Hi All,

I have been reading the posts on this forum for a while and the forum seems to have died a little since last years applicants have all received offers and vacated the forum! So I thought I'd post something for 2006 applicants - this is such a foreign and daunting process, it would be good to get to know people and where they are applying. At least then I'd sort of know someone else who was going through the same thing!

So: I'm Jess, I am applying for 10 programs (I've been told if your going to do it, go all out!), and I am starting the applications next week for Chicago and Columbia (rolling admissions and top choices).

Hope to hear from at least someone!

Hi !
My name is Daniel and I am from Germany. I will apply for 5 programs. I will probably focus on Columbia, HLS, Chicago Law school( not Northwestern),University of Illinois and Pennsylvania( or Georgetown).

I will start applying a bit later than you as I actually do not know how you will manage to do that because application material isn't available by now. It think they are going to be released in the beginning of october. Columbia accepts applications from October 3th and Chicago law school don't say anything on its website. As far as I can see most of the top schools will accept applications at the earliest from mid September. But maybe you have better information! Please share your information as I would like to apply as early as possible because I will have my 2. exam in November and I am not as concentrated as I should be. Apparently that's because applications are surfing threough my mind. I really would like to get things fixed. Anyway, where are you from? Are you already working as a lawyer ?

Best wishes

Hi Daniel,

I am from Sydney, Australia and yes, I am practicing. I wrote to Chicago and they will open around 17 September. Yale is open now. What made you choose the law schools you have? Where are you from?

Jess

Hi Jess!

As you might have seen from my last mail I am from Germany. I study in a small student city with around 150000 citizens which is called Regensburg ( lovely and only 1 hour from Munich).
I have chosen these law schools due to a few reasons which I will set out as follows.
I am interested in "Law and Economics" because my dissertation at home(PhD paper) is strongly linked with that field of Law. I think, Chicago is first choice due to my specialization, then Harvard. Uni of Illinois is good as well because Thomas Ulen is teaching there( well known author of a good text book in Law and Economics). Penn and Columbia are good schools in great vibrant cities anyway. I chose not to apply for so much programs because I have a strict vision of my research project. Moreover, I will apply for Oxford University in UK, too. Lots of paper work that I really hate!
Yale has already opened? Anyway,I will not apply there. They have only one place for Germans as I have heard. Therefore, I really do think that chances are low. My grades aren't bad ( under best 5%), but I don't think good enough to have a reasonable chance to get in there as the program is very small( like Standford or Berkeley).
Have you ever heard that Columbia is unfriendly towards foreign students? I have heard rumors...

Best wishes

Daniel

hey all....

i am not applying for 2006 but for 2007 but i keep popping in here to read up. i am from india and still studying. do u have any clue if most colleges have a strict rule about accepting only those who have work experience. as most students, i have a few good internships. also would you suggest that i work for a couple of years before applying? another thing.. just how difficult is it for an international student to get a good job at a reasonably good law firm after an LLM.

hey daniel, does yale actually have reserved number of places for each country? i didnt know that.....

hey daniel, does yale actually have reserved number of places for each country? i didnt know that.....

Hi lawfool!

To answer your question I am not that familiar with the admission criteria of yale. But some Yale LL.M. graduates from Germany told me that they where each year the only German LL.M. on campus. Maybe that was by chance, but I do not think so. Anyway, I don't think that my chances are good there. So I will save the application money and go for a drink instead....

Hi Daniel and Lawfool,

Daniel, I am curious why you want to do a LLM since you will have a PhD by then? At any rate, Chicago looks amazing at it is one of my top choices, but difficult to get into. Re Yale, perhaps the small number of Germans is related to the small program (approx 24 people per year), probably would be the same for lots of countries (including Australia I think!). My biggest concern is funding, I have to cross my fingers and hope I get some assistance.

Lawfool: a few of my friends have been admitted to an LLM with no work experience at all, I suppose it depends on the person and the 'package' they present.

Jess

I will finish my PhD after my LL.M.. It is quite usual in Germany to do both. We receive a "Dr. jur." by doing the dissertation. That should be aquivalent to a PhD.
I will do the LLM mainly to boost my English abilities and to have a deeper insight into Common Law as Germany has a Civil Law system! Moreover, the LLM will help me with my dissertation at home because I can use the LLM thesis or indenpendent research project .
Funding is always an issue. I will apply for a scholarship of German institutions. Of course, everyone should try to get at least a (part-)tuition waiver .

Bye

Hi Daniel and Lawfool,

Daniel, I am curious why you want to do a LLM since you will have a PhD by then? At any rate, Chicago looks amazing at it is one of my top choices, but difficult to get into. Re Yale, perhaps the small number of Germans is related to the small program (approx 24 people per year), probably would be the same for lots of countries (including Australia I think!). My biggest concern is funding, I have to cross my fingers and hope I get some assistance.

Lawfool: a few of my friends have been admitted to an LLM with no work experience at all, I suppose it depends on the person and the 'package' they present.

Jess

Hi all,

I'm from Belgium and also considering to apply for an LL.M. next year. Nice to know some other people are going through the same thing!

I was wondering: do you people consider to use the LSAC for applying? If yes, how long does it take to obtain a LSAC report? Can you look into your own report? Which "grade" did you get are were you happy with this?

I would love to send out my applications by the end of October but still have a hell of a lot of things to do beforehand...

Anyway - hear from you soon!

I registered at LSAC and I would not recommend to do so. The process is taking much too long compared to the effect. I am still waiting for my report although I registered over a month ago...
If you have time trouble, the best wayfor applying will be to directly send all materials to the schools of your choice.

Good luck