Hi

I'm an Australian currently interested in doing the Securities and Financial Regulation LLM at Georgetown in 2013, and was wondering if someone could assess my suitability/chances for admission.

While I graduated from a top Australian university with First Class Honours, my GPA is only 2.94 on the US scale. Australian Universities do not issue rankings, but I've been able to figure out that I graduated at least in the top 20% of my graduating class.

By the time I apply I would have had 3 years professional experience at arguably Australia's leading and most prestigious law firm (based on industry awards) in the M&A and Banking groups. I have worked on a number of debt and equity capital market transactions, corporate restructures, takeovers etc.

While my GPA is relatively low, I don't think it reflects my true academic ability, as I feel I've really developed since university. I feel my professional recommendations will back this up.

I recently received an offer to study a Masters of Commerce (i.e. Finance) at the University of Sydney which I have accepted, but I am unsure if I will take this up as my preference is to do an LLM in the US at a top law school, followed by a year or so at a US firm either in DC or New York.

I've targeted the Georgetown LLM as it will be directly useful for my practice back here in Australia, as we have very few lawyers at the firm who are competant in US securities law.

In order to mitigate my low GPA, I was thinking that I might start the Masters at Sydney University, get some excellent grades, then when I apply for the LLM, use this as evidence to support my development. Does anyone think this is a good idea?

Otherwise, any general thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks