Hello Everyone, My name is Mustafa and I’m from Egypt. I received a fellowship to finance a study of a masters degree in the U.S. for up to two years. However I’m deciding between a one year LL.M. and a Two-Year JD. JD normally require three years of postgraduate study in the U.S., however as my undergraduate study is in law this will qualify some of my law study to be counted and will allow me to finish the JD in just two years.

The universities I applied to to study a LLM and their application status are the following:

Boston University | LLM in American Studies (Accepted)
Northeastern University | General LLM (accepted)
University of Pennsylvania | LLM (late application and will be considered for a spot in the waiting list)

And the universities I applied to to study a Two-Year JD and their application status are as follows:

University of Arizona James Rogers College of Law | Advanced JD (no response yet)
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law | Global Access JD Application (acceptance received and a scholarship is offered too)
University of Richmond School of Law | JD for International Attorneys (acceptance received)

The LLM universities I’m applying to are better ranked than the JD ones, but the LLM will, in best scenario, allow NY bar exam (maybe CA and MA too). However I can’t decide which of these provide better employment opportunities in the U.S. I hear a lot that a JD is way better than a LLM for employment even with a bar license.

I don’t know which to choose (

Mustafa

Hi Mustafa,

In such a case, I would prefer an LL.M. rather than a 2-year JD. The offers you received are pretty much good. Please DO NOT make a decision based on what you hear. A friend of mine, BU graduate, is now working in a well-known law firm in Boston.

If you hear from Penn Law, then, in my opinion, it is the best choice (Ivy League U). If not, then, in your case, Northeastern U is the second best choice.

After the completion of your diploma, I would suggest that you should consider applying to another LL.M. (different specialization) OR once you made your decision, try to find out if there is a dual degree at your chosen one. You'll probably figure that out later. This is how I see it.

Wish you the best,

Hi Mustafa, 

Which one of the options did you select?

Personally, I have been considering a 2 year JD, however I have received a scholarship for one year only. As such, I have to go with the LLM. Despite that you may have attended the LLM at UPenn (which is an Ivy League), if you want to practice in the U.S. a JD would probably give you higher chances of employment (especially if you make it to the top of the class).