Hi all. I know most of us are worrying about(and planning for)LLMs this year. If I may just veer off a little. I am interested in doing an SJD or a PhD in any of the above schools, in the area of international law. I would also be interested in a reputable school that offered a 2 year option! Time is a factor, as is cost.

I slotted in Cambridge since it has a fine tradition in the area, and also my partner under UK law would be able to work while i study (every little helps) and we would be able to access (almost)free healthcare under the NHS. The downside is the rather dogmatic (I find) English approach to law study, and the fact (I imagine) that there would be no means of doing it in less than 3 years.

Any thoughts?

thanks in advance!

Busingye,

All are great schools! If I had this issue to consider, I would look at the following:
1. The more diversified your study, contacts etc.. are, the better. From this perspective, you would not go back to HLS since you are going to do their LL.M.

2. Money after school: Generally speaking, it appears there are more chances of landing a job and ultimately, money in the US than in the UK. If you have a US SJD, you could, I think, stand a better chance to land a job in the US than if you have to cross the atlantic again after a PHD in the UK.

My above analysis would leave you with either Yale or NYU.

But, that is purely my opinion; you could have your personal reasons!

I am not sure about you being more likely to land a job in the US with a US SJD. I don't think it would add more to your CV than a Harvard LLM. Generally speaking the US schools seem to prefer Americans with JDs or else something completely "exotic" but still highly respected like a DPhil from Oxford.
The edge that having a US SJD would give you in the US market would be the chance to build up US contacts and publish in the US. It would also be easier to interview for US jobs if you are based in the US. But I don't think the actual degree would give you much of an edge. This is just from my experience at CLS watching a lot of my friends go on the US "meat market." Most of the people who got jobs had JDs. The foreigners struggled.

Thanks for your thoughts guys:) Three years is a long time so i want to get it right:D

B