Hi! I am a U.S. citizen who has been living in Europe for the last 10 years with a law degree from the top law school in Spain and I am the only American to have ever won the top student prize in law. I am also U.K. qualified and have 3 years post qualification experience in international finance with top law firms in Europe as well as having been published. I intend to return to the U.S. to be closer to my family and would like to get a LLM. Do you think that I would have problems with finding employment in the U.S. with a LLM? Thank you very much for your imput!

I guess that the only advantage of you being American would be that you won't have to bother for the visa papers. Other than that, my understanding is that you'll be faced with the same problem as any other foreign attorney wishing to work in the US : nowadays the market's tougher than ever and it's very difficult for LLM students to find positions in the US as they are competing with US trained attorney (i.e. with a JD). On the other hand, there are always unexpected opportunities, so no one can tell for sure! If you've worked with "top law firms in Europe", isn't it possible that you be sent to the US by your own law firm for a permanent position?

You will have a huge advantage of your qualifications. You may go for LL.M and possibly you may be charged in-State tuition which may be very low; After LL.M, you may either decide to transfer to JD or appear in the BAR Exam (with a foreign law degree, most of the States need 24 credits hours study from ABA approved law school).

You may also consider Faculty position with law schools in USA.

I don't understand the premise for nriattorneys response above, in that I don't see what is the advantage, of being a US Citizen, if you have a foreign degree, your degree remains "foreign" regardless of whether or not you are "not foreign" :)

The only advantage, and that only, over other foreign degree holders is that you are probably a native english speaker as opposed to most other LLM candidates (or holders) who come from non-English speaking jurisdicitions; but this does not change the nature of your qualifications. I will only help you interview better (if you get an interview, that is).

as to "in-state" tuition, there is no such thing when it comes to LL.M. programs, even state residents pay the same fee as non-residents.

I don't see how you are qualified to join a law schools faculty merely by being a US Citizen.

As to the BAR or tranferring into a JD program, again don't see the advantage of being a US Citizen, anybody who meet the criteria and has the money can do so as well (with the exception that as a Citizen you qualify for most FAFSA and student loan programs).