So, time to ask a specific question applicable to all of us admitted to HLS: What are our empirical chances of landing a position as an attorney on Wall St when we're done?

not too good... Get a JD if you want to do that.

I agree with Yueping. But heard of others outside top 10 schools being hired and those from HLS having to go back to their countries. So obviously the brand name is not important. That is why people resort to do JD.

I talked to one of the LLM alumni at my shcool (ranked 36) and she told me that several of her friends there had gotten job offers. Some just internships, but some also permanent work. She herself had gotten a 12-month paid judicial clekrship in NJ. What she said though, was that those who weren't fluent in English seemed to have less of a chance of obtaining job offers. She also told me that it is necessary to start networking and looking for jobs as early as possible. I guess that makes sense ;)

So your chances increase if you go to a lower ranked school? Hmm, interesting!!
Anyway, I don't know about the placements rates at other schools but I talked to someone who is currently pursuing the LL.M. at HLS and he told me that of the current class 50% has got a job already. And than there is always the people, like myself, who are not even looking for a job at a US law firm.
According to him the career services at HLS are really good. HLS is actually one of the only schools that allows LL.M. students to participate in the on-campus job interviews.
But I also do believe that as a foreign lawyer it not always easy to find a job in the US and the LL.M. degrees are not designed for that purpose either. However, it is certainly not impossible! Probably your fluency in English is an important factor.

But is it truth the most of you guys would want to stay in the US? Personally, I will be happy to go back home (or at least Europe) at some point! Any ideas?

I just tried to say that being in a top school isn't all that matters. You probably need to show fluent English, network and start looking early no matter what. And that might be why some people at the top schools don't get jobs. That, and the fact that we don't hold a JD.

I want to work for a year in the US, then go home. Staying in the US for more than that will probably make me seriously home sick.

I completely agree with you on that!
And if I would live in Norway, I would probably get homesick too. Your country is so pretty!

But is it truth the most of you guys would want to stay in the US? Personally, I will be happy to go back home (or at least Europe) at some point! Any ideas?

Hi, I'm new in this so be nice guys. I'm just graduate as a lawyer in my country (Chile) I have 26 years old. Now I'm doing a english program in Boston University, I had an interview with the director of the LLM in Banking and Finance, he told me that probably I'll be accepted in the program if I apply.
The thing is, all my life I wanted a top ten for my master degree and I don't know if a take this opportunity now and miss a posibility in one of the top ten (all the deadlines already passed). In addition of this I know that after the program I'll have the requirements to take the bar of NY.
Which choice would recomemend me? Banking and finance at BU this year or wait for another year and try to apply for a top ten.

Thank you

Felipe

Felipe,

I suggest that if you have always dreamed of aplying for a top ten, wait and do so. I don't think it's going to make that much of a difference though , since BU is a great shool. But I think one of the worst feelings in life is regret. So, make a choice that you won't regret (or regret the least).

Saludos

I think you should wait as well. Like you I had similar dream of going to a "world class" school to get an LLM. I applied 2 years ago after I got my law degree and got rejected by everybody. Almost gave up at that stage. I did an LLM in Ireland at my home University, but in the end I still couldn't move on and forget about what I had always dreamed of doing. So I spent the two years doing everything possible to get experience and I applied again this year and got into Columbia and NYU. Will be going to Columbia, which is where I've always wanted to go. I cannot describe to you how unbelievable it is to finally realise something that you have only day-dreamed about for so many years. It still hasn't really sunk in. All I can say is that I would have had serious regrets if I didn't at least apply. Doing another LLM, if you dont really really want it, will not satisfy you and I can say that from personal experience. I hope this has been helpful for you.

An LLM degree of HLS does not hurt you in any way to locate a job.

So your chances increase if you go to a lower ranked school? Hmm, interesting!!
Anyway, I don't know about the placements rates at other schools but I talked to someone who is currently pursuing the LL.M. at HLS and he told me that of the current class 50% has got a job already.


Mila, can you share the details how come that 2006 class has so many job offers at this point? Is it the result of successful job fairs? Placing your cv at the career center? And are we talking about job offers in the U.S. or overseas?
thx,
k.

An LLM from Harvard is not a JD from Harvard. In fact, if you want to remain in the US a JD from a 3rd tier school would hold more appeal. Also, it is important to consider experience - something all employers want to see. It's laughable that 22 year olds are doing LLM's at Harvard. They have little chance at finding work afterwards unless they go back to their home country. This degree is purely for foreign students who wish to remain "foreign".

An LLM from Harvard is not a JD from Harvard. In fact, if you want to remain in the US a JD from a 3rd tier school would hold more appeal. Also, it is important to consider experience - something all employers want to see. It's laughable that 22 year olds are doing LLM's at Harvard. They have little chance at finding work afterwards unless they go back to their home country. This degree is purely for foreign students who wish to remain "foreign".

Don't be narcistic, gar33... no, I'm just kidding. What I really want to say is: Nobody ought to judge other students' abilities and prospects just from what he or she reads here. Let us wait until we all meet in Cambridge, MA or elsewhere. Gar 33, maybe you take this as an advice of a guy much older (too old!) and probably a little more experienced than you: It's not a good idea to mention one's own credentials (as impressive as they may be) in each and every post.

gar33, your hostile reaction to my post "substantiates" exactly the point I was trying to make about maturity, experience and age ;)

Seriously though, you need to mellow out, this board is about opinion and debate... not criticism and condemnation.

peace

1. Technically speaking, I agree with coco's point that a JD degree is exactly the right track for one to find a legal job in US.

2. As a matter of fact, it is still possible, although difficult, for a foreigner with an LLM degree to get a job.

3. An LLM degree of a more prestigious school is usually, if not always, more helpful to locate a job.

4. However, whether one can find a job still depends upon his legal work ability. A law degree is just one factor as an evidence to prove that.

Don't be narcistic, gar33... no, I'm just kidding. What I really want to say is: Nobody ought to judge other students' abilities and prospects just from what he or she reads here. Let us wait until we all meet in Cambridge, MA or elsewhere. Gar 33, maybe you take this as an advice of a guy much older (too old!) and probably a little more experienced than you: It's not a good idea to mention one's own credentials (as impressive as they may be) in each and every post.

gar33, your hostile reaction to my post "substantiates" exactly the point I was trying to make about maturity, experience and age ;)

Seriously though, you need to mellow out, this board is about opinion and debate... not criticism and condemnation.

peace