Hello everyone....if you don't already recognise my username from previous posts, I am a 3rd (and final) year LLB student in the UK. I lived in the States for 5 years before starting university and would like to return sometime.

On that note, is it better for me to do an LLM and then try to find a job in, say, NY or CA?

Or should I do an LLM (in America), obtain a training contract in the UK, qualify as a solicitor and then move to the States in some years down the line?

OR...should I forget about pursuing an LLM, qualify as a solicitor in the UK and then try to find a job in the States?

Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks :-)

**Yes I am aware of the restrictions surrounding LLM degrees and the limitations of States in which I can practise.

Hello everyone....if you don't already recognise my username from previous posts, I am a 3rd (and final) year LLB student in the UK. I lived in the States for 5 years before starting university and would like to return sometime.

On that note, is it better for me to do an LLM and then try to find a job in, say, NY or CA?

Or should I do an LLM (in America), obtain a training contract in the UK, qualify as a solicitor and then move to the States in some years down the line?

OR...should I forget about pursuing an LLM, qualify as a solicitor in the UK and then try to find a job in the States?

Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks :-)

**Yes I am aware of the restrictions surrounding LLM degrees and the limitations of States in which I can practise.

There is one more thing you should be aware of: There are almost no jobs in the US at the moment for non US lawyers...therefore, I think it might be better to gain work experience in the uk first...

Ummm thanks for the reply. However it would be much greatly appreciated if you would give me an actual realistic answer. It was only a few weeks ago that I asked a lady who used to work for Skadden and is now at White & Case who suggested I do an LLM. Of course, if there were indeed "almost no jobs" for non-US lawyers she would have told me that......

If you want to work in the US market (especially for any extended period of time), it will be very tough without any US admission. Getting an LLM at an American school is a popular way to become to become eligible for the bar (particularly NY bar). However, I think (for most such states) you must already be qualified in your home country to take advantage of this option.

TBH, if you are able to get a TC, I would go with that (so much the better if it is with a firm with an American presence), given the volatility of the whole job market right now. Then you can go for the LLM somewhere down the line if you are still so inclined. I am of the opinion that lawyers with a couples years' experience stand to benefit the most from doing an LLM, because they often have a clearer idea of what they would like to get out of it.

And please don't dismiss the previous poster. The US legal job market -- as in the UK -- is in a pretty bad state. Securing a job in the US will be difficult, and very much more so if you do not have a bar admission or a realistic path to obtaining one.

If you want to work in the US market (especially for any extended period of time), it will be very tough without any US admission. Getting an LLM at an American school is a popular way to become to become eligible for the bar (particularly NY bar). However, I think (for most such states) you must already be qualified in your home country to take advantage of this option.

TBH, if you are able to get a TC, I would go with that (so much the better if it is with a firm with an American presence), given the volatility of the whole job market right now. Then you can go for the LLM somewhere down the line if you are still so inclined. I am of the opinion that lawyers with a couples years' experience stand to benefit the most from doing an LLM, because they often have a clearer idea of what they would like to get out of it.

And please don't dismiss the previous poster. The US legal job market -- as in the UK -- is in a pretty bad state. Securing a job in the US will be difficult, and very much more so if you do not have a bar admission or a realistic path to obtaining one.

I would also support the training contract route. Though in England it is the most common (and some would argue only) route to qualification, in America students come right out of law school, often with no firm experience, as qualified lawyers. The valuable training and hopefully the firm experience post-qualification that you gain in England will only be to your advantage when applying for both LLMs (you will get into a better school), and also better firms. Trust me, I know; I'm a dual American-British citizen who has an LLB and just passed the NY Bar. There are no jobs! lol

If you want to work in the US market (especially for any extended period of time), it will be very tough without any US admission. Getting an LLM at an American school is a popular way to become to become eligible for the bar (particularly NY bar). However, I think (for most such states) you must already be qualified in your home country to take advantage of this option.

TBH, if you are able to get a TC, I would go with that (so much the better if it is with a firm with an American presence), given the volatility of the whole job market right now. Then you can go for the LLM somewhere down the line if you are still so inclined. I am of the opinion that lawyers with a couples years' experience stand to benefit the most from doing an LLM, because they often have a clearer idea of what they would like to get out of it.

And please don't dismiss the previous poster. The US legal job market -- as in the UK -- is in a pretty bad state. Securing a job in the US will be difficult, and very much more so if you do not have a bar admission or a realistic path to obtaining one.

Thank you for the support...

I would also support the training contract route. Though in England it is the most common (and some would argue only) route to qualification, in America students come right out of law school, often with no firm experience, as qualified lawyers. The valuable training and hopefully the firm experience post-qualification that you gain in England will only be to your advantage when applying for both LLMs (you will get into a better school), and also better firms. Trust me, I know; I'm a dual American-British citizen who has an LLB and just passed the NY Bar. There are no jobs! lol

If you want to work in the US market (especially for any extended period of time), it will be very tough without any US admission. Getting an LLM at an American school is a popular way to become to become eligible for the bar (particularly NY bar). However, I think (for most such states) you must already be qualified in your home country to take advantage of this option.

TBH, if you are able to get a TC, I would go with that (so much the better if it is with a firm with an American presence), given the volatility of the whole job market right now. Then you can go for the LLM somewhere down the line if you are still so inclined. I am of the opinion that lawyers with a couples years' experience stand to benefit the most from doing an LLM, because they often have a clearer idea of what they would like to get out of it.

And please don't dismiss the previous poster. The US legal job market -- as in the UK -- is in a pretty bad state. Securing a job in the US will be difficult, and very much more so if you do not have a bar admission or a realistic path to obtaining one.

Qualifying takes two years. You get experience, money and qualification as lawyer. The LLM will do a lot more for you after that!!!!

"Ummm thanks for the reply. However it would be much greatly appreciated if you would give me an actual realistic answer. It was only a few weeks ago that I asked a lady who used to work for Skadden and is now at White & Case who suggested I do an LLM. Of course, if there were indeed "almost no jobs" for non-US lawyers she would have told me that...... "

As an attorney working in New York and a former White & Caser, I find it odd in the extreme that someone would fail to tell you that the US legal job market is abysmal right now. To take one example, almost all of my friends from White & Case have since been laid off. A friend at another firm was recently laid off the week before he started paternity leave. Firms are simply not hiring to any real extent right now. And the people they are hiring are typically laterals who are already at another big firm. So, I'm not surprised that your friend was able to move from Skadden to W&C, but I wouldn't count on being able to break into either one of them as a newly-admitted attorney, at least not until the economy seriously picks up.

Anyway, to get to your question, I would say your best bet in breaking into the US market would be to (1) do whatever you need to do to be admitted as a solicitor in the UK, (2) work at a firm for a year or two to get some experience, then (3) get an LLM in the US. If you are already admitted and can practice in the UK, you are worth a lot more than if you merely have a UK LLB, especially if you are trying to get a job with one of the international firms.

But, please, whatever you do, stay away from White & Case. And send my condolances to your friend for being stuck there.

LOL NYC Charles,

W&C reputation in London is indeed scary. I used to want to work for them but after what I have been reading in the press it is no good!

If you want to work in the US market (especially for any extended period of time), it will be very tough without any US admission. Getting an LLM at an American school is a popular way to become to become eligible for the bar (particularly NY bar). However, I think (for most such states) you must already be qualified in your home country to take advantage of this option.

TBH, if you are able to get a TC, I would go with that (so much the better if it is with a firm with an American presence), given the volatility of the whole job market right now. Then you can go for the LLM somewhere down the line if you are still so inclined. I am of the opinion that lawyers with a couples years' experience stand to benefit the most from doing an LLM, because they often have a clearer idea of what they would like to get out of it.

And please don't dismiss the previous poster. The US legal job market -- as in the UK -- is in a pretty bad state. Securing a job in the US will be difficult, and very much more so if you do not have a bar admission or a realistic path to obtaining one.

Thank you for the support...

Lol I didn't intend to be mean or rude in any sort of way...I am just very weary of exaggerations or misconceptions (I'm not saying you did either of those) surrounding job markets as I am not in it.