can anyone explain to me how LLMs are graded in the states. i know that in the UK cambridge and oxford (and i'm pretty sure at london too) you get first/distinctions, upper seconds/commendations etc. in the US, do you get cum laude, magna cum laude etc grades for the llm? thanks

Generally speaking, in most of the top schools, LLM students are not ranked and at the end of the year, are only given a letter grade or pass/fail note (depending on institution) that is assigned to them in each subject. This may mirror the situation with JD students in some institutions (Yale, for example, doesn't rank its JD students and there is no honors system) while others categorize JD students (magna, cum laude etc). Increasingly though, in the top schools, they are moving towards the Yale system even for JD students. Correct me if I am mistaken, but for example, Harvard and Stanford will be moving to a pass-fail system for JD students next year.