I know that this is a subject that has been discussed in other forums, but I'd appreciate some new input.

So far, I have got offers from Cambridge and NYU (still waiting on Harvard and Columbia, didn't apply to Oxford). My interest lies primarily in international law, but I would like to practise at the English Bar in the near future and will be applying for pupillage later this year.

What programme makes more sense to pursue? So far, I am leaning towards Cambridge, given its international reputation. If I decide to go on to work in the international arena, it will probably carry more weight.
Your views would be much appreciated!

PS: And if you have any views on the hypothetical dilemma between Cambridge vs Harvard or Cambridge vs Columbia, please share them here too!

Definitely Cambridge. How can you even compare between them?! My friend graduated from Cambridge last year and was able to find a job in one of London's best law firms. Go for it man, especially if you wast to sit for the English Bar which of course much easier than the New York Bar (You can take the QLTT as a foreign lawyer)

Cambridge. NYU is a good university and probably comparable to LSE or KCL. But US has 5 in their league and UK has just 2 which beats all - Oxbridge. Oxbridge compares in reputation only to Harvard and Yale

Thanks for the input. Now the questions is: Cambridge or Columbia?

Reputation wise - Cambridge, let's face it to most non-academics, cambridge is famous NYU not as much

Better International Law Faculty? - NYU, Cambridge has no one approaching the standard of Joseph Weiler

If I were in your situation the relevant question would be: Why choose? I cannot imagine a better way of gaining an edge on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ask the law schools whether you can delay for one year and then determine if you can do both (since one is in the UK I assume the financial cost would not be extravagant).

CAMBRIDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cambridge traditionally has the best faculty for public international law. nyu is also very strong in that area, but for me what swings it is at cambridge you will study with students who already have their law degrees, rather than being forced to take classes with JD's who are studying for their first law degree. the standard is commensurately higher.

nyu is also substantially more expensive. that said, at nyu you can enroll in a wider range of courses.

finally look to where you want to practice. disregard those who tell you that you can easily practice in the uk after graduating from the cambridge llm programme. you can't, unless you are a UK law graduate. if your first law degree is not from the UK you face a considerable hurdle qualifying in the UK as either a solicitor or a barrister. at nyu once you graduate with the llm you are eligible to sit the exam for the new york bar. think it through and good luck with the decision.

Cambridge without hesitating. Only Harvard or Yale can be compared with Oxbridge. Even in the U.S. top schools Oxbridge has the "wow"-effect! Given this and the fact that the selectivity in Cambridge is unbeaten, I'd not think for a second!

Hey, thanks for the tips. Just an update, NYU is now out of the picture. I am now deciding between Cambridge and Columbia. Cambridge is a bigger name, at least in the UK, where I hope to practise, so I am leaning in favour of going there. However, I am still waiting to get my official offer letter from the Cambridge Board of Graduate studies and to hear from Columbia about financial aid. That's when I'll take the final decision.
Bye

Public international law is such an extensive area that labeling Columbia or Cambridge as better than the other is a little bold. When it comes to international criminal, human rights and humanitarian law, I would say that Columbia has the upper hand because of: a way bigger list of courses, seminars, clinics than Cambridge; externship at UN headquarters as part of the LLM programme where one can be involved in some relevant topics; similar opportunities with global human rights NGOs while studying in NYC; and something that few people realize is that unlike Oxbridge, at Columbia and other top American law schools, you can take some credits in other university departments ranging from international relations to foreign languages courses especially tailored for international law lawyers and diplomats.
If we address the attention to the traditional area of public international law e.g. settlement of international controversies, I would conclude that Cambridge is better.
Another point to be considered is that Columbia and the other top US law schools have a more practical oriented approach in international law and, therefore, offer programmes that are more suitable to land jobs into international organizations/courts. On the other hand, should one seek to build up an academic career immediately after completion of LLM studies, Cambridge may be a better option.

good advice, that...

Something that should be considered as a criterion to establish which institution may be considered the best in international law among TOP law schools is results in international law moot court competitions. In this regard, the Jessup competition is THE point of reference. Needless to explain to those who have some interest in international law what the Jessup Competition is.
After checking out its website http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/archives.php the results of the best law schools such as Columbia, NYU, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge are as follows:
Columbia: 3 times winner (2006, 1965, 1963) 1 time second place (2010)
NYU: 0
Harvard: 1 time second place (1967)
Cambridge: 1 time winner (1975)
Oxford: 0

So, among the big names law schools, Columbia has been by far the most successful institution. This is only one criterion to assess the quality of one or other institution but one which is, in my opinion, important.

Thanks for the additional dimension to your advice. It was interesting to see. However, I don't think that Cambridge doing less well than Columbia is an indication of its inferiority in the PIL field. It is important to remember that Columbia allows students to take Jessup for class credits, while Cambridge students have to take Jessup as an extra-curricular activity.

@ LLM Blogger,

Thanks for the precision. Indeed, as I mentioned in a previous message, I think that Cambridge and Columbia are even in public international law as arguably the two best world institutions in this legal field.