Ok I know it is late in the admission process, but I was wondering if anyone would advise me on whether I should apply to Columbia or not. I am interested in doing an LLM in Comparative Law. I am an English student with a BA in history and I have completed the law conversion course, my grades for my degree are good but for the coversion course they are mixture I have some in the 70s then some in the low 50s. What would my chances be?

The CLS website says they like to see work experience I have done lots of internships but have not taken a year out to work or anything like that. Any help/guidance would be appreciated.

I was accepted to CLS last year without major work experience, so I suggest you give it a try. It would be a great school for comparative law (depending on which field of law you want to concentrate, of course).

Definately try, man! But I would rather gain 1-2 experience, publish a couple of articles and then apply... Just to increase your chances and have added value from LL.M )) I see many people at this forum just do not fully perceive the essense of LL.M program. LL.M, I believe, is specifically designed (apart from certain academic-oriented law schools) to polish your skills as a lawyer, give you extra perspective.... It is in a sense similar to MBA where you would not get accepted without relevant experience. So, admission of students without experience is basically an exception.... which proves the basic rule)))

V

I don't know if I agree with the contention that an LLM is like an MBA: I think an LLM is perceived to be more academic and most employers will tell you that you cannot swap further study for experience (not to say that your CV does not look better with an LLM). Whereas an MBA is supposed to be more hands-on and practical.

To that end, I would urge you to apply to CLS, even without much work experience. Like you said, you have done some internships, that should assist. Put it this way: I don't see how most Law Schools will refuse you if you have great grades from a reputable institution; are widely published and write a brilliant motivation, but just that you don't have much work experience.

I think at places like Stanford it might be more of a factor, but I don't think CLS takes much cognisance of it. So please, apply and see.

One of my best friends is currently studying at Stanford. For the LLM program, he told me that you do not need to have two years of professional experience if you have outstanding credentials. The professional requirement is not so strict.

Stanford is definitely a dream school. I will probably apply next year.

Thanks for peoples' advice above. What do people think my chances are given my mixed academic grades? My interest is in a very specialised field of comparative law which I think should work to my adavantage. I also have good references.

I don't know if I agree with the contention that an LLM is like an MBA: I think an LLM is perceived to be more academic and most employers will tell you that you cannot swap further study for experience (not to say that your CV does not look better with an LLM). Whereas an MBA is supposed to be more hands-on and practical.

To that end, I would urge you to apply to CLS, even without much work experience. Like you said, you have done some internships, that should assist. Put it this way: I don't see how most Law Schools will refuse you if you have great grades from a reputable institution; are widely published and write a brilliant motivation, but just that you don't have much work experience.

I think at places like Stanford it might be more of a factor, but I don't think CLS takes much cognisance of it. So please, apply and see.