Hello Everyone,

As an international student, the hiring process for law firms and international organizations in the UK is something of a mystery. Can anyone with knowledge please describe:

(1) what opportunities exist for international LLM students; and

(2) what the hiring process is like.

Thanks in advance to anyone with knowledge. I hope that this will become a forum to discuss all aspects of the UK/LLM job search, so feel free to post additional questions or post on related issues.

With the current situation...almost impossible (unless you know someone).

If for LPC graduates and also graduates with a 1st class in law is difficult I would imagine that for an LLM graduate from even Oxford or Cambridge it would be even more difficult.

Firms are laying off hundreds of people everyday, so I do think that now is the worst time to look for a position in the UK or anywhere really.

The profession is incredibly inclusive and now with the recession it becomes more and more closed...

I confirm...very difficult times. I have just been made redundant in the UK. Tough times and multiply the difficulty ten fold for foreigners...

Just to add, with a UK LLM you wont be qualified to do anything in legal wise in the UK. I'm not sure of the full story but unless you can get some sort of exemption for the Law Society, you'll need to go through GDL/CPE and LPC before finding a training contract.

To be quite frank, although I'm sure reems of international students aim at coming to the UK and becoming lawyers, I imagine it is incredibly difficult. Not only is law completely oversubscribed at undergraduate level, but loads of other graduates decide to convert over when they realise that a 2:1 in economics/history/politics has little use in the wider world so there are many home students who have vocational law training but no relevant job. While I'd imagine that there will be the odd person who has transfered over from Australia or the US, possibly within the same firm, I've read a blog on here by an Indian that basically says that it isn't even worth thinking about trying to start up as a lawyer n the UK- might be worth a read! Sorry to bring bad news!

Simply no chance. The market is totally fucked up.

Simply no chance. The market is totally fucked up.

Not really, IMO. My previous post pretty much details why and as for the value of these degrees- as an international student you get to benefit from the educational system of the UK and the life experience. Unfortunately, apart from those sorts of things, they don't enable you to do anything in the UK legal sector and so, if that is your aim, you'd be better considering the GDL/CPE, LPC route. Still, I'm not sure of how much luck you would have there so I'd do some research into it...

I agree with the above - a UK LLM provides an international student wiht a UK degree and life experience; it is a myth to assume it provides you with a passport into the UK job market. A UK LLM from Oxbridge or London etc. looks good internationally, but it doesn't really have much value at all within the UK (excluding some highly specialised LLMs or moving onto an academic career, or the BCL at the Bar).

Mostly, UK firms are interested in international students for foreign language skills or jurisdiction expertise (but that means you need to have lots of experience). The UK economy is a lot worse than other countries, and I think it was the IMF who said the UK will be the worst hit. Frankly, I would say to any international student to think very hard before coming to the UK with the view of getting work at the end of study now.

Does anybody know whether the job prospects for an academic career in the UK for EU graduates with an Oxbridge LL.M. look a bit better than the prospects for a career in practice?

I don't want to continue with Ph.D.-studies after the LL.M. year (as I'm doing my Ph.D. right now) but consider working for a research institute in the UK or becoming a lecturer at a UK uni after my LL.M. year? Would you say that such a plan sounds feasible?

... and (my question) how much do they actually earn?

Does anybody know whether the job prospects for an academic career in the UK for EU graduates with an Oxbridge LL.M. look a bit better than the prospects for a career in practice?

I don't want to continue with Ph.D.-studies after the LL.M. year (as I'm doing my Ph.D. right now) but consider working for a research institute in the UK or becoming a lecturer at a UK uni after my LL.M. year? Would you say that such a plan sounds feasible?