Hai!!
I'm Sreekanth, currently pursuing my 8th Semester BA. LL. B (Hons.) degree. I will be completing my law graduation by the March 2010. I wish go for an LL.m after this course. I have a dream of becoming a lawyer specialized in Maritime law (but I'm not sure how good my choice is...) Please guide me as to the best area of specialisation, best place to study(will be of good, if its not too expensive), and the approximate fees.. your replies will be of great use to me.
Anticipating your reply,
Sreekanth.

Hi srikkanth,

If u want to pursue an LL.M. degree in Maritime Law,then the best place for it is Tulane University (U.S). I had applied this year and got a fee waiver of 50%. Their staff are also very co-operative and reply to mails etc. quickly.

Regarding your choice of a field, it depends upon your personal interest. However,the scope for maritime practice in India doesn't seem to be too good as compared to other fields such as corporate law.

Maximus, Thanks a lot dude.. Hei, i don wish to practice in India.I"m ready to practice anywhere, but my preference goes to Europe first... All i need is to be in the filed of law, with a reputation and money.

Please post your suggestions, it will b of great use to me...

I am sorry Srikkanth, I am not aware of the scenario in the U.K. But i do know that Tulane is the best place to study Maritime Law in the U.S. Maybe it is better than in the U.K., but i wouldn't know for sure.

As far as employment opportunities are concerned, the U.S.has a better job market than the U.K.. However, maritime law as a field itself is more restricted than others. But if u graduate from Tulane, i think you might have a good chance of landing a Job.

Hi Srikkanth...I have been working as a trainee average adjuster firm for 2 years (a profession related to a special branch of maritime law).

In UK, UCL, Southampton and University of Wales do offer LLM in maritime law. It is said that UCL and Southampton offer the best maritime law programme. However, from my observation, most people in the shipping industry are mostly from Southampton and then Wales. Usually people with working experience take LLM programmes from these two Uni if they want to further pursue their legal studies (with more from Southampton).

Like Maximus said, in US it would be the Uni of Tulane.

My experience is that the maritime lawyers in US are mainly deal with pollution and oil leakage......while in UK it would be arbitration, collision, insurance, salvage, etc.....

Hope the above helps.

Tony

Thanks a lot dear.. Your info is reely helpful... How about the career opportunity and pay? any idea?? b'coz I'm planning to take an education loan....

in the Uk University of Southampton is top of the top. I studied there for a year as a visiting student while I was doing my LLB. I loved my experience and although I was taking LLB course the quality of teaching was simply excellent and the teachers were outstaning.

Their facilities and the town in general is very very nice. Lots of things to do, many extracurricular activities. You will sure have a very nice time.

And the accommodation is also very good. My room had ensuite facilities and was very big.

Good luck with your decision! :)

I seldom encounter UK maritime lawyers who are from non-EU countries. Maybe there are few, but sure are not many. Or they have sea-going experience for 5 or more years......but I suppose u dont have such working exp.

Another route of getting in the industry is to join the P&I Clubs....I dont know whether you know what they are but one day you will know if you study or work in this industry. Generally they are the shipowners' liability insurers formed by the shipowners themselves. It seems that they are more willing to employ ppl from other countries. For you I think you will join the claims side.....and almost all the claims P&I ppl have the title "Claims Executive" regardless of their exp. and qualification (even those former City Firm partners)....so the salary of a claims executive may vary greatly from another. I don't have a precise figure here, perhaps similar as those maritime lawyers. Though I've seen P&I claims executives joined the Clubs as a fresh grad., P&I Claims like employing ppl with exp and legal qualification as they dont like spending time on basic training.......

Thanks Pucca, Any idea about the placement opportunity and pay scale ( An average)

Im sorry I have no idea about the pay scale or placement opportunity you may have! but most unis have an excellent career service which can help you choose a good law firm or something else.

GOOD LUCK sreekanthcnair

Hey what about the Institute of Maritime Law of the University of Southampton. maybe you could be part of their staff after you graduate from your LLM in Maritime Law

http://www.iml.soton.ac.uk/aboutus/what_is_iml.html

Here is also the Maritime Law Directory where you can find several law firms or companies related to the maritime world.

http://www.marinelawdirectory.com/

And what about this other website. It has several adds looking for shipping lawyers, so you can have an idea of what the maritime market is looking for

http://jobs.trovit.co.uk/jobs/shipping-law-firms

Hope this helps you at least a little bit! I tried to do my best! :O)

Pucca,
Thanks a lot dear... The every bit of info you are giving is very valuable to me... Since, I'm at zero level now.... Thanks again, Hei, can you suggest me any other stream of specialisation that gives me a job of repute and good pay...

Many people here seem to choose commercial law/business law because it seems to offer very good jobs and a good pay!

Sreekanthcnair,

Just to add a sidekick that may be different than the UK and US-programmes you might wan't to check out the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law at the Univesity og Oslo, Norway.

http://www.jus.uio.no/nifs/nifs/english/index.html

The programme is to the best of my opinion widely recognized as the best maritime law LLM-programme in Scandinavia.

Regarding your questions on choice of field etc. I can say that I work with transportation law on an almost full time basis. In Denmark the field of core practioners are relatively small with the traditional major firms as well as a few smaller boutiques dominating the market. On the owner-side the P&I clubs are handling most matters on behalf of members.

I don't have specific knowledge regarding the market in UK or the US. However I would say that the transactions, M&A, financing etc. seems to be better paid than collisions and claims handling.

Good luck.

Maximus;

Do you know if Tulane offers post grad as well?

Hey al i m saurav frm india. Pls guide me options i have with chances of scholarship. I m from maritime industry . A sailing 2nd officer wth licence frm govt of india. Plus graduation degree in nautical science from IGNOU

Maximus;

Do you know if Tulane offers post grad as well?

Thanks Pucca, Any idea about the placement opportunity and pay scale ( An average)

Hi Guys!
I am a practicing lawyer in India, now I want to pursue a LL.M in maritime law, could anyone tell me how is University of Cape Town, South Africa? I mean I know maritme law in UK would be better but I think University of Oslo is also a good option, but I also wanted to know about this Cape Town University, anyone knows whether it is any good...I mean for getting jobs and all? I am really anticipating that some of you guys might be able to help me!