James, Today, 11:22 AM
Hi everybody,

I am an Chilean trained student, have just finished my Law Studies, and just have to give a final comprehensive exam in September 2009 to obtain my degree (LL.B). I am an american citizen , though I have lived my whole life in Chile.

I am planning to move to the United States in 2 years aproximately and pursue a legal career, hopefully in Internatuional Litigation (Intl Commercial Arbitration, or Foreign Investment) From what I have heard is much better if you obtain a JD in comparison to a LL.M if you want to actually stay in the states and pursue a career.
So this being my situation I havea few doubts you might be able to help me.

1) I have been told a good Idea would be to apply for an LL.M program and then transfer to a JD. That way you avoid LSAT and also, you can try your luck with the LL.M. Is this a good idea?
2) I think I have quite an interesting resume so far, 2 times participant in the Jessup Moot court competition in Washington, Internship at a big law firm in Chile, top 5 % of my class,scholarship for academic results, assistant to teachers in Civil law courses and right now I am doing an internship in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg, Germany. However, I have been adviced to gain some work experience, preferably in a big law firm in Chile. Is this absolutely necessary?, while I would love to start working, at least for a while, I am concerned about age, If I work for example for 2 years, I would probably beggining my LL.M or JD on 2012 and I will be 26-27 at that point, plus 3 years, in the case of a JD, 29-30, maybe a little bit old for the US market.
Could you offer any advice regarding this?

3) Finally, I have been advised to apply for several law schools, my family comes from the Virginia and the DC area so I would like to apply colleges in that area. My dream, for sentimental-family reasons is to go to the University of Virginia, and probably if I could choose it would be clearly my first choice, then I like Georgetown, Columbia and Duke as first tiers schools, then a little bit behind in the rankings, I am interested in Emory, Washington & Lee, William & Mary and UNC -Chapel Hill,.
Do you have any suggestions of other schools, or actually suggestions against the one I list?, Also, do you think I stand reasonable chances for the first tier school I listed?

Thank you very much in advance,
Best,
James.

James: If you want to pursue a career in US, I think that everybody will agree that the option is the JD, not the LLM (all the law school website state that too) . In addition, as you can see in many law schools websites, study an LLM doesnt guarantee that they will give you a seat in the JD. In fact, they said that transferences are very unusual.

About UV, is a great law school, ranked among the top 10 in USA. Duke is also a great law school, and is among the best schools as well (is called "the Harvard of the south"), and the other law schools that you have mentioned are very good as well, but maybe not so well known outside US.

About the age, I dont think that it will be a problem. Remember that usually Americans finish their college around 22 -23, then work for a couple of years, and then they make their JD, so I think that the average age to start the JD is between 24-27; however, previos experience is not required, and, law internships are fine (and you will have also a law degree, something that the other JD applicant will not have)

Wish you luck.

Thank you very much for your answer. The more I think about, the more inclined I am for a JD.

no one calls Duke, Harvard of the South.

no one calls Duke, Harvard of the South.