Hi everyone:

I am a practicing attorney in the US, and got my JD in the States. I have applied to a number of universities in the UK for an LLM degree in International Economic Law/ Int'l Trade Law. From what I understand, since I already have 3 years of professional experience, I just need one more year of experience in the law of England and Wales before I am eligible to take the QLTT and become a solicitor in the UK. My intention is to move to Europe on a long term basis, and I should add that I also hold citizenship in an EU country.

My questions are: What is the likelihood that I can find a part-time job while doing an LLM? Is it feasible in terms of the difficulty of studing for an LLM? Also, will it be "held against me," so to speak, that my first law degree (and my undergraduate degree, for that matter) are from the US? Any advice would be much appreciated!!!

Dead silence, huh? :))

Maybe some details regarding the universities I am applying to would help. My first choice, as is the case with many individuals on this blog, would be Cambrige, followed by a tie between LSE and King's College. I would love to hear from anyone who is a current or former student at these universities, or familiar with those universities, if it seems feasible that I would be able to work part-time while pursuing an LLM degree. I should also add that I worked on a part- time basis during law school in the US. Thanks for reading, hope to hear from you!

I can't really give you a fully educated response because I don't really know the process of qualifying in the UK if not a home student.

The thing I can say is that some institutions wont allow you to work while you study for an LLM. I know that Cambridge expressly prevent you from working during your studies and I wouldn't be surprised if LSE said the same, although I'm not completely sure. However, I think you should be fine with regard to KCL.

I wouldn't think you would be disregarded because your degrees are from the US, particularly if you are talking about Harvard/Yale/Columbia or any of the recognisable names. Plus, so many US firms are setting up in Europe anyway that you may well be deemed a prize catch!

Thanks so much for your response, S_Dimelow! It's helpful to know, for planning purposes, that some schools may forbit students from working while studying. Thanks again!

I am also a USA attorney and also plan on moving to England. Hope you do not mind me asking a couple of questions :)

What law do you want to practice in England? What law do you practice now?

Dead silence, huh? :))

Maybe some details regarding the universities I am applying to would help. My first choice, as is the case with many individuals on this blog, would be Cambridge, followed by a tie between LSE and King's College. I would love to hear from anyone who is a current or former student at these universities, or familiar with those universities, if it seems feasible that I would be able to work part-time while pursuing an LLM degree. I should also add that I worked on a part- time basis during law school in the US. Thanks for reading, hope to hear from you!

I think mostschools will offer the LLM part-time and not just the LSE. The British tradition has not been to anticipate that students will work during studies; until relatively recently maintenance grants were available and masters programmes uncommon so the issue of students having to support themselves was not one that cropped up really. Even now, my suspicion is that even if universities don't expressly forbid working during term time, they are still pretty much set up on the basis that you have no other commitments.

Due to limitations in scholarships and the rising costs of education, universities may be offering more part-time programmes for working professionals. Unless supported by a scholarship grant from an independent foundation or from other sources, a part-time Master's course may be the only option for an individual to obtain a postgraduate degree without sacrificing income and career advancement.

If you're going to be on a full-time program, my impression is that working too would be fairly difficult.

As far as Oxford is concerned, there is an explicit condition warning students against part-time work. Even if the faculty and the college concerned were to allow part-time work, during the holidays and not during term, one would incur a great risk due to the tutorial and supervision system prevalent there. Even though the latter aspect might not be operational any longer at Cambridge, the heavy work load would not leave much of a chance, both in terms of time and energy, to gainfully carry out part-time work. Given the high level of academic requirements and competition, one would only harm one's chances by mindless pilferage of valuable time and energy, unless of course, one is vying only for a branded tag without striving for another year of excellent results.
On the other hand, London colleges have curriculums that are more affording and accommodating, even to the extent that their career offices run parallel offices for part-time work seekers. Not to offend the sensibilities of the respectable alumni of London colleges, it is quite possible, given the lack of the same kind of stringent requirements, to handle part-time work in London.
However, it may all boil down to the respective faculties of the person concerned and the ability to handle pressures as well as balance aims and objectives.

If the question is: Can a person pursuing a FULL-TIME LLM find a part-time job? The answer is NO, because the rigorous demands of a full-time program would not permit one to concentrate his full energies on the program if allowed to work part-time.

If the question is: Can a person who is presently employed pursue an LLM? The answer is YES, but only if a part-time LLM program is pursued.

All British universities demand that a student pursuing a full-time LLM do so on a full-time basis. There is no exception to that rule.

However, a working professional may pursue a PART-TIME LLM in order not to disrupt his or her present employment. A part-time LLM programme is undertaken over a period of two to four years depending on the individual. It has the same rigour as the full-time programme but is continued beyond one year to make way for a students professional responsibility. Classes are taken with full-time students, but final exams extended beyond the regular 12 month period. The part-time programme is only available to those that are on the higher levels of business, government or NGOs. The typical part-time LLM students are usually more mature and have a track record of high level of scholastic and professional achievement.

The part-time LLM student must meet the same requirements as a full-time student, but have an extended two to four year period during which to complete their programme. The part-time programme is only available to those who are at an advanced stage in their career in business or in government, or in the diplomatic corps. I hardly think that an ambassador to the Court of St. James (a number of ambassadors take the part-time MSc or LLM programme would only harm their chances by mindless pilferage of valuable time and energy. Neither will they be vying only for a branded tag without striving for another year of excellent results. To insinuate that a working professional or worse, a member of the diplomatic corps, to be interested only in a branded tag would not be fair to these people who may not have the means or opportunity to pursue a masters degree at an earlier time.

To say further that London colleges have curricula that are more affording and accommodating is specious at best owing to the fact that students at the masters level are usually more responsible and accomplished. As mentioned, the programme is extended beyond the 12 month period but does not in any way affect the quality of the course, or the objectivity of the assessment.

I hardly think that an ambassador to the Court of St. James (a number of ambassadors take the part-time MSc or LLM programme would only harm their chances by mindless pilferage of valuable time and energy. Neither will they be vying only for a branded tag without striving for another year of excellent results. To insinuate that a working professional or worse, a member of the diplomatic corps, to be interested only in a branded tag would not be fair to these people who may not have the means or opportunity to pursue a masters degree at an earlier time.

To say further that London colleges have curricula that are more affording and accommodating is specious at best owing to the fact that students at the masters level are usually more responsible and accomplished.

ionna,

Better to go full-time on the LLM programme. It's far less complicated. The LLM year will go by so fast starting in October (Michaelmas term) that by January, you can start exploring employment opportunities.