Hi all,
I am from Brazil and I moved to US because my husband is attending a MBA Program in a Top 3 College here. As we don't have money to pay for two tuitions and two living expenses, I applied just to two Schools, UPENN and TEMPLE Beasley School of Law. I attended one of the best law school in Brazil and I worked in a good law firm in Sao Paulo as a Civil Lawyer. I got acceptance from Temple, which is a great school but it is not as famous as Upenn, and I was denied by Upenn. So, my questions are:

1. Can I balance the lack of brand by passing in the Bar Association of NYC?
2. Would it be good for my resume if I took some courses, such as Negotiation at Harvard or Columbia Summer Program in order to put some brand in my resume?
3. I want a prestigious law firm in Sao Paulo, so, is it possible to be hired by them with a LLm at Temple, Program on Negotiation at Harvard and Columbia Summer Program?
4. I love Civil Law, in what I could concentrate my studies?
5.Does brand realy mind?

Many thanks in advance!

1. I don't think NY Bar qualification will balance the lack of brand name. Admittedly, brand name isn't everything, but passing the bar is not the same as graduating from a top school.

2. Taking a class or English courses at Harvard or Columbia will not help at all as we all know that almost anyone can do that. There are MANY lawyers in my country who went to a mediocre school but then attended a course at Harvard...let's say half the lawyers in one law firm did that and it looks really really stupid. Personally, I think it won't help at all and it makes you look as if you are not confident with or proud of your real degree.

A friend of mine took ONE class at Cambridge during his degree at one school, which is less prestigious, and he keeps boasting that he went to Cambridge.... oh please! If you have the money to pay for the air tickets then you can take that class!!

If you want to take a course at a top school because you want to learn more and improve your legal skill then do it. But if your sole purpose is to get the name and put it on your resume, please don't! It makes you look pathetic.

3. I believe it is possible for you to get hired by a prestigious law firm with Temple LL.M. Like I said, brand name isn't everything!

4. No idea.

5. Look at 1 and 3 above.

I, by no means, suggest that Temple Law is not a good school or its graduates are not good. I just answered your questions.

Many thanks for you response, it was really helpful! I totally agree with but everyone talks about "tops" and sometimes seems that if you are not in these colleges, you will not succeed...
you have no idea how much you helped me!

if you got a very generous scholarship you may consider pursuing a LL.M. at Temple, otherwise you risk to waste time and money. You better spend a couple of months somewhere close to Philly for a summer school, if you really want to boost your resume (I'm thinking of Georgetown, GW or NYU).

best of luck.

So, why don't you recommend Temple? Is there any reason for that?