I have a LLM (from 2004)& did the Bar as well- and its frustrating to not have a real attorney's job. i just get by by doing some document review when there are projects available. but then again- there are no benefits and its hourly paid- so nothing to shout about. Even JD'S have a tough time in this job market, let alone the LLM'S. But just try and network all you can. you might be the lucky few............

Don't take a big loan to come to the US with the hope of paying it off through a well-paying job here, even if it is to a top institution. Echoing the sentiments above, some of the JD students in even the top law schools have no jobs at all, so it's near impossible, unless you have an arrangement with a law firm in your country to spend some time in an affiliated firm here, to get any sort of decent job. Especially since, for better or for worse, employers would rather staff their offices with JD-ers than LLM-ers.

hey i am about to apply for llm in corporate law in us after my university of london llb external program. i have also done two years of community college in california. i know that even after llm, getting a job will be really hard. but what i wanted to know was that since i am a us citizen and i got pretty good grades in my llb and i am hoping in getting in atleast in the top 25 law schools for llm. i have also done an internship but in a really small law firm. what would be my chances of getting a job considering the factors i have mentioned above and would i be having any chances of getting a job in any of the big firms or even the mid-size firms? thanks

hey i am about to apply for llm in corporate law in us after my university of london llb external program. i have also done two years of community college in california. i know that even after llm, getting a job will be really hard. but what i wanted to know was that since i am a us citizen and i got pretty good grades in my llb and i am hoping in getting in atleast in the top 25 law schools for llm. i have also done an internship but in a really small law firm. what would be my chances of getting a job considering the factors i have mentioned above and would i be having any chances of getting a job in any of the big firms or even the mid-size firms? thanks

You are right about Florida. However the rules in AZ have changed. They no longer accept foreign attorneys (even if you have the LLM). How do I know? I am one of the rocks the builders' rejected!

i don't think you're allowed to take the Florida bar as a foreign attorney, N_sharma. I know that 16 states let you take their bar exam, including CA, NY and AZ. But definitely not Florida.

thanks for the reply i guess i have to stick with it and take that risk because if i dont then i have to most probally change my profession all together which means start from the scratch since there's not much i can do with the education i have without the llm ? but what if i change from corporate law to something else would that help me getting a job and what would that field be?

hey i am about to apply for llm in corporate law in us after my university of london llb external program.

...and i got pretty good grades in my llb and i am hoping in getting in atleast in the top 25 law schools for llm.

The Florida Bar rules are listed here: http://www.floridabarexam.org/public/main.nsf/faq.html?OpenPage#faq24

Putting ' [any state] bar exam, eligibility' into Google will bring up the relevant state bar's rules.

My reading is that unless you are educated in law in the US you can't practice in Florida.

DC, Louisiana and Texas allow a holder of an LLB and and LLM to sit the bar and practice.

New York and California allow LLB holders to sit the exam.

There are probably more but I haven't Googled them.

do you guide me about the job after LLM.

US legal industry grew by just 100 jobs in 12 months...

http://www.biglaw.org/news/show/5465/us-legal-industry-grows-by-just-100-jobs-in-12-months#.TmZ9f44pW0c

Can someone tell me what are the requirements to be a LAW Professor in USA? What is the job scenario for teaching jobs?

My 2 cents on this post are as follows:

1. To work in the US long-term you are realistically going to need to pursue a JD. In this economy (likley to continue this way for the next 4-5 years) and with the current glut of highly qualified attorneys, foreign attorneys will have a VERY hard time. Many JD graduates from decent schools (those in the top 30 or 40) do not have jobs despite having been very aggresive in their pursuing potential employers.

2. Only get an LLM (as opposed to a JD) if you know for certain that you will be returning to your country. If you are lucky and are coming form an elite business oriented law school (i.e. Harvard, Columbia, NYU) and are from the "right" country (i.e. a country with which certain global firms are currently doing a lot of business (Brazil for instance) you might find temporary employment as a "foreign associate".

3. NY and California Bars are very difficult (i.e. 30% passage rate) if you do not take the required first year law courses. As an LLM you will not take all the first year courses and hence have a good chance of failing the Bar.

4. The US legal market is extremly competitive, the most competitive market in the world. Attorneys are paid more (at the high end) than anywhere else, but the competition is tremendous.

Lastly, teaching jobs... very difficult. Unless you have published widley in highly regarded law reviews/journals in a narrow area of the law and have superb credentials, you will face a doom and gloom.

Most people will ignore this post regardless of the difficulties and likley pursue and LLM in any case. Perhaps, however, you will remember this post once you have completed your LLM in the US and cannot find decent employment. Best of luck.

Hi R_B
I am a Law graduate from Delhi. Interested in Law teaching globally. US sounds like a tough spot for Lawyers. I am interested in Gender studies so that I can give back to my community and the world at large by advocacy and "Engendered"Law teaching.

Thanks alot for the frank and detailed information.

:)

The job market for LLM grads is still not great no matter which country you look. Most job offers from law firms are not aimed at foreign LLM graduates. It may be worth to use LinkedIn to find alumni of your school or to search niche websites with job postings for international applicants (e.g. for Europe http://www.lawyrs.net/groups/455/legal-jobs).

Also, some law firms actually specifically search for LLM students: http://www.linklaters.com/JOINUS/LLM/Pages/index.aspx

Another bad sign:

Hastings cuts class size by 20 per cent in response ro ailing industry
http://www.biglaw.org/news/show/6239/hastings-cuts-class-size-by-20-per-cent-in-response-ro-ailing-industry#.T87_i8XRZp4

Ah! I guess the sentiments expressed so far are all true, but there are definitely the exceptions.

If you'd plunge yourself in debt to undertake an LL.M. in America - not worth it!

If you're looking for a year off and time to meet new people and tour - definitely.

If you're looking for a boost to your resume - maybe but not necessarily.

If you're looking for new opportunities and ideas - again maybe not necessarily.

Just graduated and honestly wondering why I spent all that money pursuing an LL.M. Again, the experiences differ and for me its definitely a mix. Are foreign trained LL.M.'s getting jobs here - I believe so. Is it difficult? Probably so but not impossible.

Best.

I agree with nwular. LL.M. from U.S. law school is very expensive and the job opportunities thereafter in the U.S. is extremely slim. If you are pursuing after taking loan ,it is not really worth it, as it may be difficult to recover the same in your home country.

At least 10 US law schools cut class sizes

http://www.biglaw.org/news/show/6263/at-least-10-us-law-schools-cut-class-sizes#.T9g85cXRZp4

Another bad sign:

Hastings cuts class size by 20 per cent in response ro ailing industry
http://www.biglaw.org/news/show/6239/hastings-cuts-class-size-by-20-per-cent-in-response-ro-ailing-industry#.T87_i8XRZp4

Hi,
I needed to know about the job opportunities in the states. I have done my M.com [business management] , LLB from India.
I am planning to pursue my LLM in IPR from the US in 2013.
Also guide me about the job opportunities and prospects apart from working in a law firm after my degree eg {working in companies , IT industries, Non-profit organisation etc}
Do , I have to clear the bar exam for it .

Hi,
I needed to know about the job opportunities in the states. I have done my M.com [business management] , LLB from [Mumbai university] India in 2011. I have been practicing on criminal side for past 1 year.
I am planning to pursue my LLM in IPR from the US in 2013.
Also guide me about the job opportunities and prospects apart from working in a law firm after my degree eg {working in companies , IT industries, Non-profit organisation etc}
Do , I have to clear the bar exam for it .