Hello to all!

I am interested in international law and commercial litigation, and I wish to work as a lawyer in litigation and arbitration.

Which of these schools do you think is best? I don't know whether the "US NEWS" ranking is representative of the real reputation and interest of the different schools..
At NYU I was admitted to the "International legal studies" LLM.

I know that NYU has a good reputation in international law, but at the same time, I have heard that since there are so many people there doing an LLM, some law firms do not consider it to be such a good and selective LLM. Do you know to what extent it is true?

What do you guys think about it? Would Chicago be a better choice? I am also very interested in law and economics, but I do not want to become a professor and I guess it is not such a useful course as a lawyer..

Thank you so much for your answers, it is really hard to make a choice! and good luck for your own decisions!

What do you guys think about it? Would Chicago be a better choice? I am also very interested in law and economics, but I do not want to become a professor and I guess it is not such a useful course as a lawyer..

Thanks for the advice! So you think that Chicago has really a better reputation than NYU? is that only for the llm or for the law school also?

Chicago enjoys high reputation among the Americans and is believed to be one of the undervalued law schools. Given that you want to practice law rather than law teaching, just go with NYU, which is the Wall Street lawyers mill. Don't too much about the size of the LLM student body - it doesn't hurt you if you excel in your studies anyways. But if you wish to pursue a JD after LLM, then Chicago or Penn will be a place you should go because of their tranfer policy.

Thanks Pragh! I hadn't thought about the transfer option, frankly I don't think I will want to pursue a JD, so I guess I will probably go to NYU.

But just to be completely informed (one never knows, my plans could change..), do you mean that it is easier to transfer to a JD when you attend Chicago than when you attend NYU, or do you mean it is only possible at Chicago and UPenn and completely impossible to transfer to a JD when you attend NYU?

Also, do you know if the chances of finding a job in the US for one year or so after the LLM would be the same at NYU and at Chicago? (I know they are really small everywhere right now!!)

Thank you so much again!

I would pick Chicago for its smaller LLM program. NYU is too big. UPenn is a good pick too, but imo slightly inferior to UChicago.

I have heard from some current students in Chicago that they lack practical approach in studying and applying law. Like if when you are in UChicago they rather prepare you for teaching but not for private practice.

Thanks spylog, that indeed is useful. I think I will probably choose NYU over Chicago, since I want to practice law and not be a professor, and since I am interested in international law, in which I think NYU has a good reputation.

But does the fact that NYU prepares you for private practice better than Chicago mean that the job prospects after NYU are better? Do employers like NYU graduates?
(I know there are practically no job opportunities right now in the US for people who have only pursued an LLM but it may change in a year and I would only want to stay and work in the US for like a year after finishing my llm...)

thanks a lot!

It is possible to transfer into JD at Chicago and Upenn.

NYU presents much, if not more, job opportunities compared to mid-west regions because of its location and super job placement office.

If what spylog said about Chicago is true, then you should have little problem figuring out where to go - if you can afford the cost of living etc in NYC for a year or two.

I would pick Chicago for its smaller LLM program. NYU is too big. UPenn is a good pick too, but imo slightly inferior to UChicago.

Thanks spylog, that indeed is useful. I think I will probably choose NYU over Chicago, since I want to practice law and not be a professor, and since I am interested in international law, in which I think NYU has a good reputation.

But does the fact that NYU prepares you for private practice better than Chicago mean that the job prospects after NYU are better? Do employers like NYU graduates?
(I know there are practically no job opportunities right now in the US for people who have only pursued an LLM but it may change in a year and I would only want to stay and work in the US for like a year after finishing my llm...)

thanks a lot!

Between them, with Harv-Yale-Stanford-CLS not being in the mix, I would say Chicago as a first choice, it's got a small-scale LLM program, and therefore gives you a wonderful experience.

Thereafter, it's a complete toss-up between NYU or U Penn - I'd choose U Penn but in all reality, there's little to choose between them.

Chicago>UPenn>NYU
I know UPenn is Ivy League and Chicago is not but this is a rare exception. Chicago is famous world-wide while UPenn is more an American thing. If it was not for Wharton people would not have given it as much credit...But Wharton ratings have bee dropping...

Hi Guys, I am in a very similiar situation, having been admitted into Upenn, Chicago and NYU. I am really inclined to go to Chicago, but would choose NYU if they were to give me some type of grant. Does anyone have any ideas what my chances would be if I were to ask NYU for a grant, considering that I have also been admitted into other top schools?

Thanks!

@ spylog : Thanks! Can I ask you which law firm you are working for?

@ Private Equity : Why do you rank NYU third between the three schools?

Thanks a lot!