Hello All
I am considering spending my life savings on an LLM in the US (I am a foreigner). The most famous US law schools from an Australian perspective are Harvard, Yale and Columbia. However, I want to specialise in IP and was really shocked by the rankings for IP law schools (below). Can someone tell me what they believe to be the best schools for IP and why is Harvard doing so poorly? I really had my heart set on Harvard but don't want to waste my time if their IP school is not very good.
Thanks in advance

Ranking for IP laws.
1. University of California-Berkeley
2. Stanford University
3. George Washington University
4. Santa Clara University
5. University of Huston
6. Cardozo-Yeshiva University
7. Duke University
7. Franklin Pierce Law Center
9. Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent)
10. Columbia University
11. DePaul University
12. Boston University
12. New York University
14. John Marshall Law School
15. Georgetown University
16. Harvard University
17. Michigan State University
17. University of Washington
19. Case Western Reserve University
19. Fordham University
21. Boston College
21. University of MinnesotaTwin Cities
21. University of TexasAustin
24. George Mason University
24. University of Akron
24. University of Pittsburgh
27. Washington University in St. Louis

Hi

I have a question. Please understand I as this only out of curiousity; I am not being critical nor questioning your judgment. I am a foreigner to life in Australia. Forgive my ignorance.

Why would you spend your life savings on this?

I notice that many law faculty and practioners from AUS and NZ receive LLMs from high-priced US universities like Harvard.

I thought maybe they were getting scholarhips to do this. I know an LLM can enable you to take a US state bar in some cases, but I don't think that's why these folks are getting them.

Does having an LLM from a prestgious US university help you in the job market you are in? What advantage doezs it offer you?

Or maybe you are just truly interested in independent study and learning a bit of US law?

I am just curous about this.

I have spent substantial time in NZ and noticed this popularity of US-derived LLMs but it is still a mystery to me.

As for 'IP programs' I do not think it matters. Many law schools have responded to the market by adding 'IP curricula', but this is still an area that you learn on the job. I work with IP that is worth billions. To me, a person's science education is more important for 'IP specialization' that what they took in law school. The training they will get on the job and there is really no way for them to get a 'head start' in law school. Anyway, that's my biased, US perspective on the issue.

Unless you want to practice law in USA, throwing away your life's savings on LLM would not make sense at all.

If a law school is giving you a decent scholarship, then go for that school. Dont worry too much about these rankings.

I agree with dealman - your basic training in science or engineering and work experience is more important for IP than an LLM.

I also agree that most law schools are trying to capitalize on IP craze and have just responded to market by adding IP to their lists. The core courses would be the same for all specializations. Only a few courses would be in IP.

So, if you dont want to practice law in US, no point going for LLM. If you want to practice in US or just want to do US LLM for the heck of it, go for the school that offers you the best deal.

"if you want to practice in US, go for the school that offers you the bst deal". I cannot disagree more If you are accepted to Stanford IP LLM or Harvard LLM, go for it, even if you receive a scholarship from a third tier school. Stanford (especially in the west cost) or Harvard makes a huge difference whe i comes to fiding a job in the US.

As a lawyer, I would like to have a reliable data to substantiate any claim I make. Any published data about LLM placements after Stanford or HLS? Thanks.

I'd be curious as to how well-known the rankings are. The Californian schools are certainly distinguished in IP. After that, I think it is less clear - but I don't do IP.

ColumbiaJoe, Techlaw and Paul,

I'm a SLS LLM corporate lawyer currently practicing in NYC. I agree with CJoe that law firms usually dont know or they dont care about LLM rankings (the only exception being tax). They only care about the US News general (JD) ranking. Now, every school has its pros and cons when it comes to job placement:

Yale considered the #1 school in the US, period
Stanford size of the program and west coast option
Harvard brand name in the US and elsewhere
Columbia corporate law powerhouse / proximity to NYC law firms
NYU it is the most international of all law schools / proximity to NYC law firms

I can go on and analyze every law school in the US but I need to bill some hoursbottom line: there is no clear answer. Maybe the best thing to do is really ask current students (ColumbiaJoe, for example) about job placement.

Cheers,