canadian LLB to work in the US


pearla

What are your chances to land a good job offer in the US after a Master degree in the US and a LLB in canada?
Anyone here working in the US with a canadian LLB?

What are your chances to land a good job offer in the US after a Master degree in the US and a LLB in canada?
Anyone here working in the US with a canadian LLB?
quote
dennywin

very slim. JDs r absolutely preferred. Nowadays, Even JDs from non-top 14 schools find it really difficult to land a job.

If u wanna work in the US ultimately, try to score over 170 in LSAT and get into a decent American law school, and then u have a big chance of getting into big law to earn big money. Otherwise, a mediocre law decree is simply not worth the investment.

In the UK, by the way, getting a training contract is even more difficult.

very slim. JDs r absolutely preferred. Nowadays, Even JDs from non-top 14 schools find it really difficult to land a job.

If u wanna work in the US ultimately, try to score over 170 in LSAT and get into a decent American law school, and then u have a big chance of getting into big law to earn big money. Otherwise, a mediocre law decree is simply not worth the investment.

In the UK, by the way, getting a training contract is even more difficult.
quote
P_Martini

Top 14 seems rather arbitrary on the first take. Having said that, it's not exactly even a decent job market at the moment. It's horrible, actually, and it's not expected to improve anytime soon.

J.D.'s undoubtedly are preferred, and I am sure it is very difficult, but it's not impossible. Maybe you will have some luck when things turn around, and maybe there is someone here who has made the transition from Canada to the U.S. or tried it, and they can give you some better advice. Of course, a U.S. bar exam would be necessary and would help you as well. You might search for threads discussing the relative merit of the New York bar, for example, and a U.S. LL.M.

Top 14 seems rather arbitrary on the first take. Having said that, it's not exactly even a decent job market at the moment. It's horrible, actually, and <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/05/15/will-biglaw-slash-hiring-by-90-percent/">it's not expected to improve</a> anytime soon.

J.D.'s undoubtedly are preferred, and I am sure it is very difficult, but it's not impossible. Maybe you will have some luck when things turn around, and maybe there is someone here who has made the transition from Canada to the U.S. or tried it, and they can give you some better advice. Of course, a U.S. bar exam would be necessary and would help you as well. You might search for threads discussing the relative merit of the New York bar, for example, and a U.S. LL.M.
quote
dennywin

NY Bar has little to do with applying for position with big law firm. Everybody spending two months or so preparing for it can pass it. It's the law school u r attending and ur class ranking that matter.

NY Bar has little to do with applying for position with big law firm. Everybody spending two months or so preparing for it can pass it. It's the law school u r attending and ur class ranking that matter.
quote
P_Martini

New York was an example, as you will, no doubt, see from reviewing my comment, but it was used since it is one of the few bar examinations which foreign law students can write. In any case, I don't believe that having the qualification in whatever jurisdiction you are targeting has "little to do with applying for a position with a big law firm." You are correct, however, that the law school you attend and your class rank is very important.

Be aware, also, that in July 2008, the overall pass rate was 74.7% (PDF), meaning one in four fails and, among foreign law graduates, one in two, generally, fails.

Edited to delete a redundancy.

New York was an example, as you will, no doubt, see from reviewing my comment, but it was used since it is one of the few bar examinations which foreign law students can write. In any case, I don't believe that having the qualification in whatever jurisdiction you are targeting has "little to do with applying for a position with a big law firm." You are correct, however, that the law school you attend and your class rank is very important.

Be aware, also, that in July 2008, the overall pass rate was <a href="http://www.nybarexam.org/Press/1108%20press%20release.pdf">74.7%</a> (PDF), meaning one in four fails and, among foreign law graduates, one in two, generally, fails.

Edited to delete a redundancy.
quote
North450

Unfortuantely, everyone's suggestion is generally true that without graduating at the top of the class from a top 40 US law school, it would be almost impossible to land a job at Big Law. The few exceptions might include graduating top of the class from UofT, McGill or Osgoode Hall or getting top grades at top ranked LL.M. institutions.

But there are over 2,500 small law firms in New york City which would offer very rewarding intellectual challenge and financial compensations. The odd of getting into one of those firms is definitely greater than getting into a white shoe firm especially in light of their associate layoffs in the last year.

Unfortuantely, everyone's suggestion is generally true that without graduating at the top of the class from a top 40 US law school, it would be almost impossible to land a job at Big Law. The few exceptions might include graduating top of the class from UofT, McGill or Osgoode Hall or getting top grades at top ranked LL.M. institutions.

But there are over 2,500 small law firms in New york City which would offer very rewarding intellectual challenge and financial compensations. The odd of getting into one of those firms is definitely greater than getting into a white shoe firm especially in light of their associate layoffs in the last year.

quote
P_Martini

The odds of getting into one of those firms is definitely greater than getting into a white shoe firm especially in light of their associate layoffs in the last year.


And their deferrals this year. Remember that a lot of these firms (I am open to being corrected. In fact, nothing would make me happier.) have a good roster of associates they're paying not to show up in July after the bar.

Anyone know of a good resource for finding some of these 2,500 smaller firms in Manhattan? Clearly, this is the way to go this recruiting season. Working at BigLaw just keeps getting less and less attractive.

plzzzzzzzzz. Is gratuitous use of chat/SMS language also excessive use?

<blockquote>The odds of getting into one of those firms is definitely greater than getting into a white shoe firm especially in light of their associate layoffs in the last year.</blockquote>

And their deferrals this year. Remember that a lot of these firms (I am open to being corrected. In fact, nothing would make me happier.) have a good roster of associates they're paying not to show up in July after the bar.

Anyone know of a good resource for finding some of these 2,500 smaller firms in Manhattan? Clearly, this is the way to go this recruiting season. Working at BigLaw just keeps getting less and less attractive.

plzzzzzzzzz. Is gratuitous use of chat/SMS language also excessive use?
quote

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