I'm facing a bit of a dilemma:

I'm an American set to begin law school this August. I ultimately want to practice in Paris at a high level. (think Sulllivan & Cromwell, Linklaters, etc.)

I've been accepted to the JD/Master en droit dual degree program at Cornell/Pantheon-Sorbonne...

I've also been accepted to a few US schools which are ranked slightly higher than Cornell. One offers the possibility of applying for the DESS at Sciences Po, though there is no guarantee I'll get in (though I have a Master II from the ENS - Ulm in an unrelated discipline...) Also, there is always the possibility of doing my JD at one of the higher ranked schools and then applying to do a DSU (Diplôme Supérieure de l'Université) at Paris 2.

So my question is this: Is Assas sufficiently better than the Paris 1 that I should skip taking the Cornell/Sorbonne route, and try for Assas (or Sciences Po) later?

Or can I get where I wanna get by taking the Cornell/Sorbonne route?

(PS. I'm obviously particularly interested to know the opinions of French law students/lawyers; if you're one, please mention it in your response)

Thanks

Hi Eu US,
French law school student mom and forum traveler speaking (just to situate my lack of credentials :-)

If you haven't discovered the 5 forums below, give them a look and ask the local specialists.

http://www.village-justice.com/forum/
(Professional and students exchange advice - well visited)

ASSAS' Magistère:
http://4683.alloforum.com/liste_sujets-4683-0-96106-0-0-1.html
(3 year Magistère - L3, M1 & M2 - which follows any L1 &
L2 program - it culminates in their DJCE in M2)
Assas' DJCE, for those not in the know, is France's most
prestigeous corporate law program.

Normal Assas law student form:
http://www.assas.net/forum/
(well travelled forum... lots of visitors)

SORBONNE:
Magistère:
http://mdae.aceboard.fr/i-236605.htm
(also a 3 year Magistère which you can apply for after
your L1 & L2 in law)
Also highly selective. As opposed to ASSAS, multiple
specializations are available in year 5 (not just corporate)

Normal Sorbonne law student forum:
http://saint-hippolyte.superforum.fr/espace-etudiant-c2/
(mostly visited by 1st and 2nd year students)

I think that the Cornell/Sorbonne JD/Mastère will get you a first interview almost anywhere if you're looking for a generalist position. Honors and a great personality will do the rest :-)

If you do shoot for Assas (which is certainly not more difficult to get into that what you've already achieved - ENS Ulm, yikes!) keep in mind that you may have to start as an undergrad in L1 if you've never studied law before. That makes a lot of years of studying to go (L1, L2, L3, M1, M2 & 18 months école du barreau). Additionally, as an Assas student, you have no guarantee of being accepted to an M2 at Assas (which is the year that counts for future employers).

Good luck,
Goteborg

Hey!

Sorbonne/Cornell is great and you'd get a god job without any doubt!

I would say that Assas is slightly better than Sorbonne (I'm from Assas myself), but seriously, I don't think it really matters. In addition, if you're not sure to get in to that DESS at Sciences-Po, it could be a bit risky to go to another university even though I don't think you should worry, you seem to be pretty qualified!

Which other American universities have you been admitted to? Cornell is very well known in Europe, whereas some other top 10 American universities aren't (ex: Michigan, Northwestern etc). But of course, if you want to work in an American law firm in France, I guess they know the rankings pretty well :)

Finally, I'm not sure that a DSU would be enough to work in a law firm in Europe, in the sens that you wouldn't have enough knowledge about French law.

Good luck!

Hello,

I am from Paris 1 and I can tell you that la sorbonne is much more better than Paris 2 assas for the diplomas dealing with private international Law- european -anglo american Business...
Assas is better for "pure" business law. yet if you go to la sorbonne you will be graduated from a university which is well known all over the world contrary to paris 2 which is very excellent but inside the french boundaries..
So, I do think that the cornell Paris 1 is great!

I don't think you can say that one university is better than the other, they're are both really good!
Assas has a well known master in European Business law, excellent professors in private internation law and Sorbonne's famous competition law professor has just switched from Sorbonne to Assas. I choose Assas because I prefered the program and the professors.
In addition, Assas is just as well known as Sorbonne if you ask American professors or partners from big law firms.

Both are great!

hello! I agree that both uni are great. but i think you should accept the offer you got already rather than wait and make another application for Paris 2. If you want to practise in France in a big law firm i wouldnt advise you to take sciences po DESS as for many it seems a bit light. most lawyers in anglosaxon firms went to paris 1 or paris 2. good luck!

Hi

I am a former student of Assas, which is def. a great law school, just like Sorbonne is; there is not much different. just a lot of competition between those 2. Assas hates Sorbonne and vice versa ;)

But regarding your question, if I were you I would immediately sign in for Sorbonne/Cornell. I don't know how Cornell is considered in the US, but if you want to practice in France, Cornell has a very good reputation.

hope this helps

Hi

I am a former student of Assas, which is def. a great law school, just like Sorbonne is; there is not much difference. just a lot of competition between those 2. Assas hates Sorbonne and vice versa ;)

But regarding your question, if I were you I would immediately sign in for Sorbonne/Cornell. I don't know how Cornell is considered in the US, but if you want to practice in France, Cornell has a very good reputation.

hope this helps

Guys, its been a long time since anyone has posted here, but i have a question.

i want also to study biglaw in Paris like the previous student here, and as i am soon to enter Law School in the States. My School doesnt have a dual degree program with any school in France.

If i were to move to france, after attaining my jd here, what steps should i take to have a law degree at sorbonne/assas/nanterrre x, etc? should i take the llm?

i have seen on various websites talk about getting a Master I, formerly known as Maitrise en Droit & a Master II, formerly DESS Diplome d'études supérieures spécialisées. What are the proper names for these degrees? and can i just attain those degrees and then sit for the bar exam in fr?

I realise no one has posted here in a year, but here goes.

I've recently been accepted into the Sorbonne M2 Droit francais et europeen, and am in the process of submitting an applicationt to Assas (today). I have two questions.

1) Will the basic M2 at Sorbonne help me get a job? It seems to be an advanced, but fundamental one-year take on French law in general. Whereas Assas specialises in business law, which I would prefer to do, Sorbonne has the name and reputation which is more likely to land me an interview. At least that's what I've heard.

I already have a BA(Hons.) from a bilingual Canadian university, and will have my LLB from Edinburgh soon. Will an LLM from the Sorbonne on top of that help me in the long run?

2) The 1500 euro application fee - is it refundable? I am in the process of finishing my exams in Edinburgh and will have my LLB in a few weeks. But if, God forbid, something happens can I get my money back?

Many thanks for any help.

Hi mmcgold:-
On average, Assas is definitely more likely to get you an interview in France than Paris I.
However, a M2 on its own is not sufficient to be employable, you need a bar qualification (France, England (you have a LLB), or US).
Your CV is impressive, with any bar qualification you will be highly sought after.

Hı everyone, Im a turkish newly advocate and ı have the acceptance from Sorbonne-Assas International Law School- LLM Programme. what do you think about it? I could not manage to made my mind up cause I think it is a dual programme which delivers diploma accepted by the two universities.
So do you have any comment?