I have applied to UCLA, Cornell and Penn just before the application deadline. I am sure that I am able to get into at least one of them (I have received almost the maximum score in the TOEFL, graduated at the top 2% of my class in law school, have been working for one of the top law firms in my home country,  taught corporate law on an academic level, etc.)

The thing is that I missed NYU's and CLS' application deadlines . Do you think that I should wait another year and apply to these schools or that I should go to UCLA, Cornell or Penn assuming that I will be accepted to one of these schools?

Please note that my main goal is to be able to find a job in the US after graduation.

I really appreciate your opinion in this matter.

 Big M.

Penn is a great school, so assuming you are admitted at Penn, just take the opportunity.

 Please note that my main goal is to be able to find a job in the US after graduation.

I would wait if you can. Target the top schools next year.

Considering that you want to land a job in the US, maybe you should consider the possibility of waiting for next year. Your final decision may take into account many other factors (e.g. field of specialization, location of the school, etc.), but I think you could have a better shot if you were admitted at schools like Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, NYU, UChicago or Georgeotwn.

Getting a job in the US is very difficult. It depends on where your are from. If you are from China, Japan, Germany or South American Conutries, you have more chances to be hired. It doesn't matter which school you go to or whether you pass the bar exam or not.
I just wanted to let you know.
KD

Getting a job in the US is very difficult. It depends on where your are from. If you are from China, Japan, Germany or South American Conutries, you have more chances to be hired. It doesn't matter which school you go to or whether you pass the bar exam or not.
I just wanted to let you know.
KD

They are, to varying degrees, important or emerging legal markets.

To answer figaro,

You have to keep in mind that law frims can survive with revenue from their clients. American clients normally have business with those countries. Therefore, law frims need someone who can communicate and understand culture of working environments in Those countires well. I am not saying that there is 0% from other countries but it is just more difficult. US legal market is so competitive. If you really want to relocate to the US. I would reccomend you to apply for a JD degree.
KD

josepidal:
meaning, that after working for a short period in the states lawyers from those countries usually go back and work for the local office of U.S. law firms? or do U.S. law firms maintain country desks (e.g. chinese or german desk) where foreign lawyers can work permanently?

thx!

More like Latin American practice groups that operate out of New York, due to time zone convenience. They are not necessarily staffed by foreign lawyers in that they will rarely practice local law in a Latin American country.

Most of the LLMs usually get a 1 year trainning at a law firm. From what I know, they will have to return to their home country. I haven't heard that they are offered a position when they leave the US just yet. A permanent position is possible but not likely. You might try to do a job search for a new position at a new lawfirm while your OPT visa is still valid.
KD

josepidal + KD: thx.

I have often heard that doing a JD is better if you want to work in the States permanently. But I dont really understand why that is. Pls correct me if I am wrong, but if you work for a big u.s. law firm (say in finance), you will be able to gain the necessary knowledge by attending courses during your LLM year. The only difference (and again pls correct me if I am wrong) between JDs and LLMs is that JDs have to deal with a lot more subjects (e.g. criminal law, public law etc.) than LLMs. But in the end if you work in banking, you dont need those subjects. As an LLM, you can better tailor your curriculum and focus on necessary subjects for the job.

What do you think?

I think you should read the many ongoing threads on this topic.

there are a lot indeed.

It's largely a time+cost / increased probability of landing a job question. Of course being a JD leads to higher employability.

but I think you could have a better shot if you were admitted at schools like Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, NYU, UChicago or Georgeotwn.

My, what an incredible temper.

Might you be Yueping, now quoting Vault instead of AmLaw?

Not to mention that Georgetown's website specifically says that their own LLM program is nor recommended if you wish to take the NY bar...

For info, there are already a number of students at Penn Law this year who secured a job in NY already, and yes, in Vault top 10 law firms. And no, I am not talking about a lame 1-year internship, but full Associate positions in NY firms.