Hello everybody. I was admitted to UPenn with a 10k scholarship and to NYU without scholarship. I am an Italian lawyer (common law background), with an MBA from ESCP, who would like to take the BAR exam and possibly find work in the states or in London in a top US law firm. Do you have any advice for me? Is there anyone who could explain to me what would be or and chances for a graduate LLM to be hired by an American law firm? Is the investment worth the effort? Any answer will be welcome

I would say go to Penn as it is part of the Ivy League and they offered you a scholarship. Of course, it also depends on your area of interest but these two are on par in most fields. As you plan to enter the job market after the LLM, you would also be able to experience NY then and at a better price.

Hi - Italian former LLM here. Agree better Penn with -10k, Philly also cheaper than NYC and anyway just an hour and half away.  Did my LLM years ago and was very tough to get a job in a top firm for an Italian/European, since large firms may not be interested in Italy, and if they are may have offices there already. In general, if one really wants to stay the better option is to get a JD (I believe more and more schools have 2-year instead of 3-year program). A big however: the US legal market is gigantic, UPenn has a top reputation so with some luck and entrepreneurial spirit you may find a job in a corporation or a smaller firm (that is a firm that may be considered large by IT standards), that may pay well and offer a good life work balance

Thank you very much for your reply. Sadly, I am too old for a JD (even for a 2-year one). I am 34 and I’ve already got an MBA. A JD would be a much higher investment in terms of time and cost, and I have neither the financial resources for a JD nor the age. I hope that I am gonna find a job in US or as an in house lawyer or in law firm. However, I really do not understand the VISA sponsorship problem. I do not get why the cost of a VISA (much lower of a law related salary) is such a huge problem. Maybe because the VISAs are limited?

[Edited by JUSCOGENS on May 05, 2022]

Hi, I am a Taiwanese lawyer and looking to enroll in LLM this fall. I am currently facing the same problem whether going to Penn or NYU. May I ask you which school did you eventually attend? And your consideration? Thank you!