Hi guys!

I was admitted to International Legal Studies at NYU. What are chances for foreign trained lawyers with LL.M from NYU to get employed by american law firm (I'd like to work at international law field)? The thing is that I'd like to stay in USA after graduation, but I'm not sure about job prospects. The tuition and living expenses in NY are quite high and I want to be sure that it is wise investment of money.

Thank you in advance for your responses!

There is good discussion about this on Ivan's blog (just click LLM Guide Blogs - Class of 2007 at the top of the page).

Yup, or do a search on this discussion board. I have written quite a bit about job hunting prospects on another discussion thread but I can't remember which one.
Basically it is hard because the firms only interview for LLMs after they have recruited JDs. It depends on your prior work experience, nationality, and what area of law you are in (litigation, for example, is very hard to get a job in if you are foreign). It is possible though.

I would also recommend that you take a look at the thread "Employability". My opinion is that employment here depends on nationality, field of expertise, prior experience, and LLM grades. And good contacts in NY´s legal market may help a lot.

First of all, thanks to everybody, who responded to my message. I've just read threads you have mentioned. ANd now I'm even more confused than before, because there are many very contradictive opinions. I'll write about my particular situation and maybe someone will be able to give me a good advice.
I have an LL.B (5-year diploma) from Russian-Armenian University (Armenia) with specialization on International and European Law. I also chose an LL.M with specialization on International Law. I do want to stay in USA after graduation. But it seems to me somehow strange to seat for JD, because I don't think that it's very important in what country you got your first degree if you work at the field of International Law. Maybe I'm wrong and most of the law US firms won't agree with me on this issue. I think that 5-year first degree with specialization on IL plus LL.M from NYU must make me quite a strong applicant. I have Israeli and Ukranian nationalities (I was born in Ukraine and currently I live in Israel). I speak Russian, English, Hebrew, Armenian and I started to study French last year, because it's the second language in all international organizations, firms and courts. I don't have any considerable work experience except of couple of summer internships in Constitutional Court of Armenia and 3-years working experience as office manager in Jewish Community (which can be irrelevant).
The tuition and living expenses are very high and I will have to take a loan. The thought that I won't be able to find a job afterwards makes me terrified, especially because I'm a single mother of a 1.5 years old child.
Maybe somebody could advice me if paying for this LL.M is a right thing or not...

It will be risky, to be sure, but if you receive good scholarships, it won't be that expensive. Some law schools grant "full-ride" scholarships that cover both your tuition fee and most of your living expenses (if you live modestly, that is). If NYU didn't give you any free money, you might want to apply again next year, perhaps applying for schools outside NY (which are often less costly and might award you a better scholarship).

If you have to take everything in loans, it might be too risky.

Well, the problem is that I haven't recieved any financial aid from NYU (despite my really high grades), probably they don't value armenian education very high :)) I don't think that getting into some mediocre american law school even with scholarship would be wise (if you say that even with NYU's LL.M my chances not that high). I know that there is not one definite answer to my question.
What would you do?

If you have a back-up plan (like working in Armenia), which is fairly certain, take the chance.

But if the only possibility for you to pay your study loans is to find a good-paying job in NY, it sounds too risky.

I might be wrong, but it sounds risky to me as well, given your financial and personal circumstances. Although your credentials are excellent, you should bear in mind that you had your legal education in a country that is not a significant commercial partner of the US (unlike Russia or Israel, to name other countries you have connections with). Although you could eventually find a job after the LLM, it seems to me that you are risking too much. Perhaps you could request a 1-year admission waiver from NYU and try to land a job in Israel meanwhile (then you could say that you had both Armenian and Israeli working knowledge - and save some money).

Actually I've got education from Russian university in Armenia and I have 2 diplomas, which means I can practice law in Armenia as well as in Russian Federation (we dedicated most of the time to Russian law).
I guess you're right, thats to risky. I just want to finish with my education and start to work in normal place. NY seemed right to me:)

I think it depends on whether you have a plan B. If you consider the possibility of working at a US firm in Moscow (they pay well and the Personal Income Tax is very, very low), for instance, it would be less risky.

If I'll get a decent job proposal no matter in USA or Russia or Europe I'll go for it, why not. I'd like to stay in NY, but it's not my primary goal.

I think it is too risky if you are doing the LLM relying on getting a job afterwards especially in the field of international law (I presume that means you would only take a job in international arbitration at a commercial law firm?).

What about looking at one of the huge mulit-national firms such as Clifford Chance? Could you try to line up a job first before you start your LLM. CC might let you do one year in NYC before moving you to their Russian or other office.

Thanks for advice flygirl. I'll try to contact them.