Hi everyone, I want to apply US law schools for 2025-2026 period. I got a bachelor degree from one of the top schools in turkiye with full merit-based scholarship. I also have double major degree in political science & international relations, and an llm in legal theory. I have one year legal internship experience and next month, gonna get my license, I also received 2 years of public international law training program from a reputable international law center in Istanbul.. The problem is that this application is going to be for my second llm degree, you know it is just too optional for my career. So I want it to be worth.
I am aiming to get admission from top 10 law schools. MY BIGGEST BARRIER IS MY Gpa. I have 3.14 out of 4. Online education throughout the pandemic and double major affected my gpa negatively. I want you to comment in a realistic manner. Do I have a chance?

[Edited by Lacos on Dec 20, 2023]

Hi Lacos,

not sure from which angle you would look at what falls within the top 10 US law schools, but I found this link (https://llm-guide.com/lists/top-10-llm-programs-worldwide) which puts UC Berkeley into the top 10.

I can only provide feedback on the application for UC Berkeley, since this is the only school I have applied for.

For myself, my undergraduate grades where certainly not the best. GPA conversion is difficult with our grading system in Austria, but I would think it is below yours. What I could demonstrate though was 6 years of professional work experience in the field that I want to focus on during my LL.M. studies and some additional certifications showcasing my eagerness to learn. I also felt that taking enough time to think through the personal statement and building up your story on how you started out up to the point where you are now, and how this specific program will help you with your next steps in a particular field will put you in a good position.

While I applied I was actually quite pessimistic on being admitted, but it eventually worked out. It was a big learning for me to be more optimistic about my abilities and looking at the whole picture on what I achieved, not only the grades.

Looking at what you summarized above, your profile sounds great. If I was you, I would not hesitate to give it a try and be very optimistic.

Btw, since you still have some time for your application, you could take the opportunity to publish one or two articles. This is always a great way to showcase your curiosity about the law.

All the best.