Sorry if I am duplicating questions asked elsewhere...

I am a resident of Boston, MA. I have just finished the University of London External Programme LLB. Most likely, I will unfortunately graduate with a 2(2); there is a very remote chance of a 2(1) at this point.

1) Is the LLM worth doing? I mean in practical terms, would an LLM actually make any real difference in terms of employment opportunities in Massachusetts or the US in general given a LLB, external at that, and not a JD.

2) Does anyone know if the University of London External Programme is actually respected by US employers? Yes, it is a difficult program with some prestige, but I suspect that most recruiters would not even consider an LLB. I had heard that a UoL External Programme 2(2) was often considered equivalent to other UK law school's 2(1), can anyone comment on this?

3) Is a US LLM any better than just doing the University of London's External LLM program? In other words, if neither program is likely to land me a job and I still want to study law, the cost of the later program is somewhere around one fourth any US on-site LLM program.

4) Not having any work experience in law, if I were to do an LLM, what specific areas of study offer the best job prospects? IP law? Tax law?

thanks...

Nicholas

I'm not a US lawyer, so can't really give you a full answer, but ...

1) The LLM is only worth doing for the purposes of specialisation in practice (or you want to experience another country for a year or get a foothold in another country for job purposes). I would imagine your chances of getting a law job without a JD are virtually nil, and I'm not even sure the LLB qualifies you to sit the Mass. bar exam (US lawyers may feel different...).

2) I wouldn't have thought the UoL external programme is highly regarded by US recruiters, as most recruiters have barely heard of any UK universities beyond Oxbridge.

No, a 2.2 UoL External does not equate to a 2.1 in other universities. The papers are marked by academics who will teach in University of London colleges, and the same standards will be applied (which accounts for the high fail rate on the UoL external programme).

3) Given that you intend to work in the US, a US LLM would be better regarded.

Sorry to be the voice of pessimism.