Underemployedlawyer, thank you for your encouraging remark. It has prompted me see the LL.M. Program from a new standpoint i had no idea existed. However, i don't think that it is healthy to even consider that you can be amongst the top 10 students at a top 10 or 20 law school, since the competition is very fierce and you'll most probably wind up terribly disappointed even since the very beginning of the classes. You should just expect to do a good job and everything within your grip while in school and, also, envision yourself in a less ambitious job setting. That attitude could keep you from ending up miserable and contrite.

Most people with LLM cannot find jobs in US even after the NY bar - some even resort to do the JD after the LLM. And the brand name of the university does not count so much as long as they have extensive work experience and unique qualifications to offer.

Most people with LLM cannot find jobs in US even after the NY bar - some even resort to do the JD after the LLM. And the brand name of the university does not count so much as long as they have extensive work experience and unique qualifications to offer.

In short, LL.M. graduate's future is harrowing if they aim at the US market, unless you're an exceptional, brilliant student who has bust his butt in order to outshine among the top 10 students of your class.

In short, LL.M. graduate's future is harrowing if they aim at the US market, unless you're an exceptional, brilliant student who has bust his butt in order to outshine among the top 10 students of your class.

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What should my career path be? I am an engineering manager at age 33 with Electrical Engineering degrees from top US schools, making ~$180K per year in California, own 5 houses over the world. I will be giving up my job and going to Hongkong for a J.D. program (2 years accelerated program) this sep. After that, should I do PLCC in HK and practice there? Should I come back to the US and sit in a bar exam? Should I do a LLM? Should I go for a MBA? Should I go back to my current company and do a more legal related job if I can make $200K at that time? What should I do?

In short, LL.M. graduate's future is harrowing if they aim at the US market, unless you're an exceptional, brilliant student who has bust his butt in order to outshine among the top 10 students of your class.

And that's the same scenario for US JDs as far as BigLaw is concerned.

I'm an average grad from a midlevel first-tier school. I'm still in the US working as a lawyer 4 yrs later, albeit at a small firm and on a modest salary, though I've had some great/fun legal experiences e.g., jury trials and appeals, that I would not have gotten at a large commercial east or west coast firm. However, at 4 yrs post-admission I am now at least getting interviews from substantial regional firms e.g., multi-office California firms, to go do litigation. Something I could never have got straight out of law school. So, it's not all doom n' gloom, provided you don't set your sights so high.

I started on $30,000, which is was market rate for new grads in the southwest region (excl. California) in 2002. That was at a one (1) partner law firm, basically, I was working for a solo practitioner.

I'm still on less than $40,000, but make extra money by picking up my own (criminal defense) clients down at the local courthouse who'll pay anywhere between $400 and $800 for a straightforward misdemeanor defense which pleads out. Of course, I make them pay in cash.

Pretty easy money for a client meeting and one court appearance.