Posted Feb 20, 2019 00:44
These are my "two cents" on this matter: most people on this website keep saying that it is very hard, if not almost impossible, to land a job with an LL.M., especially if you require sponsorship - and particularly if you read posts of 2008-2010, when the recession was at its peak.
I myself was wondering whether if was possible at all - and after trying, I found out it is. There are so many factors to be taken into consideration that a single post can't possibly be enough, but I will say that when I did mine, we were 16 LL.M.s among approx. 250 JDs, taking the same classes and being graded within the same curve, which is not usual.
Of 16, 5 required sponsorship, the other 11 were already living here - and to date I only know of 1 out of the 5 who left, as she had another offer outside the US and didn't even bother trying. The others made it and, actually, went through different offers, some of which within law firms (like me). Now, as an attorney, the LL.M. is the "ticket to enter the system", which means you have to target the right market (State, City, community, industry and type/size of law firm or company) at the right moment, based on your profile - which is indeed very challenging. The more experience, languages and skills on your side, the better - Americans, especially those who graduate from good colleges, are strong and very motivated competitors.
Many talk about top-tier law schools and large firms. That is only one of the many realities out there, the very top. Small to mid-size firms might be interested in multilingual/multi-state/country licensed attorneys with international experience, possibly in more than one country. Passing a US Bar is also crucial, and once you do pass it, the difference between you as an LL.M. graduate product and a JD product partially goes away, especially after a few years of experience. Some of those I mentioned before did not take any bar exam and, rather, continued their in-house career with subsidiary companies (or competitors) where they were working before coming to the US.
Example: if you are fluent in Spanish and Portuguese (and obviously MASTER the English language when you speak and write), have some years of experience with the "big 4" doing Tax law or with Banks doing compliance in Latin America, then come to Miami and target firms (either law firms or companies seeking in-house counsels) dealing with that market/client-type, then you will probably find some room. Sponsorship is a huge hurdle, but can be accomplished if you find the right spot.
I see this every year, plus those who are residents or citizens can only have their opportunities improving by the dozens with an LL.M.. The JD is always a great option, if you can afford it money&time-wise, as it will open your doors to all the State bar exams. Keep in mind that once you pass, let's say, the NY bar, then other States will allow you to take their bar (some require another US Bar on top of your LL.M., without a JD; others have reciprocity rules).
With regard to preparation, I would like to point out that LL.M. programs cover approximately 30% of the material of a full JD, and students need to fill the remaining 70% by themselves to pass a Bar, usually with a Bar-prep program. When they pass it, they have shown not only that they know as much as average JD graduates do, but that they were able to prepare all this in a matter of weeks or months, mostly on their own, versus 3 full years.
Take this as a first-hand insight and read it together with the big picture, I am sure others who have similar experiences would readily confirm although once you are on the field, you don't usually come back here to post (hence my contribute to your research).
These are my "two cents" on this matter: most people on this website keep saying that it is very hard, if not almost impossible, to land a job with an LL.M., especially if you require sponsorship - and particularly if you read posts of 2008-2010, when the recession was at its peak.
I myself was wondering whether if was possible at all - and after trying, I found out it is. There are so many factors to be taken into consideration that a single post can't possibly be enough, but I will say that when I did mine, we were 16 LL.M.s among approx. 250 JDs, taking the same classes and being graded within the same curve, which is not usual.
Of 16, 5 required sponsorship, the other 11 were already living here - and to date I only know of 1 out of the 5 who left, as she had another offer outside the US and didn't even bother trying. The others made it and, actually, went through different offers, some of which within law firms (like me). Now, as an attorney, the LL.M. is the "ticket to enter the system", which means you have to target the right market (State, City, community, industry and type/size of law firm or company) at the right moment, based on your profile - which is indeed very challenging. The more experience, languages and skills on your side, the better - Americans, especially those who graduate from good colleges, are strong and very motivated competitors.
Many talk about top-tier law schools and large firms. That is only one of the many realities out there, the very top. Small to mid-size firms might be interested in multilingual/multi-state/country licensed attorneys with international experience, possibly in more than one country. Passing a US Bar is also crucial, and once you do pass it, the difference between you as an LL.M. graduate product and a JD product partially goes away, especially after a few years of experience. Some of those I mentioned before did not take any bar exam and, rather, continued their in-house career with subsidiary companies (or competitors) where they were working before coming to the US.
Example: if you are fluent in Spanish and Portuguese (and obviously MASTER the English language when you speak and write), have some years of experience with the "big 4" doing Tax law or with Banks doing compliance in Latin America, then come to Miami and target firms (either law firms or companies seeking in-house counsels) dealing with that market/client-type, then you will probably find some room. Sponsorship is a huge hurdle, but can be accomplished if you find the right spot.
I see this every year, plus those who are residents or citizens can only have their opportunities improving by the dozens with an LL.M.. The JD is always a great option, if you can afford it money&time-wise, as it will open your doors to all the State bar exams. Keep in mind that once you pass, let's say, the NY bar, then other States will allow you to take their bar (some require another US Bar on top of your LL.M., without a JD; others have reciprocity rules).
With regard to preparation, I would like to point out that LL.M. programs cover approximately 30% of the material of a full JD, and students need to fill the remaining 70% by themselves to pass a Bar, usually with a Bar-prep program. When they pass it, they have shown not only that they know as much as average JD graduates do, but that they were able to prepare all this in a matter of weeks or months, mostly on their own, versus 3 full years.
Take this as a first-hand insight and read it together with the big picture, I am sure others who have similar experiences would readily confirm although once you are on the field, you don't usually come back here to post (hence my contribute to your research).
