Hi,

I'm in my last year at university in Belgium and will work for approximately 8 months starting somewhere between September and November this year, in order to start my LL.M in 2013 (applications to be sent at the end of this year, of course). I have very strong academic credentials (ranked first at the end of the third year, magna cum laude in years 1, 2, and 3, and cum laude last year), as well as solid language skills. Going for somewhere between cum laude and summa cum laude this year, exams went quite well this first semester and profs are known to be generous during your last year.

I've done a lot of interviews recently and have received three job offers so far, one at a well-known US firm in Brussels (pay is the lowest here, but still enough to cover my expenses for 8 months and after the LL.M, pay would be great, or so I've been told by them), one at a Magic Circle UK firm in Luxembourg (pay would be about 500 more, but this doesn't change much since living expenses are quite a bit higher than in Brussels) and one at a rapidly expanding local (Luxembourg-based) firm, in fact the largest local firm in Luxembourg, but internationally not as well-known as the other two firms (even though they are in Legal500's first tiers in all or most areas). Pay at the latter is 200 more than at the Magic Circle firm, so no huge difference there.

I'm also waiting to year back from several other firms, one of which is a very prestigious US firm in Brussels.

I was going to opt for the aforementioned US firm in Brussels because I believe that US law schools like to see a US firm name on your application. Is there any truth in that? Anyone have experience with this kind of situation?

I should probably mention my first-choice schools: Harvard, Columbia, Chicago, NYU, Berkeley, not necessarily in that order.

Thanks.

If you have job offers by these types of firms, why do you want to get an LLM? Are they going to pay for it? Do you want to move to the USA?

If you have job offers by these types of firms, why do you want to get an LLM? Are they going to pay for it? Do you want to move to the USA?

Well, if they encourage it and are willing to re-hire you upon completion, then that is reason enough. Good luck!