Hi guys,

I'm writing to seek your advice as to the chance that I will stand in my contemplated application to Columbia U for a LLM place.

Some background of myself:
(1) a 2:1 honour from a university in Asia;
(2) ranked 24th out of 100 graduates in my LLB class;
(3) worked for 2 years in a US-based national law firm (with offices in asia and europe) as a trainee attorney;
(4) recently started working in an asian pacific office of a top tier NY based law firm;
(5) will be specialised in international arbitration and dispute resolution practice (which is the reason why I choose Columbia);
(6) extra-curricular activities: previoulsy attended an exchange program and spent one semester in another regionally reputable university in Australia; and (pending) associateship of the chartered institute of arbitrators (east asia branch)
(7) to my knowledge, not many law graduates/lawyers in my jurisdiction would apply to the LLM program in Columbia

i intend to apply for a place in the academic year 2009-2010. That means I'll have to make my application in September 2008. By that time I will, hopefully, have acquired 1 full year of work experience in international arbitration in my current law firm, which is ranked in the top tier in that practice area.

What do you think about my chance of getting into Columbia, with a specialisation in international arbitration?

I understand that my academic results are not impressive at all. Will I stand a higher chance of getting in Columbia if I take LSAT (assuming that I get a high score)?

And, whst are the other internationally renowned university in US that also have international arbitration modules as decent as Columbia's?

Please enlighten. Thanks.

SG

George Washington University also has a very good program, check their program out.

You certainly present your case very well and your credentials appear to be great. I think you may also want to take a look at the Fletcher school of diplomacy at Tufts University.

D1, thanks for your reply.

My impression is that everyone in this forum is saying that one has to be in top 5% or 10% of his LLB class in order to get admitted to a top LLM program like Columbia's. In this aspect alone I know I must fall. And that's exactly why I want to shift the focus to the professional and non-academic aspects of my profile. I notice that Columbia pays relatively more attention to applicants' work experience. So taking my professional experience, among other things, do you guys think my weakness in my academic results can be outweighed, so that I can get the upper hand of probability in getting admitted to Columbia's LLM?

2nd question - Indeed I have a few other non-academic commitments, e.g. doing volunteer work for UNICEF local branch in my town, making regulal donation to several charity organisations, etc. As far as this aspect is concerned, what I think is everybody can do what I've been doing, so how much weight would Columbia give to this type of non academic commitments in considering my applications?

Besides Columbia and Tufts, what are the comments that you guys will have if I apply to the LLM programs (with specialisation in international arbitration/dispute resolution) offered by NYU or Cornell? and what about Harvard or Yale (though I humbly concede that I will have zero chance in getting admitted into these two)?

Please advise. I believe your reply would be of great use in helping me get a clearer picture of where I am.

Many thanks.

SG

I honestly dont hink you have a "zero chance" of getting into any of these schools.

I dont know what the requirements are for admission into Columbia but everything you've listed appears to at least give you a chance for a fair hearing.

I advice you take the time to apply to all of them (I know this can be very time consuming, but they are all good schools).

A paragraph of your extra curricular activities in your personal statement may be a good idea and may appeal to someone making the admission decisions as well. It gives an insight into oher aspects of your character.

Look at the website's also, and follow instructions carefully, get out of this mindset of feeling in a disadvantaged position and you'll be fine.

I do believe that work experience is definetly a plus for Columbia. It is clearly mention in the application standards.

I am myself applying and I waited slightly over year after my LLM in corporate/commercial law at Queen Mary and 1 1/2 year of internships at Baker Botts and WilmerHale to be able to apply and gather chances to be admitted.

After 2 masters degrees (Sorbonne and QM) + internships in US Law firm in London + contributions to articles, I honestly believe that they do not really care about my law degree at Sorbonne that I got without merits but just a pass.

We'll see.

F

I'm back again.

I have another question. Does anyone know where to get the list of courses available at Columbia?

Thanks in advance.

S

hi shreaver

any tips on how to contribute to legal articles in London? i have done the law conversion and am now doing the legal practice course so haven't had the regular exposure to academic law but wish to apply for US LLMs (pref Ivy League). I have a non-law degree from Oxford. thanks for your help.