Hello everyone,

Does anyone has any input on the job fairs offered by NYU and Columbia for LL.M. students each January?

Do U.S. law firms actually recruit LL.M. students through these job fairs for their U.S. officers, or rather only to their offices outside the U.S based on the nationality of the candidate?.

Do you know whether employers value one job fair over another? Columbia only allows for a limited number of schools to participate and hence, at least in theory, should be valued more by potential employers?

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks and good luck to us all.

Hey there!

There is a number of positions offered for the US market as well, but most of the offices for which they are recruiting are outside of the US, very informal estimate would be 20 - 80 %.

Rumor I've heard from different sources is that Columbia's fair is more 'professional', but I have no clue what's that supposed to mean.

Same employers can participate in both and my guess is that the ones that do so choose by gathering their impressions of interviewees from both fairs and then making a decision.

So in bottom line, it's up to you and your credentials (which also include the school where you are doing your LLM).

Now that I think of it, Columbia's fair may have the advantage of fewer people attending, so that interviewers are not as beat by the end of the day... Seems irrelevant but I would say that there is a difference in the last candidate being the 15th in the day or the 45th, simply regarding the concentration and stamina of the interviewers.

Having went through all manner of job fairs while doing my LLM, I would say at best 40% are looking for people in positions within the US. What they are really looking for is people who have good connections with their home country and can help them in that market. How it is usually structured is they take you on board for a year in the US and hope to manage that relationship with you when you return home.

Obviously your home country can be a big help for you in this situation. So if you have ties to China and Latin America, this is a big help whereas European countries, not so much.

If you think about it, why would they take an LLM over a JD all things being equal. So unless you are an amazing candidate, or have really important connections/experience in your home country, these job fairs are typically going to be a waste of your time.

I second the previous post.
It really helps if you practice Corporate or International Arbitration.

But don't count on getting a job at either fair.