hi guys...
i ve come to know about many of the best universities to do LLM through the discussion board...now i would like to know in what branch taking LLM is good...some says company law and some says taxation or watever...i really would like to know about the good llm programs that i can do... i am right now doing my final year LLB in India...

Hi isha,

It depends on where your interests lie and how it all fits in with your long term career plans. If you are thinking of practising in the UK, an LLM will not help you qualify as a solicitor or a barrister in the UK. On the other hand an LLM from the US would allow you to appear for the Bar exam in SOME states. If, however, you want to pursue an LLM in order to increase your job prospects in India or in order to prepare you for a career in academia then your interest in particular subjects should dictate which University and specialisation you end up chosing.

Good luck!!

Hi Isha,

Further to my above post. Really good general LLM programmes in the UK are (in order of ranking according to my opinion)
Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, KCL (top tier)
QMUL, SOAS, Durham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glassgow, Abrdeen, Nottingham, Birmingham, Warwick (very good)

Each of these Unis have their particular strengths. Check out the individual website and the 'star' power of the respective faculties.

Good luck!!

hi aditya...
thanks for ur mesages... i didnt check my mails for a month so couldnt keep in touch... u said something abt US Bar exams....i didnt get u well there...can u tell me in detail abt studying in the US...is my LLB valid to study LLM in US?? i havent heard of anyone studying in US after their LLB from India...i ve many friends doing their LLM in UK... and aditya can i work there in US...but as wat...and wat all will i ve to do for that... do let me know...thank u...

oh... actually my name is sunitha...my pet name is isha..... u had send messages to my isha ID.... so waiting for ur reply...

With regards taking an LL.M in this question information technology law, intellectual property law and medical law are 'hot' subjects at the moment, but you wouldn't go far wrong with Commercial, International or EU law either. It depends on what you are interested in. If you chose something that you are genuinely interested in, your studies will be more enjoyable and probably easier than slogging through something you feel less passionate about ;-)

The most useful advice you could be given about sitting the bar exam in the USA is, IMHO, to contact the Bar in the state you wish to practice in. Check this link:

http://www.abanet.org/legaled/baradmissions/barcont.html

Ask them what you need to do to be able to sit their bar exam.

Good luck!

I really wouldn't pay too much attention to rankings once you are in the realms of postgraduate study. With the University of London in particular, each college has its area of research.

So, if you are interested more in technology, information society and commercial aspects, Queen Mary would be an ideal choice, with its seperate Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS).

If you are more interested in traditional commercial law, or other areas, maybe KIngs or UCL would be the better option.

Just find which college offers the courses that you would like to study. You have the freedom to choose 2 of the 4 modules from the other colleges, so the actual college you are registered with is not of paramount importance when it comes to the actual bones of studying.

Having said that, employers being the way they are, try to have your 'home' college as one with the area of your greatest interest.

Best of luck!

Hi Sunitha,

Theoretically an LLB from India makes you eligible to apply for an LLM in the US and the UK. However, some Law Schools in the US expect you to have acquired some sort of experience (research or working as a lawyer) before you embark on an LLM. Law Schools in the UK have no such obvious preferences and usually if you have good grades and recommendations you have a fair chance of gaining admission at a top Uni in the UK.

About the Bar Exam for various states in the US, I would advise you to check up the link provided by C.Miller above. That is the most reliable source of information and should provide you with the info you are looking for. The academic eligibility for appearing for the Bar is somewhat relaxed for law graduates from Canada, the UK, Australia, NZ and possibly SA. However, for students from other Commonwealth nations the academic requirement is slightly higher and in most cases you would have to undertake an LLM from an ABA approved Law School. You should have done around 20-30 credits (this requirement varies from state to state) and you might also need to have studied some core courses pertaining to American Law (again varies from state to state) during this LLM. Do bear in mind that you will not be eligible for most states. I do not know how an Indian LLB compares with an American JD but most non-American Law students try to qualify in NY and California probably because the academic requirements are less strict in these states. Hope this provides you with basic idea about qualifying for US Bar exam. I would strongly advise you to check the requirements for the particular state you are interested in with respect to your LLB.

Finally about your working in the US afterwards and what your job would entail, I am afraid I do not have adequate information/ experience to advise you on it. Best bet would be to contact an attorney in the US who has qualified after completing a foreign Law degree.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

hi ...
thanks for ur message....it really helped me going further with my post gradution plans.....
thanks a lot....

hi miller...
thanks a lot for that message....i am going through the site u said.... i really didnt know that i could do LLM or any PG course as continuation of my LLB in US....i thot only UK was the place....i never thot Indian LLB is valid in US... only when Aditya mentioned abt it i gotta know... thanks once again...

hi sykes...
thanks for ur message....it really helped me going further with my post gradution plans.....
thanks a lot....

that was a wonderful message....thank u.... i ve reached somewhere n all searching that ABA site....i wanted to know abt North Carolina Bar Exam....n i ve found the details....
by the way wat r u studying in UK? and aditya i wud like to know wat % is this upper second class.... coz most of the UK colleges want upper second class as criteria....here i guess upper second class is 55-59%....

Hi Sunitha,

I am currently in my final year of Law School in the UK. The degree classification system in the UK is as follows -

1st - first class (honours)- 70% and above - typically 3-7% of a graduating class atain a 1st
2.1 - upper second class (honours)- 60-69% - typically 50-70% of a graduating class atain a 2.1
2.2 - lower second class (honours)- 50-59% - typically 20-30% of a graduating class attain a 2.2
3rd - third class (honours)- 40-49% - typically 5-10% of a graduating class attain a 3rd
Pass - if you have failed to clear some of your modules you may not be awarded an Honours degree - typically 1% of a graduating class attain a Pass
Fail - if you have failed to clear majority of your modules you will not be awarded any degree - typically less than 1% of a graduating class may Fail

Don't worry about the exact % for 1st and 2.1s. The Unis know that the grading system is different for different countries and bear that in mind when considering an application. For example they know that 60% is a 1st in India and it is difficult to attain. So in their offer letter if they mention a condition like say 'a high second class honours degree in Law' that would mean 55-59% in India like you said and NOT 60-69% as per UK standards.

Hope that cleared the confusion somewhat. Good luck!!!

hi....
thanks once again aditya... that message of urs cleared almost all my confusions... shall get back to u later... bye...

hi guys. i have been unable to locate the current exam time table for current llm programe, university of london. may anyone assist me please so that i may apply for leave appropriately on time. am on the external progamme and situate in kenya.