Hi,
i am an Indian student intending to study LL.M next year. i'm very confused about whether to apply to the US or UK. i would specifically like to know how good the post LL.M oppotunities in the two countries are.

Anyone reading this thread...please advise.

thanks in advance

Hi, I think u should apply to both US Universities as well UK universities...coz Universities of both the country are equally good !..as u see, Harvard University is as good as Cambridge University !..If u luckily get chance in Universities of both countries then , judge the ranking and ur conveniences (cost and all), the one ranking high and if it fits ur conveniences, then go for that !!..

thanks indianstudent.

but i would like to know which one is better from the angle of future job prospects. is it easier to get a job in the UK or in the US when the LL.M is from the same country.

I am sorry, I can't help u in this regard..coz, I have seen both consequences..i.e. One after completion of course in UK has got a good job in UK itself, and the other has returned to India and have got good job in home country. But, the person who has returned, whether he has returned by choice or circumstance is not really known to me. I guess, we need to have a study on that -abt the job prospects in each country. It will be really helpful if LLM passout share their experience in this forum !!..
However, I would like to make a point clear - if u r from India, then apply in ONLY those Universities which are approved by Indian Bar Council coz in the later years, if u think to settle down in India,and if u have not studied in the recommended college, then u will face problem !!..

Same question as the newcomer, only I'm Croatian..Which is it, UK or USA?FRom my lay point of view,it seems that UK is Europe after all, and I'm European. Kind of expands future job opportunities, don't u think? Is there any difference between USA and UK in regards of the quality of certain programmes or are they equally good? Any information on that would be most welcome...Thanks

As far as i know, its not that easy to get a job in the uk after an LLM, because law firms will tend to apply a sort of jurisiction criteria, in other words an italian lawyer will be employed by the italian branch rather that the uk one. but its not a fixed rule and there're exeptions, im also trying to stay here. one way could be applying for a training contract, but there's a year gap and also if u're alreay qualified in ur own jurisdiction the QLTT is what u should do.
As for the states, dont know very much but would never choose to study there, regardless of rankings. Im european and feel they have an approach which is not suitable to our culture. this is of course a very personal opinion.

newcomer,

i would suggest that purely in terms of future work opportunities, you should focus on American universities. the chances of getting a job in a US law firm are far better.

however, that said, i personally chose to go to a uk university, because i think that the whole attitude is better than the US universities.

you shouldn't close your options. apply to both US and UK universities and when you have offers, make a decision on the individual merits of the colleges and the specializations you want to do.

aparna

ps: am also from India, going to KCL this year

Hi everybody.
I am an italian barrister and i have a spanish qualification too.
This year I will attend the LLM at UCL (if I will meet their English conditions, i am currently in their pre-sessional english course because my english is very bad, as you can easily see) and i would like to know your opinion about my chances of getting a job in some law firm or in some society that has interestes in italy or in spain.
what do you think? will the LLM be useful or not?
thanks in advance

ops ops...interests....some with singular...yes, i have to improve my english, absolutely!

I have done a LL.M from a reputed university in Texas, graduated in May,2006.

I am convinced that it is extremely hard to get a job. I have received nearly 60 rejection letters from the Law Firms, I applied across the United States, even though I have 8 years of experience working for a reputed MNC in India.

It is hard even to get a para-legal job. I am planning to write the New York Bar in Feb,2007 and let me try my luck !!!

I would challenge anyone, who says it is easy to get a job based on a LL.M in the United States.

The J.D. Degree equivalent of LL.B is everything in the United States.

If you are comming with an intention of getting a job after your LL.M you may be disappointed. LL.M is extremely expensive by Indian standards(costs nearly $50,000 in terms of tuition,fees and living expenses).
It is also mentioned in most of the University websites that they expect foreign students to go back. They only want to suck our money. The Career Service offices have no clue how to place the foreign students, since, they anticipate you to go back.

However, if you want to go back, it can add up to your credentials. In my opinion, it is advisable to do a LL.M, if you get a substantial scholarship/tuition waiver.

Doing an LL.M from U.S. is not like doing M.S. ,where you get to here lot of success stories. As a dean of students affairs in my University quoted "We need Engineers, but not Lawyer from foreign countries".

An LLM - whether from the UK or US - is no gaurentee of a job. A US course of study is certainly more expensive than the UK.

I understand...but, for example, big law firms do not need barristers from other countries to manage their affairs in front of foreiners judges?

Hi Roberto, according to me, given your curriculum, you should try to apply in particular to spanish law firms in London, such as Uria Menedez (legal500.com). But if a law firm recruits a student or barrister in London he is supposed to work in the UK; I don t think that a firm in London recruits people for its offices in other countries.

cheers

The Law Firms in the U.S. would get in touch directly with some big Law firm say in U.K. or India, thus short circuiting the requirement of foreign lawyers in their Law Firm.

In fact I know that there are certain big law firms in the U.S., who have formal tie ups with Indian Law Firms, since they are still not allowed to set shops in India.

I am not sure, what the impact would be eventually regarding employment in U.S. law firms, when they are allowed to conduct business in India .

I really think that if your intention is to return to your home country then you are far better off qualifying as a solicitor. This gives much greater scope to work internationally at different branches of a law firm. If you qualify as a barrister you are very much tied to working in London or in the English Regions.

Thank you guys, particularly many thanks to Tortello.
:)

Congrats Aparna
I am also applying to KCL for 2007 October batch....Any special tips....???I am from Campus Law Centre,Delhi University