Hi all,

I am currently in a state of transition in my life, and I'd appreciate some guidance. This is rather long-winded, and for that I apologize in advance.

I completed a law degree at the Sorbonne (Paris 1) in France several years ago, but with rather tragic marks due to a combination of problems (ill health, difficulties studying in law in French, etc. I dropped out several times before finally finishing with very mediocre marks.) Once I left France I moved to a post-conflict country to work in development policy and legislative reform, and produced some very impressive legal research which lead to the reform of a major national law. It was extremely refreshing for me to prove that I actually understand law quite well and am good at it - I'm just not good at law when it's not in my mother tongue.

I am currently doing a new undergrad at a Canadian university (a B.A) with the eventual aim of applying for an LLM in International Humanitarian or Human Rights Law. I have top marks in my BA, and I am taking many courses focusing on human rights, international organizations, international refugee law, etc. Once I have completed my Bachelor's here, I intend to apply to LLM programs in which a law degree is NOT required (for my Sorbonne marks are pitiful and will not help me.) I would like to study in Europe, and will not be going to the US.

However. I am currently attending a school in Canada that does not have a particularly good reputation within the country, and virtually no reputation outside of it. I have the option of transferring to a much more prestigious university, but at that school I would be studying international development, and would not have access to law courses. Thus, I worry about two things:

a) If I stay at the less prestigious school I will be able to take courses that focus on law and will demonstrate to admissions committees that my grevious marks in law previously were the result of studying law in French at a difficult school, but that I am more than capable of taking advanced law courses in my maternal tongue, and I will have proven it with my straight A's in law courses. (Please note again this is a BA, and not an LLB.) Does the unknown reputation of this university matter, and will it hinder my chances in admission even if I get great marks? I fear I will be unable to compete with all you students coming out of Oxbridge, particularly since I am getting a new BA and not an LLB.

b) If I go to the more prestigious school for my BA I would be studying more social science-related courses and international studies/international development, where I would not have the opportunity to take law classes. If I receive a perfect GPA at this school, I will perhaps be noticed due to the school's name and I will have good marks, but I will NOT have taken any law courses. The only thing I will be able to rely on for my admission is my previous legislative reform experience.

I cannot make up my mind about where to go - stay at the lesser-known university and study law courses to prove my abilities, or study international development at a more prestigious institution and hope to get into an LLM for non-law majors despite never proving in an academic institution that my initial law marks were "excusable".

If anyone has read this far, thank you so much. I have been battling with this decision for many months now. For information's sake, I have my heart set on going to the Graduate Institute in Geneva, but also intend to apply to LSE, and Edinburgh. Any advice would be so welcome. Thank you so much.

If I were in your situation,

I'll transfer to the better school. let's face it as much as I hate "branding", going to a school with a good reputation does help with the admission process. If the LLM university doesn't require a law degree, you could then apply directly if you want but I think doing a one year post graduate diploma in law in the uk would be more beneficial, since you get to show you took law courses as well.And from personal experience, if you're doing anything law related, it's better to show then you have been accepted in the bar of any country. I skipped my bar to pursue my academic degrees first, and when I try to do part time work in jobs relating to the legal field - but not in the law firms -, I nevertheless keep getting irritating questions about my lack of a bar license.

I'm afraid that's a non-option. I'm currently enrolled in the BA and will be staying in Canada for the next two years to complete it. The question is whether or not to complete it at a lesser-known school where I can take courses in human rights and law, or whether to take it at a more prestigious university where I would study social sciences.

I realise there are a million other options in the world that are a possibility, but personal constraints require that I stay here and complete the BA. The question is where.

Edited: Sorry, I didn't realise that you meant after completion of the BA. I'm afraid that I don't really see the point of getting a post-graduate diploma AND the LLM in my personal situation. I'm going to be 32 by the time I apply for the LLM in the first place and I'd rather not add on more years of study than is necessary. I know that UK schools value the post-graduate diploma, but I really don't think that I could afford personally or financially the cost of a post-graduate diploma AND an LLM.

Thank you for your advice though!

No matters, I'll be 32 when I complete my studies too. And I would not have taken the bar yet! Yikes.

Well, I'll still transfer to the better school if I were you. I think reputation plays a greater part than law courses per se.

Oh, Edit #2: I definitely agree that not having passed the bar is a nuisance, I have this problem daily when trying to find work - but quite simply, I have never been interested in becoming a lawyer, so I am not going to be passing the bar. I'm much more interested in research and legislative reform, and despite it being a serious uphill climb, I am not going to be going back to law school. Too much time and effort for a goal I am not ultimately interested in. I am simply eventually going to require a masters degree, and I'd rather it be one in law than in another subject.

PS. Good luck having to explain to potential employers, I know how much of a drag it is explaining, "But I'm not a lawyer, I'm a jurist!" and seeing the puzzled eyebrows in return.

No matters, I'll be 32 when I complete my studies too. And I would not have taken the bar yet! Yikes.

Well, I'll still transfer to the better school if I were you. I think reputation plays a greater part than law courses per se.

Just a suggestion,

But maybe you can try to demonstrate your legal knowledge in a different way rather than by showing law courses on your transcript. One way I can think of is through your personal statement of purpose. Maybe - in your personal statement - you can explain to you selectors how your BA knowledge can complement your future legal courses - i.e. human rights courses - in the LLM. I think that can impress your selectors since you will be able to demonstrate that - in addition to your BA knowledge -, you possess some legal knowledge too.

^^ I definitely intend to do that, irrespective of which school I go to. I have several years working in the legal field both domestically and abroad, so I will definitely use that in my personal statement. And obviously if I stay at the lesser-known school I will focus on how despite my previous bad marks, I was clearly able to obtain high marks in human rights courses once they were in English and I wasn't ill. I fully intend to put as much to my advantage as possible in the personal statement. The question is will they care, if they've never heard of my school before.

I am considering applying to NYU's tax LLM program. I went to a tier 3 law school, and graduated in the top 15%. I have a CPA and have been practicing in tax in a large law firm for about 2 years. Does anyone know if being a tax practitioner would help my chances of admission?
Thanks!

ilovpugs --- Did you apply? Do you have any results yet, or advice on your experience?

Just for an update, I decided in the end to stay at the lesser-known school, where I have a 4.0 GPA, incredible support from professors, and a research assistance position with a wonderful professor. I have no regrets about my decision and am looking forward to applying for my LLM for 2011/2012.