hi there,

my name is max, i´m from germany and i just graduated with a bachelor´s degree in chinese and business studies. The reason why I write to you guys runs as follows: while searching for a demanding master programme I learned about the LLM-programme (by distance learning) offered by the university of london. as far as i understood students without a LLB are also considered for enrolment. before i apply i would like to answer the following two questions:

1. can i succeed in a LLM-programme without relevant education in law?

2. how are the chances on the labour market for a LLM-graduate without a bachelors degree in law (especially in the UK and Australia)?

It would be nice if somebody could provide me with some insights.

best wishes

max

Hi Max,
I am glad to see someone interested in becoming a legal mind. I am equally in Germany for the time being.
With regrads to your request, I understand it will at first be diffult for you to do an LLM without having a basic knowledge of law, but saying difficult does not mean impossible. What you greatly need is to be determined, and I believ you will make it.

I am in the same position I have a bachelor's in International Relations, Political Science and a minor in Law and Society and I am thinking of doing an LLM in International Law, what are the advantages and disadvantages of doing so? If anyone can tell me it would be greatly appreciated.

Axel

For some LLM's it isn't necessary to have a first degree in Law.
Especially International Taxation or Business Law.
Graduates of Economics/Business can achieve this.
For London external.you'll probably be accepted on the Postgraduate Diploma first and then progress to LLM after success.

However LLM to a Legal career is a different issue.You'll fit in somewhere,perhaps at a Bank or Tax consultancy but big bucks? probably not without being fully loaded..

LL.M will help you greatly in your career, but not necessarily in law related fields. Alumni (I know only a few cases) of the University of Edinburgh School of Law LL.M Innovation, Technology and the Law who didn't already have previous academic law experience have gone on and:


Recruited to a large Insurance firm;
Developed their career as a business consultant;
Two have set up their own businesses;
Continued research of their subject area with a PhD,
and
Two have entered into HE teaching (in China and Brazil).


Certainly my advice to prospective LL.M students who do not have a background in either academic or professional legal environments is that you need to be prepared to work VERY hard, especially in the first few months. If you are already a 'good' student in a field somewhat related to your choice of LL.M, then you most likely will have few problems achieving good scores at postgraduate level.

I hope this helps.

I'm also thinking about LLM for year 07-08 and I don't have a law degree either. I have completed masters in HRM in the US and I'm thinking, maybe I stand a good chance to apply Labor Law in some good schools? Not sure yet, need more information and some advice...

Hey Guys,
i m in a similar situation. I hav an engineering degree from canada and plan/want to do a LLM (international arbitration law) in the U.S. any advice/input?