I was wondering anyone knows if I get LLM degree without LLB can I get a better job opportunity and salary? My experience is in the engineering field and quite involve with the contracts and proposals activity. On the other hand would that work and benefit me like MBA? Thanks in advance.

Hey Chris, right now money is all well and good but in the long run - dont you think some sort of career fulfilment would count?
I suggest you make up your mind on what it is you really enjoy doing. Once that decision is made, then you can search out "plum" prospects in that field (Engineering, Law, Management, Business Administration ...).
All the best tho!

Mr Beckham above is right to point out making sure you know what you want to do and then selecting the programme to suit. Any post-graduate qualification is going to take time and money to complete, so you have to be sure you are making the correct decision.

Here's a few other thoughts which I hope may be of assistance to you:

- Any post-graduate award will have the potential to give you an edge over graduates. If you're going for "the next rung" in your career structure, the competition will be fierce, and having recognised letters on your CV may be the extra weight required.

- Consider the what the next jump in salary is likely to be for you. How much can you afford to invest to get there? How long will it take to recoup the course fees?

- Related to the above, an MBA can be anywhere between two and four times more expensive than the most expensive UK LL.M programme!

- Can you gain your degree whilst remaining in work. For example the LL.M Innovation Technology and Law (distance learning) from the University of Edinburgh has a part-time option that should allow you to study whilst remaining in full-time employment.

- What about studying on-campus? Uni's in London have post-grad courses that you require attendance mostly in the evenings. Check out their websites to see what's on offer and see what grabs your attention.

- Have you thought about chatting with anyone in a professional body related to your field? A guild or other association? Maybe they can offer career advice?

- have you thought about becoming a Patent Agent? with your engineering background and more knowledge of IP and patent issues, you could become involved with engineering patents in some manner.

It's not an easy decision, but keep looking!

Cheers

C.