Hello dear friends. I intend to apply for Yale LLM next autumn (so for 2011-2012). I am from EU, I know that it is one of the hardest law schools to be accepted and I aim at this programme because of its exceptional reputation on my country and in order to later pursue an academic career in the field of law. As I know that it is very difficult to be accepted due to the limited number of admissions, I would like to ask what are the criteria for an admission. In other words, what is the requested background for a successful applicant. Looking the profiles of the current students I found that they typically are fresh graduates with 1st class bachelor or young teaching staff. However I was a bit confused, as I found both career academics (30-35 yrs old) and new graduates (23-24 yrs old). Second, is there any restriction or disadvantage about candidates from non USA countries (Europe)? Third, is there any restriction or disadvantage about age? Finally what are the elements that can ensure or enhance the possibility of an admission? I am a bit anxious because I will apply only once (mostly because of my age and professional obligations). I will also apply to HLS as I believe that I will have better chances to be accepted.
My background is the following: a 1st class Bachelor in Law from Greece (4th/300 ranking), an LLM and a MBA from the same country (both 1st class/excellent and 5th/60 and 1st/70 ranking respectively), an LLM by Research in a UK institution of medium ranking (no grade provided), a Diploma in Legal Studies (it is a 1yr research degree) from the University of Cambridge (it is the strongest part of my CV) and during the time of application I will also be 2nd yr cand. Phd. I also have some publications and a contribution in a book (unfortunately in Greece) and next year (before I apply) I will also have 1yr experience as teaching assistant in a Univ. of my home country. Next year I will be 27 yrs old and a practicing attorney at law for 3 and a half yrs.
I mention the above in order to receive some feedback and some advice about the potential of my application. Surely, this LLM will not be my first pg academic title and I intend that it will constitute the apex of my legal education. I also have to add that I will not need any financial assistance.
Please provide me as much as possible relevant information.

Thank you in advance.

Hello dear friends. I intend to apply for Yale LLM next autumn (so for 2011-2012). I am from EU, I know that it is one of the hardest law schools to be accepted and I aim at this programme because of its exceptional reputation on my country and in order to later pursue an academic career in the field of law. As I know that it is very difficult to be accepted due to the limited number of admissions, I would like to ask what are the criteria for an admission. In other words, what is the requested background for a successful applicant. Looking the profiles of the current students I found that they typically are fresh graduates with 1st class bachelor or young teaching staff. However I was a bit confused, as I found both career academics (30-35 yrs old) and new graduates (23-24 yrs old). Second, is there any restriction or disadvantage about candidates from non USA countries (Europe)? Third, is there any restriction or disadvantage about age? Finally what are the elements that can ensure or enhance the possibility of an admission? I am a bit anxious because I will apply only once (mostly because of my age and professional obligations). I will also apply to HLS as I believe that I will have better chances to be accepted.
My background is the following: a 1st class Bachelor in Law from Greece (4th/300 ranking), an LLM and a MBA from the same country (both 1st class/excellent and 5th/60 and 1st/70 ranking respectively), an LLM by Research in a UK institution of medium ranking (no grade provided), a Diploma in Legal Studies (it is a 1yr research degree) from the University of Cambridge (it is the strongest part of my CV) and during the time of application I will also be 2nd yr cand. Phd. I also have some publications and a contribution in a book (unfortunately in Greece) and next year (before I apply) I will also have 1yr experience as teaching assistant in a Univ. of my home country. Next year I will be 27 yrs old and a practicing attorney at law for 3 and a half yrs.
I mention the above in order to receive some feedback and some advice about the potential of my application. Surely, this LLM will not be my first pg academic title and I intend that it will constitute the apex of my legal education. I also have to add that I will not need any financial assistance.
Please provide me as much as possible relevant information.

Thank you in advance.

Thank you. Does anybody know what are the major things that they look in a candidate's CV? What are the points that they think as stronger?

I have heard that they want people who are committed to a career in academia. You seem to meet that criterion. Best of luck for next year!

do you think that there will be any problem about previous academic degrees? I mean if it is a disadvantage already holding llm degrees. I know that it is a disadvantae if the former llm is from a us institution

I wouldn't worry too much if you haven't received a call yet. Contacting all those admitted seems to have taken a few days in previous years. Maybe it's a test of grit and character! ;)

I know that it is a disadvantae if the former llm is from a us institution

Really? Is there not some latitude on this? I don't have one myself, but thought that I had heard of others getting admitted after having done US LL.M.'s elsewhere!

Really? Is there not some latitude on this? I don't have one myself, but thought that I had heard of others getting admitted after having done US LL.M.'s elsewhere!

Really? Is there not some latitude on this? I don't have one myself, but thought that I had heard of others getting admitted after having done US LL.M.'s elsewhere!

It is a virtual bar. My understanding is that the exceptions are very rare because there is a presumption that the coursework is duplicative.

Just called the program office. They seemed a bit dour. They told me decisions will be notified via post, which doesn't seem to be entirely true. Also, they told me they'd be made around mid March. That also doesn't seem that accurate either.

yes, but i do not have an llm from a us law school! However, I have LLM from European University and two 1-yr RESEARCH titles from UK institutions. Is this a bar or an advantage?
it does not seem to me that there is anything duplicative (research llm-taught llm, llm in civil law country-llm in usa!).
Nevertheless, the role of former non-us academic degrees in the admission process is very important and I would like to ask for a precise answer. (i have already contacted YLS and they do not provide info about this)
(irrelevant. but let's say that you have another LLM e.g. from HLS. if you do not mention it is there any case that they will check it? However, thisi is not the case for me)

i am sure you will be accepted by Yale Law. whitout doubt.

@oncogene:

are you joking or talking seriously?

@ delmar...

You say you have a LLM from Europe...This will be an advantage.and will not at all hinder your work @ Yale....Ideally, you would want to carry on to a JSD from Yale after LLM in that case...

In the hypothetical scenario of you applying to Yale after having a HLS LLM and then engaging in Suppresio Veri, to put it mildly, you will be debarred from participating in any Uni. Program in the US after that..Debarred for life or a substantial portion of your productive life... (In any event, gwetting a LLM from two US universities of comparative calibre would be inefficient use of resources at a person's disposal...Take a Ph.D. in another Social Science instead...

yes, but i do not have an llm from a us law school! However, I have LLM from European University and two 1-yr RESEARCH titles from UK institutions. Is this a bar or an advantage?
it does not seem to me that there is anything duplicative (research llm-taught llm, llm in civil law country-llm in usa!).
Nevertheless, the role of former non-us academic degrees in the admission process is very important and I would like to ask for a precise answer. (i have already contacted YLS and they do not provide info about this)
(irrelevant. but let's say that you have another LLM e.g. from HLS. if you do not mention it is there any case that they will check it? However, thisi is not the case for me)

In furtherance to the above by supranote1, there is a slight diffrence in the way HLS speaks about this restriction viz. the eligibility of "Local" LLMs alone to fill up their SJDs and the way YLS states this. In HLS case, it says "(it) almost never (fills up SJDs) from LLMs other than from its pool of its LLMs." Whereas YLS says: "Only (its own LLMs are eligible to apply to SJD @ Yale)". Thus unlike YLS that absolutely forecloses the possibility an Outside LLM gettin into SJD there, HLS leaves open a small window of opportunity (Lets say, Bebchuk recommends you or say, you worked with Oliver Wiliamson/ Bob Cooter) for outsiders.

Again @ HLS, the way this works is that you get admitted to their LLM and then waive the LLM degree if you have the chops to make the transition to the SJD program there....

for god's sake guys! i defined from the beggining that it is not the case for me, as i have never studied in us, and I just asked for informative reasons, in order to understand why there is such a bar... there was no need for such a detailed answer about it, especially as I ask about european llms and research degrees from non-US COUNTRIES and especially UK. if I understood well there is no problem about the latter. I just want to understand what are the criteria about the "orientation towards academic career" according to YLS. nevertheless, thank you, although such a detailed answer about "disclosures", "preclusions" and "dishonesty" concerning one single sentence of mine in 5 different posts, representing 1% of my total writing in here and consisting an aside observation in brackets, is a bit exaggerate and creates a negative environment of discussion.

thank you, although such a detailed answer about "disclosures", "preclusions" and "dishonesty" concerning one single sentence of mine in 5 different posts, representing 1% of my total writing in here and consisting an aside observation in brackets, is a bit exaggerate and creates a negative environment of discussion.

ok, no problem really. furthermore, i said that i am mainly interested on llm not sjd or jsd. however, btw, concerning hls what does this waiver really mean?