Hi there,
thinking of applying for an LL.M. next year. Did anybody of you who already applied, applied via the Law School Admission Council? If yes, do you recommend it? If no, why? What "credential evaluation" did you obtain? Thanks for your help!

Hi, I have used the LSAC services, basically because when I applied, the NYU LL.M. program was requiring foreign graduates to use this service (not now). It was also rather convenient, because I have to send only one set of translated documents (and for me, it meant to save a lot of money, as I did all my studies in France, and I have 2-3 pages of transcripts for each year, and one page costs around 30 euros minimum, so..). My evaluation was "above average".

Thanks for the response! May I ask you to which universities you all applied? Did you get accepted?

I applied to Yale, Harvard, Columbia, New York, Cornell, Michigan, George Washington, Wake Forest and Missouri- Columbia. I've got offers from Michigan and Missouri-Columbia. I'm still wating for other schools' decisions. Where would you like to go?

Hi Maria

I wish to apply for an LL.M for the 2006 session.Pls advice on possible sources of funding it.I am in the final yr of LL.B.Do you think a yr or two of working experience will do lot of good before pursuing an LL.M ?
Thank you

Hi Lawyer,

About your question of whether it is better to have some work experience, my personal experience teaches me a great lesson that having some work experience is critical or, more conservatively speaking, definitely helpful.

I think you can base your assessment of the need of work experience on the reasons/goals you want to pursue an LLM. If you are not American JD degree holder and your goal is to work in the US after obtaining LLM, work experience is VERY VERY helpful, if not a must. American law frims do not tend to hire foreign LLMs; but if they do, they will hire someone from countries they have business/clients with. And needless to say, if they want to hire foreign lawyers, they want those "experienced".

However, even if you do not plan to work in US after LLM, work experience will still be very helpful for your application. If you did extremely well in your LLB and have outstanding credentials from extracurricular activities, you may not need work experience to prove your potential to be successful in American law schools. Besides, work experience will help you get more from your LLM study.

Again, work experience is not a must, and whether you need it really depends on your personal goal. For example, I got admission from Cornell even before I finished my LLB, and I know people who get admission to NYU, UPenn, Michigan, etc. w/o any work experience. However, if I can go back of time (I'm dreaming), I am pretty sure that I would get some work experience before I applied.

About working experience: I have not got a "real" working experience, as a lawyer. But I worked for two years as a law clerk (part-time) and especially, I did two internships, at the ICC and at an international law firm. I think these internships were more than useful, in terms of being sure in what area I would like to specialize, what subjects I would like to take etc. When you have just graduated from the law school, you do not necessarily know what is the real practice in the field you liked in the school. So some practical experience is definitely useful. As for having worked as a lawyer, my impression is that in order to GET a job within an international law firm, when you do not have a common law background, you must have an LL.M. on your resume. Please, correct me if I'm not right.

Hi Maria,

You said you had two internships with the ICC. Were they difficult to obtain? Could you please tell me more, regarding your application to them? Did you have a first class law degree? What do they need in order to be accepted to such internships?

Hi Maria,
Thankzs a ton for that clarification on a work ex !!!!I have clarity in my mind on that count....What is ur suggestion on possible funding a US LL.M?I have had 1 year's internship at 3 different forums....but i take ur adive that i shld think of an LL.M only after a work ex..
Cheers

Hi Peggyw 77
Ur insights into work ex before an LL.M was amazing
Thanks for the same

I think that a work experience is helpful only is it's supported by high GPA. I have almost 9 years of experience in a biggest bank in my country, ECHR and in an international law firm and it didn't help me much. At least I almost lost any hope to hear from NYU.