing the LL.M and what you really want to do after your LL.M. You would probably want to join an international NGO or some similar organization after your LL.M. But it's not that easy to get into those organizations.

You need to decide what exactly you want to do with the LL.M and how the subjects are related to your future goals.

Though I'm not an expert on International Criminal Justice, if you're taking a loan and doing the course, my advice is don't. This is because human rights law and similar areas of law would not really help you to pay back your loan. These are not mainstream areas and getting a reasonably well paying job in these areas is difficult. Yes, mainstream criminal law does pay well but it takes years to reach that level.

From a knowledge perspective I personally think the LL.M helps a lot if you work hard. It gives you a much wider perspective and you can go into detail in the subjects you study.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you need more info.

Cheers and all the best.
Prash

ekta, Nov 17, 2009 11:30

hi prashant
thanks for such a detailed information about LLM. I am LLB grad 4m ILS Law college Pune. Its been a year m wrking with organisation which works non Terrorism,Police Reform,Prison Reform and other Human Rights Issues and am planning 4 my LLM in International Criminal Justice from U.K....vil it help me further...

prashbez, Nov 12, 2009 08:27

Hi Chitwan

Hi Chitwan

Sad to say, the LL.M is not going to be very useful in India from a job perspective. It might open a few doors for you (which were closed earlier) but is not going to be that useful. In the present Indian market, it's your previous work experience and where you've worked before that matters and not the LL.M.

If you're going immediately after your LL.B for the LL.M, my view is that it does not benefit you that much if you return to India. It's better to work for 3-4 years in a good law firm in India and then go for the LL.M. You'll gain much more from the LL.M. Your salary will also not increase in the Indian law firms because of the LL.M. You will be starting at the same level as a fresh LL.B graduate if you are a fresher. If you have experience, the LL.M will not help you in getting a higher salary.

In my view most law firms in India do not consider the LL.M as a major consideration in their hiring decision in the present market in India. Maybe 10 years earlier it did make a difference but not now. The same holds true for law firms abroad too.

For me the LL.M was useful from a personal and knowledge perspective because I already had considerable work experience in India. I gained a lot from the LL.M but only because I had worked in India earlier and could slot in the LL.M subjects into my previous work experience.

Cheers
Prash

Chitwan, Nov 01, 2009 18:22

That was a valuable piece of information sir. My sole motive to do LL.M. from UK is to come back to India (after gaining a year or so of work experience in UK )and join some top tier law firm. I am presently a final year law student of national law university, gujarat.
Considering the grim placements we've been facing, I decided to invest a year in studies, become post graduate and then revert back to the job market, as things would be much brighter.
However after your post, I am in a dilemma now as reasons to do LL.M. are my own as well as market driven.
If you could throw some more light on employability of Indian students in India who got their LL.Ms from UK.

Regards
Chitwan Prabhakar

prashbez, Oct 21, 2009 09:18

Hi Narender

I can't comment on the UGC net since I don't have much idea about that. The LL.M will probably benefit you to a certain extent but you need to check that.

Since you have previous experience in India, it should be okay for you. Besides the LL.M does benefit in many ways since it increases your knowledge and broadens your horizons. It's not a futile exercise or a waste of money depending on your reasons for doing the LL.M. My view is if you've gone to do the LL.M for a possible job in UK, then it is a waste of time, money and effort. But if you've gone for your own personal reasons then it is not a waste.

Things are improving back home but the LL.M does not really help in getting a job here. It might open a few doors, but the rest depends on you and your previous work experience.

narender, Oct 08, 2009 20:00

hi prashant
thanks for such a detailed information about LLM
however if i had read it before coming to london while was trying to get admission in LLM international commercial law from LMU london , i sure would have backed off, anyways , situation is not that grim , as i have an experience of about 4 years , in delhi with law firms , and a corporate house as legal officer,
as currently im pursuing LLM [sept 2009 intake] here in london , what do you feel that will that help me out while returning home ANYHOW? or is just a futile excersise , watse of money , irrespective of the fact that education never goes vain,
and i also want to ask if a uk LLM is recocgnised by the UGC net in india i mean can i get teaching job on return if ... the secne remain same professionaly .
please reply ..

prashbez, Sep 26, 2009 00:04

@Pallavi: My advice is go for the better colleges as it would have more value back home. You'll find brainies at every college you go to, so you can't base your decision on whether you'll be studying with high performers or not. Do your best in the top ranked colleges if you get admission.

I'm not sure of the colleges you've mentioned but don't go by the rankings as those are for the LL.B courses and not for the LL.M.

@Himanshu: I think you're better off where you are right now. :) You seem to have a good job and my advice is stick to that. One year's sabbatical is fine if you really want it, but then go to some top ranked college (not to say Sweden and Belgium don't have good colleges, I wouldn't know about Sweden or Belgium and I never considered studying there) which is recognized back home as a good one. If you can get training in law firms, that's a better way of learning in my opinion. Write to me and we can discuss things in further detail.

Himanshu K, Sep 09, 2009 13:51

Hi Prashant,
Excellent info. Totally agree with your anaylsis of the post-LLM scenario. LLM in UK cannot be used as a tool for securing entry in law firms there unless you are backed with "specialised" experience in India or elswhere.

Was hoping to exchange few mails with you.

Like you, my experience (over 11 years) in legal practise is a blend of Law firms (civil/criminal/FDI consultancy) and Corporates (negotiations and transactions). I have worked with prestigious law firms in India (thakker and Thakker, Mulla & Mulla) and for over 6 years been associated with top 10 IT companies in thr legal dept (which includes heading one of them). Although to be honest, my grades in LLB (india) where pretty ridiculous. So its shear hard work that has helped me achieve couple of my targets so far:)

I have this urge of, being absolutely honest, taking a years sabbatical from work and use my time to upgrade my skills. More importantly, also expose myself to other cultures and global students to gain first hand exposure of there approach to details in law. I surely do not aim to work in EU or for that matter UK although couple of law firms i have dealt during my work in IT companies have shown interest in taking me up to provide me training. But i would like to totally discount such invitations cuase they may be purely courteous in nature:).

With the above background, i was keen in exploring colleges in EU. I notice that you chose UK for LLM studies. Was wondering if you ever considered studying in Sweden (Stockholm) or Belgium. Sweden i hear offers LLM in IPR with no tution fees but of course stay is expensive whilst you also run the risk of getting no part time jobs due to langauge barrier.

Would you have time to share your thoughts on above. Looking forward to hear from you.

Cheers
Himanshu K

Advocate_P..., Jul 21, 2009 10:51

Hi Prashant,

Firstly i want to thank 4d excellent info, u brought 4us. thanks a tonn

I wanted to hve ur opinion on my LLM QUERY

I am LLB grad 4m campus law center, DU and am planning 4my LLM in commercial law from U.K. the prob am facing is I dnt want to go to realy hi-fi univ, since i fear to get lost totaly wid soooo many brainies studying together.
I have been an average student and i want a place where I dnt feel lost, sum where i can maintain my identity and am able to cum back wid gud self confidence

(I hope u understand what i mean....)

The second thing is studying 4m queen marry nottingham aberdeen durham and cardiff.

here am realy confused where to go. do u realy think it makes a huge diff if i chose cardiff (which as per times and other ranking is sumwhere 15th or sumthin and almost 2nd in legal research)
actualy what i heard bout cardiff is what impressed me...tey say its a gud place wid gr8 aminities, well equipped libraries n other facilities, gud accomdation, student teacher ratio is gud, helpful staff, and its cheaper than london atleast.

Also i plan to go for BVC after my LLM, since BVC at Cardiff is also gud, so i thought bout going to cardiff, but stil the ranking bothers me, n i dnt want to cum back al messed up n go jobless if the deg isnt wel recognised back in Indian law firms.

Plz help!!!

Pallavi Goel

prashbez, Jul 21, 2009 03:09

Hi Pradip

I think the diploma sounds like a good idea right now. There is of course no substitute for practical experience and that's what will help you the most in the future. The more you practice in your chosen field, the better you'll become, provided you keep yourself updated. I know this sounds like a lecture, but it isn't and it's reality. :)))

That said, the LL.M would help in the sense of giving you more exposure in an international environment with good teachers, but the question is it really worth spending that much money? There are so many people practising arbitration without a LL.M degree, so it's probably better to learn on the job. More so as you want to continue to do independent practice.

Pradip, Jul 19, 2009 17:25

Thank you Prashant for your advice. Should I choose a diploma in ADR from ILI, Delhi or NALSAR Proximate education instead of a LLM from UK/US? Or you would suggest some other course for me in India?

prashbez, Jul 16, 2009 03:52

Dear Pradip

My advice is don't do the LL.M if you're going to take a bank loan considering the present market scenario. It's better to build up your practice and keep working without the hassle of a loan over your head.

Cheers
Prashant

Pradip, Jul 06, 2009 21:18

Dear Prashant, I did LLB from DU in 2004. Since then, I have been independently practising in District, High and Supreme Court in Delhi and handling arbitration cases also. I have no experience in law firms. I want to specialize in International Commercial Arbitration by doing LLM from UK or US. I will have to take loans from Banks. Would you please guide me whether it would help me in my independent practice to do LLM or not? Or should I choose to do the diploma in ADR from ILI, Delhi or NALSAR Proximate education instead of a LLM from UK/US? Or you would suggest some other course for me in India?

Himanshu Talwar, Jun 08, 2009 12:39

Hi Prashant ,

Thanks for the response. Well i would like comment that for lawyers your suggestions are very informative and useful.

God bless you for guiding the young students of India.

And i am also running an NGO in delhi so if you have any thing to share let me know i will send you the link of website and if interested you may join us for atleast a meeting.

Regards,

Himanshu Talwar

prashbez, Jun 08, 2009 00:57

Hi Himanshu

Sorry I can't advise you on the prospects of getting into ILO, UN etc, but believe me these are highly competitive positions and therefore there is intense competition for them. I suggest you talk to someone who works in those organizations or has experience in that filed.

If you're already working for an international organisation, stick around there in my view. Markets are pretty bad right now almost everywhere. A good job in hand is worth more than the potential of getting a good job after the LL.M.

Cheers

prashbez, Jun 08, 2009 00:54

Hi Xena

Haven't been accessing this site for some time. was too busy with exams. The LL.M is no guarantee of a job back in India in my view, especially with the present financial crisis in the international market. It may open up a few doors and you might have a chance to be considered for a job, but don't bank on it. The market, as far as I know, is not that great right now for lawyers in India. I'm not sure where you've done your LL.B from but a lot depends on where you get your first break. My suggestion is do the LL.M after you get some amount of work experience.

That said, King's is very good for International Commercial/ Financial Law. If you're interested in International Finance (Project Finance, Derivatives, Securitisations (though this market is kind of dead right now), International Bonds and Syndicated loans, Loan sales), Professor Ravi Tennekoon is brilliant and one of the best teachers I have studied with.

Cheers
Prashant

Himanshu Talwar, May 28, 2009 12:59

Thanks for all the info, however i am working in an international organisation in new delhi. I have more than 2 yeras of work experience and i am planning to go for LLM from UK.

My interest is to study international law although i have already donemy MBA, Mphil and LLb which iam about to finsh the next year.

I want to be apart of any international organisation after finishing my LLM what are the prospects i dont have any problem in relocating in any part of the world but if i will be able to join ILO, UN or some other international organization like this.

Kindly suggest what to do?

Awaiting your response and if possible kindly send it on my e mail talwar4983@gmail.com

Himanshu

xenataurus..., May 11, 2009 07:51

hi prashant
I found your blog enlightening and have a query relating to that. I have completed my LLB degree this year from a law school in India and have got an offer for LLM in International Commercial Law from King's College London and University College of London. After completing the LLM Degree course, I plan to come back to India. My query is whether this course will enhance my career prospects after coming back next year as compared to the prospect I have at present. I do not have any work experience and am waiting for the result of my final year of LLB. degree.
Kindly advise.
Xena

prashbez, Mar 14, 2009 03:16

LOL@Torino. In the present market, an alternative career sounds like a good option Torino. :)))

My advice to everyone who's looking to do the LL.M for a job is that in the present market don't do the LL.M. Don't waste your money right now. Better to work for some time and gain practical experience. Of course if you have a scholarship and no loans then take it up. It does give you a different perspective and improves your overall understanding. It's hard work though, so be prepared to slog.

I also won't be able to advise people on which universities to opt for, what courses the universities offer, what the selection criteria is and other related stuff. All that information is available online and if you spend some time looking for it, it's all there.

Torino, Mar 11, 2009 23:01

Do you think prashbez is now working as an education advisor, just because he posted a blog? Ok that would be an alternative career path... :-)

Seriously, it's really nice of him to answer so many questions, but I don't think everybody should post his CV and ask him what to do with their lives.

Legal_Indi..., Mar 08, 2009 19:48

Hello prashbez,

I hope you are enjoying your studies . Before I bombard you with questions there are certains things which i would like to tell you.

I am studying for a B.L.S., L.L.B degree (Dual Degree in 5 years). I am in the last year. I have scored 57% in B.L.S. and present average in LLB degree is 52%.
I am also studying LLM in Cyber Law (Distance Learning programme)(Part-time) from one of the top 10 Universities in UK(Name not disclosed). My average grade uptill now is B(60%+).
I have completed total three diploma courses (in India) in IPR and Cyber Law.
I have a 5 years work experience as a Legal Trainee.

These are my qualifications. I wish to practice as a Solicitor in London. I have applied for LLM Commercial and Corporate Law in most Universities. Following are some queries which have:

(1) What do you think about my application to QUML, KCL and UCL. Is there any other Universities which you would suggest me to apply for ?
(2) Is it preferrable to get admitted in a University situated in London or should i consider the ranking of other Universities also. (e.g. Aberdeen and Nottingham also have been given High Ranking)
(3) How good is it to have a second LLM in UK Law firms

deepak, Mar 05, 2009 18:57

hi prasant,
its a great blog which is full of real information about the pros and cons of LLM (Abroad). unfortunately, even i too pursuing LLM in international trade law, mainly focusing on maritime, aribtration and finance law. infact i have got 3 yrs of work experience in India. but even though i am not able to get a single internship. from all the corners i have got negative answers, still have not lost my patience and continuing to apply.
can u advise me at this point of junction about my further steps....

thanks,
kind regards,
deepak

debjanisar..., Mar 04, 2009 08:42

Hi Prashant,

Your blog is full of information. Thanks for your blog.

I am an Engineer in Chemical Technology. I have ~ 8 years experience in industry. Last year I got a scholarship from Department of Science and Technology in Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme for training in Intellectual Property Rights. The duration of the course is one year (one month induction training and rest 11 months on-the-job training in a reputed law firm in Delhi). My training will be completed on the month of April.

After that I am planning to do LLM (IP) from an UK university. Can you please give me any information about the universities in UK which are offering LLM to the non-law students. I also want to know about the job opportunities for me in UK after doing the LLM.

Thank you.

prashbez, Feb 19, 2009 03:12

Hi Vinita

Haven't checked this website for some time. Been too busy.

I have no idea about the EMLE program.

UK is a common law system and so is India, therefore I chose UK over US. Besides most of the US Univs have approximately a 150 dollar application fee, which I did not want to pay, without any guarantee of admission. LOL.

Haven't really explored the US LL.Ms in detail but the basic principles mentioned in my blog for doing the LL.M remain the same whether its UK or US. You'll find lots of info on this site regarding the US LL.Ms.

Vinita, Feb 08, 2009 19:34

Hi Prashant,
Great blog. Do you have any idea about the EMLE Program (European Master in Law & Economics) which allows one to study at 3 different universities (including Hamburg, Rotterdam and bologna i think).
Why did u choose an llm in UK over an LLm in USA. Can you share some light on LLMs in USA?

Thanks

ju, Feb 04, 2009 18:07

hi prashant , i dropped one mail on ur email adress given below ur blog. Please do check and reply to my querry..... thanks a lot in advance....

prashbez, Jan 07, 2009 22:41

Hi Himanshu

I guess tuition fee depends on which college you study at. But it will range from between 9500 pounds to 13500 pounds. Living expenses will also vary depending on which city of UK you study in. London is definitely more expensive than other cities like Manchester etc.

My tuition fee was 12500 pounds and living expenses come to about 800 pounds a month in London including rent (which is roughly 450 pounds a month) at the college residence and travel expenses. The estimated expenses including rent is if you don't normally cook, and you smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. If you don't smoke, drink and if you cook food for yourself, then you can manage on much less. :)))) It also depends on how much you like to party because the clubs and pubs can work out expensive over a prolonged period of partying.

If you want a rough breakdown here it is:

Food - approximately 20 pounds per week or more if you want a rally healthy lifestyle. Budget about 150 pounds a month for really decent food and if you eat out a lot. Budget about 100 pounds a month if you're not too choosy about your food and can survive on bread cheese etc. Simplest way to save money is to cook yourself.

Travel within London: With a student Oyster card in London, 35 pounds a month for a bus pass and 65 pounds a month for a Tube and bus pass.

Rent: Between 400 to 600 pounds a month depending on where you live. You can manage on less if you live far away and not in the center of London and are willing to share your room. My advice is stay in a college residence and not privately because the basics are taken care of and you'll make many more friends in the college hostel than in a private residence.

Books: These are expensive and depend entirely on how good the college library is and how many books you need to actually purchase. But budget about 300-800 pounds for books during each semester.

The rest of the expenses depend on your lifestyle. For example travelling to other countries outside UK and outside London, will be separate costs.

Part Time Job: Doing a part time job is a good idea if you're strapped for money and want work experience to a certain extent. It's always something you can put on your CV and every job teaches you something. That said, unless it is directly related to your course and you really need the money, I would advise you to concentrate on your studies and to do a part time job for only 10-15 hours a week. If you do 20 hours a week, which is what you are officially allowed to do, then you will not have any time for yourself or to have a good time as a student. Again this depends on what kind of lifestyle you lead normally.

The course content is normally quite difficult and you need to prepare for your lectures/ seminars properly if you want to do justice to the course.

Let me know if you want more help.

Cheers
Prashant

prashbez, Jan 07, 2009 22:34

Hi SV

You can mail me your queries, but please bear with me if I take time to reply to your queries as I'm very busy with studies right now.

Cheers
Prashant

sv, Jan 07, 2009 10:22

Great post - puts a lot of things into perspective! I'm in my final semester of a three-year LLB degree, and plan to apply in the coming fall for the 2010-2011 session. If possible, may I mail you with some queries?

Thanks!

Himanshu, Dec 27, 2008 11:59

Thanx for the info provided by blog and replies to the queries. You should rather think about opening a consultancy becuase honestly speaking consultancies over here are not that convincing.

I am interested in doing an LLM from UK in Environmental Law. Since, I've got only 56% in my LLB, chances are remote that I get a scholarship. So, I just wanted to kno that how much it costs(including tution fee, living expenses, food et al) to do an LLM in Environmental Law from any decent college at UK which provides the same course, if one is doing part-time job round the year?

prashbez, Nov 23, 2008 19:25

Hi Karina

To be honest, there is absolutely no point in doing a LL.M from India. It's a 2 year LL.M and you would be much better off working for 2 years than doing the LL.M in India. It won't add value to you in terms of a job though it might benefit you in terms of knowledge. Get practical experience instead if you plan to do the LL.M in India.

With the present market scenario in UK, it's very tough to get a job even after the LL.M from UK. Plus it's expensive and cost of living is high especially in London. The LL.M at King's is good for sure but I doubt it will help me in getting a job here.

karina, Nov 09, 2008 11:41

hi...im a student doin my llb from law fac delhi..i wish to study in uk for my llm...bt after readin ur suggestions im really confused....!!!!!! do u think it is better in all ways to persue llm in india rather then in uk??????

Deven, Nov 04, 2008 19:42

Thanks for the info Prashant. It is very useful for people planning their LLM in UK :) Good research.

meeta, Oct 29, 2008 10:23

Thank you for getting back Prashant :D

Megha, Oct 19, 2008 07:16

Hi Friends...!!

Excellent info...perhaps the best info.

Thanks a lot for the valued suggestion.

It was of gr8 help in taking future step in the legal career. I was interested in pursuing LLM from UK after my LLB from Calcutta University,India

prashbez, Oct 05, 2008 03:37

My suggestion is finish your LL.B, do your LPC, do the training contract and practice for some time in UK before moving to India. It'll help you much more in India. Work experience is always better.

meeta, Sep 28, 2008 12:19

Hey great blog guys. I'm in a slightly different situation. I'm from UK and reading law at Nottingham law school. I've finished my first two years and I've taken this year out for a year long placement. I'll go back next Sept to do my final year. I'm planning on moving to India permanently once I've graduated but LLB from university of Nottingham isn't one of the recognised institutions by the Bar Council of India so I will be required to apply directly to the Bar council of India but I was wondering if anyone had any idea of what factors might be taken into consideration?

Another confusion is whether I should finish my LLB, do Legal Practice Course - preferably at one of the recognised universities, get a training contract and a couple of years' experience and Then think about practicing in India? Would tht help or make the situation even worse?? :S

Thanks!

prashbez, Aug 31, 2008 00:57

Hi Satish

If you already have experience in India, it would help but not to such a great extent. A lot depends on the subjects you study in your LLM. If they are generally applicable in India and across the world then it should help.

But it should open up some doors which may have been closed for you earlier.

Satish, Aug 26, 2008 19:55

Hi, Im a Indian Attorney with around 3 yrs experience in Lawfirm and LPO, now Im in USA to do my LLM. If I complete my LLM in USA, will it be useful when I go back to India?

prashbez, Aug 24, 2008 21:12

Hi Jay

I've been trying to find this kind of info for a long time but have not come across it as yet. But I'll keep trying. This kind of info would be very relevant for international students.

I doubt whether too many Indian students get placed after their LLM. It all depends on the market and what benefit the foreign law firms can derive by recruiting Indian students.

Frankly those Indian students who want to go for the LLM thinking that it will easily get them a job with a foreign law firm are mistaken and are taking the wrong decision in my opinion.

IntLaw, Aug 24, 2008 12:31

Hi Prashant,

Great blog. Very informative, educative, interesting.

A friend of mine wants to do UK LLM but is not able to find info on what percentage of people get placed after LLM, a college by college list. Did you come across any such stats? Thanks.

Jay

prashbez, Aug 14, 2008 20:49

Hi Arvind

If you have very good marks and are from one of the top law institutes in India, then you may get recruited by one of the law firms abroad if you apply to them. But things are very tough and the only reason the foreign law firms would hire you in my view is if they can train you up and use you for Indian law related stuff in the future or you have some prior Indian law experience.

In any case with the present market situation it's gonna be an uphill task for you to get a job in my opinion. It's not impossible but very tough. You can try and apply for a Training Contract with one of the UK law firms but those only start after 2 years from the date that you get them.

You can take the QLTT to become a solicitor of England and Wales, but for that you need 2 years of Indian law experience if you apply before September 1, 2008. However you are probably ineligible to take the exam right now since you don't have 2 years work experience. But in any case after September 1, 2008 they are changing the rules for the QLTT and you'll have to show at least 1 year of English law experience. How are you going to get that? The QLTT just became tougher for the Indian lawyers. In any case I think the QLTT is just another money making scheme and won't really help in getting a job with a foreign law firm in UK without other factors being considered.

I personally think right now India is the place to work in Corporate law. Why exactly do you want to do Corporate law outside India?

Arvind, Aug 12, 2008 11:55

hey prashant thanks a lot fo this valuable info.
anways i hav got sum queries for u.i am doin 5yrs law course n currently in my 4th year.i want to get into corporate law but not in india.
itll b gr8 if u tell me the various job prospects of corporate law outside india (Uk,US.etc) with gud pay scale???do i need to do sum special course for it???

prashbez, Jul 11, 2008 12:34

Hi Naumaan

You need to go through the links given above. The cost for the Certificate of Eligibility and the QLTT exam is a fixed cost as set by the SRA and by the exam providers.

I don't think there's a cheaper alternative to the QLTT except to the extent that you can purchase the course material second hand.

naumaan, Jul 11, 2008 10:24

PLEASE GUIDE ME FOR THE PREPARARTION OF QLTT. GUIDENCE THAT WOULD BE IN CHEAPER SENSE AS FAR AS COST IS CONCERNED. THANKYOU

prashbez, Jun 30, 2008 21:06

Hi Tanya

You can check out the links below for the QLTT. They are apparently revising the guidelines for the QLTT.

http://www.sra.org.uk/securedownload/file/851

http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/qltt.page

http://www.sra.org.uk/securedownload/file/852

Cheers
Prashant

prashbez, Jun 29, 2008 12:33

Hi Tanya

I'm answering your queries below to the best of my abilities and knowledge:

1. Work Experience is any kind of work experience whether after or during your LL.B. If you've been working throughout the year at a law firm that would be considered work experience. When you apply for the LLM, the different kind of work you have done should be taken into consideration.

2. I think that a Solicitors tag from India and a LL.B degree from one of the good institutes in India would probably be at par now as far as the LLM is concerned. In my view any work experience you get while doing your "Articleship" would be beneficial for the LLM application. Moots, transactional work, litigation, papers, articles etc. are all an added benefit on your CV when applying for the LLM. However it may not be considered acceptable for the QLTT as they probably require 2 years of post qualification work experience. I'm not so sure about that aspect, but you can check with the SRA whether they would consider internships/ work experience/ Articleships during your LL.B as acceptable for granting you the Certificate of Eligibility to sit for the QLTT. In all probability, the SRA wants 2 years of work experience after you complete your LL.B or Solicitors in India.

3. Specialized experience means a very specific experience in one particular area of law. For instance if you've been doing only Corporate Law work for many years, that would be specialized experience. If you're a Capital Market specialist, that would be specialized experience. Similarly M&A, Project Finance etc. The basic point is that you have to be a specialist in one particular area of law.

But like me if you've done 4 years of litigation, 4 years of corporate/ transactional work and 2 years in MNC's, then it would become a generalized experience. Unfortunately the systems in India and abroad are totally different from the perspective of work experience. In India one necessarily has to handle all kinds of work especially if you're working for a smaller law firm/ running your own law firm. If you are good at your work, your bosses will assign you the important work irrespective of whether it is corporate or litigation related. In smaller law firms, once the bosses have confidence in your abilities, then they'll try and assign you different kinds of work.

In UK and other countries abroad, you generally tend to stick on in one area of law for many years. I could be wrong on this aspect as persons working in smaller firms in UK may also be handling all kinds of work. But by and large what i've heard from friends of mine working for big law firms abroad is that they require specialists rather than generalists.

Let me know if you need any more help. Send me an email if you need detailed answers.

Cheers and All the best
Prashant

tanay0903, Jun 29, 2008 09:33

hey prashant,

thanks a lot for the info above, its really enlightening...a few queries that i hope you can shed spome light on:

1. when you say 'work experience' does it mean experience as a qualified lawyer after securing the LLB degree? In Bombay, we work generally work at a law firm through out the year during the entire course of our studies. Is that counted as work experience as well??

2. What is your opinion about the Solicitors exams in Bombay and the effect it has on an LLM? I mean if i have a Solicitors tag, will it enhance my LLM prospects? Further, will my period of 'Articleship' (i.e three year traineeship required to be eligible for Solicitors) be considered as 'work experience' for LLM purposes? Will it also count for the QLTT?

3. What do u mean by a specialized experiece? As in most of the bigger law firms in Mumbai do all kinds of work, so isnt it hard to say that you have specialized in one particular avenue therein?

It would be great if you could address my queries above

Thanks & Regards

prashbez, Jun 06, 2008 22:21

Hi Student Law

Write to me at sane24@hotmail.com. I'm comfortable communicating anywhere. lol.

Put your queries on the blog too since you might get some other viewpoints in addition to my inputs. Or better still, make a new post on the site.

Cheers
Prashant

studentlaw..., Jun 05, 2008 11:01

hi prashant
thanks for responding so fast , i am from mumbai and i shall correspond with you tonight after i have systematically compiled my queries . one more question is sane24@hotmail.com your mail id and if yes is it ok to communicate with you on that id or are you more comfortable communicating on this blog
thanks and regards
studentlaw2000

prashbez, Jun 05, 2008 10:46

Hi Student Law2000

Thanks. I don't have too much idea of the External programme of UOL. I did explore it a few months back and it seemed good, but I decided to go for a full time course instead of doing a distance learning course. The external course does offer you a wide range of subjects.

Send me your questions in any case. Maybe I can give you some suggestions.

Cheers
Prashant

studentlaw..., Jun 05, 2008 09:28

dear prashant
hi , you have done a great job by helping indian students planning to do an llm in uk ,what i want to know is do you have any idea about the external programme of uol if yes then i have various questions and we can communicate on that further
thanks and regards
studentlaw2000

ArunS, Jun 03, 2008 15:14

Hi Prashant: I posted a message in the group for Indian lawyers on lawyrs.net!

prashbez, Jun 01, 2008 22:11

Hi Anshul

FYI I live in Delhi, India and not in the UK. My blog is specifically meant for Indian students wanting to do a LLM from UK and not a LLB. But the basic principles of financing your studies remain the same whether for a LLM or a LL.B.

I've replied to your queries in your email. Check my answers and let me know if you need any more info.

All the best.

Cheers
Prashant

Megh, Jun 01, 2008 18:37

Hi Ashrul,

I just read your comment.

If you have gotten into one of the national law schools in India (NLS, NUJS, NALSAR etc) then take it up! It would be better to do an LLM in the UK. I study at one of the national law schools in India and definitely recommend studying in them. (I also had the option of doing my LLB abroad but decided not to and am happy about it)

11% of the batch that just passed out had job offers from London's magic circle law firms :-) So you can still work there even though you dint do an LLB in the UK. A lot of them opted to ditch the UK traineeship in favour of an LLM. Wile some of them opted for jobs in Indias top law firms.

People from national law schools are very professional and they do get the BEST jobs in India. According to economists, in another 5 to 8 years LLB students will earn more than IIM students in India. And that will be around the time you pass out from India.

Think about it, you can always consider doing an LLM in the UK so you will have the option to go there later.

As for job prospects in India, you can become partner if you are from one of the national law schools in 7 to 8 years! and thats an incredibly short time! Whereas if you worked in the UK .. i doubt that would be the case.

In a few years foreign law firms will be allowed to enter India .. there will be more jobs and better jobs!

Good luck!

anshul_kal..., May 31, 2008 12:19

I read about your profile on your website and found it very interesting. I wanted to take some advice from you regarding my career.I would really appreciate, if you would take your time out to respond to this . I have completed my graduation from India (Jai hind college, mumbai) and I am planning to do LLb from the Uk. I have gotten into Kings college, London and have got few queries to clear from an Indian living in the UK. Being an international student, I do not have enough knowledge on the job prospects after this degree, so what would be your take on this? Secondly, I have thought that after completing my LLb from kings, I would take an LPc course to become a solicitor. Now do you think It would be feasible for me to spend so much at a strech, and expect an impressive return? Thirdly, After completing my studies, say after starting a professional life, If I have to return to my country then would I be getting jobs in the law firms? Also, I have enquired that the jurisdiction of India and the Uk is almost similar, so does it makes easier for the Indian students to work in both the countries?

Few of my friends are telling me that I should do LLb from India and take the masters degree from the UK, work there for few years and come back to India. I am in two minds because I have gotten into such a great college which supposedly offers a promising future and the quality of education is far better than any of the Indian institutes. Secondly, the cost of education in India is one-tenth of the cost of education in London, so sometimes I feel that India is a better option in terms of costs and returns.

I await your response and hope that your advise would help me to choose the best career

siddharth, May 28, 2008 22:41

Thanx a lot prashant ... i think i should do that first ,, atleast ill have an idea ,, wether i shld apply for llm or not thn ,,,

prashbez, May 24, 2008 20:40

Hi Siddharth

I'm not too sure about Singapore job prospects. As I've said above a lot will depend on your previous experience. The basic principles will remain the same for any jurisdiction, whether it's UK, US or Singapore. Besides the LLM by itself will not give you the right to practice in any country outside your own country. You would still need to clear the specific exams in that particular country to be eligible to practice.

I know people who have gone to Singapore without a LLM from UK or US, so I suggest you just apply to Singapore law firms and see what happens.

siddharth khanna, May 23, 2008 09:04

Thanks a lot Prashant ... your blog has been of gr8 help ,,, i also wanted to know whether you happen to know anything about singapore job perspectives and indian lawyers

prashbez, May 22, 2008 18:00

Thanks Apurva

Apurva, May 19, 2008 14:09

Thanks for this informative posting and analysis.

Apurva Mehta
Mumbai

prashbez, May 03, 2008 20:34

Thanks Arun. I'm sure the LLM will meet my expectations because I've gotten feedback from a friend who studied with the same teachers I'll be studying with, that they were excellent.

Thanks for posting the link on lawyrs.net.

Where are you planning to go for your LLM?

Cheers
Prashant

ArunS, May 03, 2008 16:38

All the best for you too! I hope your LLM will meet your expectations

I have also posted a link to your blog in the Indian lawyers community on lawyrs.net.

prashbez, May 02, 2008 21:17

Thanks Arun. I know the amount of time I've had to spend to gather the information, so hope it saves a lot of the Indian students some time at least. :)

All the best.

Prashant

Arun, May 02, 2008 16:58

Prashant, great blog! Thanks for collecting and presenting this valuable information.
Arun