hey,

well, for some reason my first post didn't work so here i go again. I'm currently in my 3rd year at a law school in canada studying civil law. Mt GPA in my jd is a meager 2.45 (due to external factors). My marks have made me somewhat depressed because i know that i can't do much with them. One day i woke up and decided that i would try and redeem myself, so i applied to an L.L.M in the same school i attend , the concentration is in transnational law and common law (it's during the two summers following your second year). To make a long story short, my GPA in this llm is of 3.9, and i'm sure that this will be my final average when im finished it. Now in the next year i want to apply to an LLM in new york ( in I.P,preffereably cardozo) to further redeem myself and get better grades. Now i ask anybody, what should i do, and where should i apply. Do my grades in my llm have any significance? i was thinking that maybe i would only send in my llm marks since common law is all you guys do in the states... i dont know and i'm confused.. Does anyone have any suggestions, or am i just screwed

Thanks

Jonnyboy

Not sure I understand you. How can you be a 3L and an LLM student at the same time? Would you try to hide your law degree grades? That does not sound like a good idea. How would you explain the gap? Plus, a lot of international LLMs apply with grades from a civil law system. And, even if you studied in that small part of Canada that bases its system on "civil law", it is more of a hybrid system than pure civil law, so it probably is more similar than you would think. I would talk to the schools you are thinking of applying to to get their opinion on this. And of course your LLM grades matter. It is not a JD you are applying for, so the system is different.

well, i'm in 3L but started my llm the summer before. in my school you can do that just for that program. once you've accumulated 60 credits in your llb, you can start your llm the two following summers. so.. summer llm then 3l then summer llm, thus eliminating an extra year. To be more specific, i didn't really want to hide my llb marks just omit them...but ya i reckon it's not such a good idea.

thanks if anybody else has any suggestions let me know what they think.

Your a bit confusing because your post is somewhat misleading (accidently I have no doubt). First, in civil law schools in Quebec or University of Ottawa the civil law degree is an LL.L. (Latin Legum Licentiatus, Licentiate of Laws), LL.B.(baccalauréat en droit) or B.C.L. (Bachelor of Civil Law -- McGill) designation.

A J.D. is a designation in common law that is conferred as a degree in the United States and a designation by some common law schools in Canada (currently only University of Toronto but that is changing) that replaces the LL.B. (cosmetic change only). The JD does not exist in civil law.

If I understand your post, you are currently completing your final year of your LL.L. or B.C.L. and have obtained an advanced start on your LL.M. due to a special provision in that program.

Its important to use the right designation for your degree so everyone can understand what level you are at and can help you accordingly. The designation of JD is strictly used as a common law degree and its an important distiction you need to make in order to prevent anyone from assuming that you have had previous common law training.

In direct terms of your question, the grades from your LL.M. could serve as a promising indicator and you try to explain your poorer grades in a personal statement if there is a good reason to believe that they don't reflect your potential or ability.

Sorry if i was unclear, i was just trying to say in a way that more americans would understand. but i guess i was wrong.
ok so now to clarify i am completing an llb (civil law) (in my last semester), and i will be finished my llm (transnational and common law) this summer.(1 semester left as well).
the last post was pretty accurate that's exactly what i meant

what i would do is use your LLM grades to show an upward trend grade wise in your education. maybe write an addendum to that effect. and please use the terms you are used to in canada, and explain them if necessary. ad coms are used to all kinds of law degrees from all over the world, so they will get it.

thanks, i will try and so that, maybe meet with someone personally too... if that's possible.
I have another question, is it better to go to a better rated university overall, or a better rated llm program (in a worst rated university). i was looking at fordham ip vs cardozo ip....