Stanford > SF:
Total Est. Time: 41 minutes - Total Est. Distance: 35.85 miles

New Haven (CT) > New York City:
Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 42 minutes - Total Est. Distance: 79.60 miles

See Mapquest.com

Happy New Year!

I'd like to know your advice on meeting with a faculty member. Will it increase the chance of getting admitted to the program and what points should I focus on during the meeting?

-tj766

Hi everyone,

I am currently doing my postgraduate degree at Stanford (and also got admitted at others schools).

If any applicant has any question, in particular regarding Stanford (but also some other schools), I'll be glad to do my best to answer and give some help if I can.

Can I take the NY bar with the SPILS? I called Stanford but they did not know what was the answer. Any former student/current applicant having gone through this question please help.

Hi,

I don't think that to speak with a Faculty member will really change anything. The only thing which may help (as with any other school) is if one of your Professors know a Professor from the concerned Faculty. They may talk with each other and, if the concerned Faculty member has some weight, you're pretty sure to get admitted whatever the Law School is.

As to the NY bar, you can take it even if you attend Stanford, provided you take some classes that are deemed ok to pass the bar exam. It's pretty easy. You need two of them, and there are really a lot (even the Introduction to American Law counts for one).

Good luck with all your applications

Does anyone know if Stanford begins sending acceptance letters early? If yes, how early? How many people apply vis a vis acceptances? Do they wait to send all letters simultaneously? Will this year be the same? This is for the IP-Tech LLM. Thanks.

Dear Bitsou:

I would like to know whether a job change (e.g. an offer from a top firm in my home country) will be helpful for me to get admitted. It seems to me that SLS prefers to admit candidates with special backgrounds. I look forward to hearing from you shortly. Thanks.

Best regards,

tj766

Hi everyone,

I am currently doing my postgraduate degree at Stanford (and also got admitted at others schools).

If any applicant has any question, in particular regarding Stanford (but also some other schools), I'll be glad to do my best to answer and give some help if I can.

Hi,

It's obviously not the only relevant criterion, but it's one among others.

Stanford asks each of its graduate students to fill in a form requiring some information as to: the different levels of Universities within the country, the grades which are considered to be good or not, the difficulty to receive prizes and the value of these prizes, the top firms in one country, if it's difficult to get in and what it means to have been working in such a firm for a couple of years.

This means that Stanford has a pretty good idea at the situation in each country where its graduates come from. If it's easy to enter a top firm in your country, Stanford probably knows it and it won't help you. If it's difficult, it probably will help since, apparently and from the form they require us to fill in, it's one of the criteria taken into consideration. Needless to say, your work should either be focused on IP or Corporate Law depending upon the program you want to apply for.

This being said, remember that to attend Stanford, Yale or Harvard or any other top law schook should only be a mean to achieve sth in the future, not a goal in itself...So think about what you really want before changing a law firm where maybe you're happy with your job and atmosphere, for a bigger firm where you however may be disappointed.

Bitsou:

Thanks for your prompt reply. It is very helpful.

Do you think SLS will be concerned about a candidate quitting an excellent job after only 4 or 5 months and enroll in the LL.M. program? Can the concern be overcome by demonstrating why the candidate is determined to study law in SLS? Thanks.

tj766

Hi,

It's obviously not the only relevant criterion, but it's one among others.

Stanford asks each of its graduate students to fill in a form requiring some information as to: the different levels of Universities within the country, the grades which are considered to be good or not, the difficulty to receive prizes and the value of these prizes, the top firms in one country, if it's difficult to get in and what it means to have been working in such a firm for a couple of years.

This means that Stanford has a pretty good idea at the situation in each country where its graduates come from. If it's easy to enter a top firm in your country, Stanford probably knows it and it won't help you. If it's difficult, it probably will help since, apparently and from the form they require us to fill in, it's one of the criteria taken into consideration. Needless to say, your work should either be focused on IP or Corporate Law depending upon the program you want to apply for.

This being said, remember that to attend Stanford, Yale or Harvard or any other top law schook should only be a mean to achieve sth in the future, not a goal in itself...So think about what you really want before changing a law firm where maybe you're happy with your job and atmosphere, for a bigger firm where you however may be disappointed.

Let's just say that the four or five months spent won't be taken into account at least, because they won't have given you any real experience, and thus won't provide you with any added value. In other words, if you want to change firm only for four months to go to Stanford, thinking that it will improve your chances to get admitted, don't do it. You should stay around two years if you want to have a real added value. Besides, if this is a top law firm in your country, they would never bring you back and you may find it hard to sell yourself on your market afterwards.

Hi Bitsou,

May I kindly ask you two more questions:

1) I got admitted to Yale LLM and I am interested in further academic career. However, I would like to take the NY Bar Exam, "just in case". Is there any peculiar requirement as to the choice of subjects for eligibility purposes? Should I consult my choice of subjects with someone at NY Bar in advance, to avoid any disappointment? Is it a lengthy process to consult?

2) Is there any particular source of funding that I could explore at this point to finance studies at Yale (apart from YLS itself) - I am thinking about some institution interested in financing this type of studies.

I apologise if the questions appear to repeat some of the issues raised in other threads - (despite having done one LLM already I just discovered this page a couple of days ago).

Thanks a lot in advance.

Hi,

Congratulations on having been admitted at Yale. It's interesting that you were admitted with already one LLM though; I didn't think it was possible. I also had been admitted at Yale last year but was one of the two guys admitted who declined the offer I think. This being said, I only declined it because Stanford is stronger in IP and that I'm an IP guy, but I wish I could have done both programs...

As to:

1) Don't worry for that. You have plenty of classes which qualify for bar exams such as introduction into American Law (I don't know if this course is given at Yale though), contracts, torts, constit. law, trademark, copyright etc etc, really a lot. And you only need two to qualify which means that it's not a problem at all. You will also receive plenty of information during the year once you're there.

2) This is a much tougher question. You may try Fulbright but I guess it's too late. Otherwise, depending upon your country, Shell offers grants (yes, the company): http://www.shellscholar.org, as well as organizations like Rotary for instance. Otherwise, you may try and address yourself: both to your Embassy in the US and the US Embassy in your country, as well as to your former University (usually there's always someone responsible for grants somewhere who could at least give you some advice). Another advice which is always useful...just browse the net and try to identify Fundations in your country who grant scholarships in a way or the other (through online registers where you could research for instance). I know it's tough...unfortunately, I have no miracle answer or I would have used it myself as well :)

Many thanks, Bitsou. As to the second LLM - I sent you a personal message.

It is a pity, but rejection from Stanford.

oh, sorry to hear that...would you mind letting us know which program was it for?

oh, sorry to hear that...would you mind letting us know which program was it for?

Of course, ir was LLM program Corporate Governance and Practice but unfortunately i was a little bit late with deadline+my scores were less than it was required.

Did you already have a LLM from USA or from another country ?

Did you already have a LLM from USA or from another country ?

Hey all,

I heard that decisions as to the LLM in IP have still not been taken. Apparently, they should be taken early next week. Also, apparently phone interviews will be conducted with everyone (I suppose everyone admitted, not sure about this though), perhaps to make sure that their level of English is sufficient. Anyway, just thought you might want to know. Please let us know if you find out anything else.

Best

Thanks for sharing the info asterion...

Any News guys? Did corp LLM applicant have phone interview?