Does anyone have any thoughts on the LL.M. program in international law at American University in Washington, DC?
I know American University Law School has an excellent reputation in international law in general. Its international law program is ranked high in US News, and its LL.M. program is ranked high in the LL.M. rankings. It seems to be in the shadow of Georgetown though.

thanks
ciao

As a lawyer in Washington, D.C., I can say that American has an excellent reputation and a very strong focus in international law. You should take a serious look at American. It is also a top tier law school in the U.S.

Hi! I´ve heard that American Univeristy has some kind of fellowship/contest/scholarship in human rights or international law, for law students from abroad to spend a semester there. Do you have information on this program? Many thanks.

I am currently pursuing an LLM degree at American University's Washington College of law and I am very satisfied by the professors and the opportunities there in general. American definitely has the best reputation in Human Rights but it is good for International Business Law as well. Georgetown is very good as well but from financial point of view it sucks because it doesn't offer any scholarships or tuition remissions for foreign students. At American, I was lucky to get the International Law Scholars scholarship. I know that many of my classmates got tuition remissions. Hope it helps.

Hi,

I obtained my LL.M. in International Legal Studies from American University (AU) in 2002. I must say that I really enjoyed studying there, not only because the school has a strong reputation in International law but also because professors are extremely competent and want you to succeed. In addition, the facilities of the school are just great! 90 nationalities were represented in the sudent body when I was there. You should definitely consider AU as an option if you wish to pursue an LL.M. in International law!

I am also considering applying for an LL.M. in international law. American is definitely on my list. From what I have been told by practitioners and professors, for international law, in particular, American University is on par with Georgetown, Columbia, and NYU. If you are one for rankings, the top 5 schools for international law are as follows: Columbia, NYU, Georgetown, American, and Yale (2006 US News grad programs). I don't think you can go wrong with any of these schools if you are interested in studying international law.

HEY!! Did you apply to American Univ for Int Law?

if, yes have you recieved a letter regarding admission? because i applied and i haven't heard anything yet.

I recently found out that I got admitted to AU LLM. I want to focus on IBT law but I am a USA lawyer and do not have any experience in international business transactions. Would I be employable even with an AU LLM? Please help. I was a trial lawyer in LA for 9 years - criminal and civil litigation but no big firm experience.

I got the admission in international law program in AU yesterday. Does anyone know the environment near
AU( transportation, housing,.is it necessary to buy a car....
things like that). How's the faculty in AU? If you got the admissions both in IU-Bloomington and AU(LLM), which
one is your best choice?

Thanx

Hi Kuman99!
If you don't mind my asking can you please tell me why are you interested in international business transaction after working for 9 years as a trial lawyer? I am from India and don't have any first hand experience of legal profession in United States. I have always heard that life as a trial lawyer is extremely rewarding. I was myself interested in taking up a LLM course in US, taking the NY Bar and practice as a litigator in the US. So your experience can be truly invaluable for me. Also do you have some tips for my litigation ambitions? I would really appreciate your advice. My e-mail is anurag_14@hotmail.com.

Have a nice day.Thanks.Cheers!

Hi everybody,

Could those who are admitted to AU tell mee the date they applied to this school? And/or what are your provisional student numbers? I applied on April 25 and no decison has been made yet.

I applied in feb and i stilll haven't recieved a mail from AU i called the school and was told that a decision still has'nt been made regarding my application. Is that a good or ibad sign?

Hi I am trying to find out more about this program. Is American U a hard university to get into? Any recommendations on how to increase your chances of getting into this school if you have already been admitted? How long is the program? thanks

Hi everybody I have been admitted to AU, ILSP and I am gonna study there. I will see you guys on August 17.

take care

Dear all,
I am currently stydying an LLM at AU and I am having a great year. The professors are very competent, many of them are practitioners and teach in a very practical way. AU is best known for its Human Rights Program but the international business law is good as well. In summer, AU organizes an Arbitration program and the director for that is a former International chamber of Commerce Court head.
As for the surroundings, there is a metro station (20min walk) and a shuttle that goes to the metro every 15 or 30 min. Car is helpful. It is in a nice neighbourhood, pretty residential, there are buses that go downtown DC. The best place to look for an appartment if studying at AU is the Berkshire appartments building or the Greenbriar Appartments, also consider the Dupont Circle Area.
Hope this helps,

hiello

I am planning to join Washington college of law soon to do my LLm, so I am really worried about job prospects and stuff.

Really sorry to disturb u guys, but since u seem to have a better view about the position of jobs for foreign LLM students in USA.., so I request you to answer these:

1. If JD students can get a job without passing their BAR Exam, why is it difficult for LLm studnets to get a job (eitehr be it legal associate, para-legal, reasearch -assistant)?????

2. Also I dont get one thing: I presume that not all JD or LLM students pass tehir Bar Exam, but still they end up getting some jobs in law-firms???? and most of these students prepare for tehir BAr Exam while they are working in Law-firms....So I would liek to know as to what kind of legal jobs do tehy get into and their salary and stuff????

3. Is it difficult to get into mediocre-law firm or small-law firm ....coz atleast I am not expecting big-gains out of my LLM degree...but a legal-aassociate job in a small-firm would also do??

4. Also what are the important areas of laws that the firms would look for???

so these r my major queries...if anybody has answers to this..plz do post it.......i am sure it would be helpul to many otehr students...

I can't get the real dirt form anybody. Someone please tell me the real story on these LL.M. programs. How hard is it to get in? If you have a bad GPA can you still get in? What about AU's Law and Government program, how hard is it to get into that one?

You raise a number of important questions. However the bottom line is this. Passing the Bar Exam helps. Remember most of these JD holders volunteer, do community service etc

Anyway read these articles written by Carole Silver.
Links:
http://www.law.northwestern.edu/faculty/fulltime/silver/documents/chapter_foreign_lawyer.pdf

Here's another one:
The Foreign Lawyers1 Top Ten List for Success in the U.S. Legal Market
http://www.law.northwestern.edu/career/llm/documents/top_ten.pdf

The Case of the Foreign Lawyer: Internationalizing the U.S. Legal Profession
http://law.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1083&context=nwwps

I hope this helps!

Although grades certainly are looked at, I assume that the admission committee takes into consideration much more than grades in deciding whether to admit an applicant. An admissions committee tends to look at an applicant as a whole, rather than focusing on individual parts in particular. This is typically the case unless the committee is inundated with applications, which, I suspect, is not often the case with LL.M. programs (unlike in the case of JD programs). Therefore, I do not think that a "bad" GPA (which is quite relative) will necessarily keep you out. With respect to AU's International Legal Studies Program, I think that a showing of strong interest in, and commitment to, international law will outweigh a "bad" GPA.

Hi everybody,

This is Kuman99. I posted inquiries previously before I started school at WCL AU ILSP (LL.M.) . One of my questions previously was, since I was a domestic LL.M. with no big firm experience, would I be employable in a big firm after the LL.M. Well, I'm about in middle of the semester at WCL and WCL better than expected. The school is very strong in international law and there are many networking opportunies through seminars and panels almost every week. I got at intership at a prestigious law firm in Asia and I will be interning there for the summer which does not automatically translate into a job but it'll certainly help. Professors are nearly all very good as well and, most importantly, the people at WCL must be one of the most friendliest around. Overall a good place to study and definitely not a waste of time if you apply yourself.