D'oh!

I finished my law studies in Vienna last year and am now studying economics in the same city. I'm quite satisfied with my track record concerning law and am now more or less at the beginning of economics which would then be my second degree. Do you think that (possible) bad grades at my economic courses could have a bad influence on my chances of getting admitted to any good US or UK law school's llm-programme? Or do you think that a second degree in a different but cohesive scientific field is an advantage anyway regardless of grades? Would be very thankful for any answer!

Yours sincerely,
Chief Wiggum

I believe it depends on your second degree grades and your study objectives. If you succeed well in your economics studies, it is very impressive. And if you would go to US to study, for instance, law and economics or antitrust, a degree from cognate field would probably be an advantage.

Thank you very much, tmalmine (what a name)! I really appreciate your thoughts but I can't follow you when you first say that if I did well in my economics studies it would be "very impressive" - which sounds quite affirmative to me; and later on you state that it would only "probably be an advantage". Possible advantage or big plus (or possible disadvantage if I didn't that well)?

These are only my hunches so take them for what they're worth. If you have superb (or even excellent) grades, it will be a considerable advantage - if you want to study something that's related to economics. If, on the other hand, you aspire to study ConLaw in the US, it won't help much. If you don't do well, it will probably be a disadvantage.

Yes, that sounds sensible. So I should better do well, hmm. By the way, where do you study, tmalmine? And what interests do you have in concerns of graduate studying?

I will begin my LL.M. studies at Yale Law School in September. My plan is to finalize my doctoral dissertation on comparative legal history, and to study constitutional law, comparative law, and legal history at Yale. I'm really looking forward to it. Yale suited me best, because the program is so small. It should give plenty of opportunities to discuss my dissertation with Sages at Yale. Cheers.-Toni-

D'oh!

I finished my law studies in Vienna last year and am now studying economics in the same city. I'm quite satisfied with my track record concerning law and am now more or less at the beginning of economics which would then be my second degree. Do you think that (possible) bad grades at my economic courses could have a bad influence on my chances of getting admitted to any good US or UK law school's llm-programme? Or do you think that a second degree in a different but cohesive scientific field is an advantage anyway regardless of grades? Would be very thankful for any answer!

Yours sincerely,
Chief Wiggum

Hi Chief Wiggum,

I am in a very similiar situation to you. I have studied law in Vienna and done a secondary degree in economics abroad. This would be a distinct advantage in my view in applying for US LLM programmes.

Hi Chief Wiggum,
Just a query..
Do grades really matter in law, esp., in the field of litigation if u've to choose?

Law is a matter of experience and wit. Isn't it.
This is for all..

Hi Chief Wiggum,
Just a query..
Do grades really matter in law, esp., in the field of litigation if u've to choose?

Law is a matter of experience and wit. Isn't it.
This is for all..

Hello AJ_Sin,

of course is law a matter of experience and wit but when it comes to applying for ll.m. grades (or track record in general) do(es) surely matter. Definitely. Nearly everybody writing on and reading this board is anxious about getting admitted to his/her favourite law school and hopes that his/her track record is sufficient...

Hi Chief:
Ya i know it does matter, but ukno, stimes due to circumstances u tend to end up not getting upto the mark (as expected by u, that u kno u deserve..) that's wat I meant..thanks anyway..