I do not have any additional information. You can see the website of ABA approved schools offering paralegal. I know of Georgetown which in my view was the best short term course of just 3-months full time course. Others I think offer long term part time courses. You can just check on their websites. Thanks and best of luck

You do NOT need to take a paralegal course to "qualify" for a paralegal job. If you have valuable legal experience and credentials, many firms will hire you and train you themselves.

Many paralegals in the US are actually recent college graduates with no license or professional training beyond their undergraduate degrees. Paralegals are generally poorly paid in their early years (with pay increasing quickly after gaining experience). Please do not waste money training to be a paralegal, at least not before sending out your resume and trying to get a paralegal position on your own. As it is, as a licensed attorney in India, you are already (too) well qualified to be a paralegal.

It's best to save your money to either study for the bar exam or to enroll in an LLM program.

Mr. Gulati i ll really appreciate if u can share information about job prospects in USA for foriegn attornies. I have done mi law from India and have been practising for the last two years now.Can anybody sit for a bar exam without even getting any credits from the US University? If yes than what are the job prospects for them in USA? I ll b really grateful if u can mail me. Mi address is mail2tushar@gmail.com. M thinkin og doing mi llm next year from USA. I think a mail from you ll go a long way in reducing mi confusions. expecting a reply from you. thanks.

Hi Everyone,

By way of introduction I am a Brazilian Attorney who is taking LL.M Course with the University of London and currently living in USA. I am planning to take the California Bar in order to be able to practice in USA. Any tips on how to prepare? Preparations courses etc...

Answering your question, you can sit for the California Bar without having to take any credits from any US University, provided that you are an attorney licensed to practice in your home country. Please visit http://www.calbar.ca.gov for further information.

Take care,

Patricia

FOR MR OM GULATI

you may send me a detailed resume as an attachment with your e-mail.

very interesting topic..i am an indian law graduate and plan to do my llm next year and look for a job in the US in the following year. I just wanted to know if the job prospects are higher in case of someone who has done a specialised LLM as for instance in international trade law or the like? When is the best time to apply? Which universities are the best from the job point of view? Is it essential to pass the bar to secure a job? Someone please provide clarity on these issues!

Foreign Attorney looking for a job in USA for placement with some Law Firm. What all he needs to do to qualify for law firm job: LL.M. or Bar Exam or both. Which LL.M. Course of which University will take him to job fastest way.
Whether without any course work I can work in a law firm on a temporary basis

What i have observed so far that US law firms prefer US JD with some work ex... I am sure that LLM (from top law schools) with Bar exam may give some chance to get temporary job that can be converted to permanent job... I am not sure of it to say that LLM+Bar Exam will land you with a job...

I agree. Right now a LLM and a license will not guarantee a job in the US (unless a foreign atty is going to have a solo-practice)...

There has been a lot of layoffs at law firms in the US, and, as a result, there are a lot of qualified JDs with experience who will be (or are) looking for jobs. http://lawshucks.com/layoff-tracker/#rolling . JD grads are and will be looking for jobs as well.

LLM grads can not compete against JDs with exp or JD grads (in my opinion).

To get informed on many issues in the US (law firms mergers, layoffs, interesting lawsuits, etc.), I read the Wall Street Journal Law Blog. http://blogs.wsj.com/law/ . I recommend it.

Simple answer: Not good.

I am a practicing attorney and a partner in a law firm. Some generalizations and a market snapshot: The market for new grads looking to join large firms is not so good.. Many existing large-firm corporate lawyers are transitioning to a bankruptcy practice to tide them over. Many mid-size firms are struggling. Firms with niche practices are generally doing fine. Solo practitioners may be doing fine, depending upon their practice areas. Firms in smaller cities, while affected by the recession, will be fine, as well.

I know a Harvard LLM who proceeded to earn his SJD from a top school. He is eking out a living taking teaching gigs wherever he can find them and practicing solo. Not worth it, in my opinion.

''I am a practicing attorney and a partner in a law firm...''

Whadday great lawyer, with great amount of time and statistics.

Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him.

Christ-choice... Is it possible for you to put some more light on this topic?... i am confuse as whether the present job market support LLM students from Harvard,Yale,Nyu,Stanford or is there any chance for others..?

'' i am confuse as whether the present job market support LLM students from Harvard,Yale,Nyu,Stanford or is there any chance for others..?''

My friend, the job market does for the very good ones and your country matters too. Last weekend, both the Columbia LLM Job Fair (designed for LLM candidates from three of the schools you mentioned) and ISIP (designed for LLMs at NYU and other schools) were held in New York. Yes, top firms (law and non-law) from all over the world were there - despite the economic crisis.

According to a friend, who's currently an LL.M candidate, the fair he attended was crowded (with employers and job seekers) and more than 6 of his classmates are returning to New York next month for second interviews at some of the firms.

Just Praise Him and all will be well.

Yesterday, 1,000 (!!!) people were laid off by US law firms like DLA Piper, Goodwin Procter, Holland & Knight, Dechert, Bryan Cave, Epstein Becker & Green and Cozen O'Connor.

Some legal media like the WSJ Blog (http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/02/12/21209-the-darkest-day-ever-for-big-law-firms/) say it was the worst day ever for big law firms. Some talk about the "Bloody Thursday" for US law firms (http://www.abajournal.com/news/bloody_thursday_layoffs_also_hit_cozen_and_epstein_becker_big_ones_still_to/).

If you read through layoff trackers like http://www.lawyrs.net/news/tag/Layoffs you will not argue that there's little chance of finding a job in a US law firm for foreign lawyers in the next months or even years.

The reality remains that entry-level associates are not being laid-off. The economic crisis present firms with opportunities to clear out deadwood (non-performing partners/departments/senior associates) and restructure firm-performance criteria.

Foreign lawyers with top credentials (including a great LLM from a great school and country of origin) will always get a job, particularly at the entry level and this still attracts a lot of dollars ($$$$$$$). Oh, Praise Him at the thought of this!

I have LL.M friends who just got offers in the last few days with Vault 5 law firms and others on this board, such as Santa 2009, have confirmed call-back interviews for LLM candidates at their firms (http://www.llm-guide.com/board/57200/last/#last). So we should hear about more offers soon.

Friend, top schools always strive to provide their candidates with opportunities. This year alone over two hundred employers (ISIP and Columbia Fair together) provided such opportunities to the present crop of LL.M candidates at these good schools.

Praise Him for His Kindness.

Didn't read a single post other than the very first one... but just a consideration for foreign trained lawyers.

We (the U.S.) are in the Second Great Depression so to speak.... highly qualified U.S. J.D. students aren't getting jobs right now. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't live here or is one of the few lucky people to have gotten jobs. Think about that before spending the money to come here, if your intent is to try to stay here.

Saint, you've said this before and evidence exist to the contrary.

He's got Florida in His hands.