I am a foreign educated lawyer (civil law) planning to take an LL.M in the US. I am currently applying for LL.M. Degree in Boalt Hall. What is the chance to get employment in the US after graduating from Berkeley School of Law? I heard that US firms are reluctant to hire a foreign lawyer. On the other hand, Berkeley Law is a very reputable university. Please share your experience. Thanks

Hi,
I was visiting scholar at Berkeley in 2007 and I can tell you that of the LLM class that year (about 50 people) only 2 got a permanent position at a US law firm. They both were specialized in Corporate Law, which is indeed your best bet if you want to work in the US as a foreign educated lawyer. Of course they both had to take the bar exam after completing their LLM.
Although you are certainly right that Berkeley is a very reputable university (in fact, Berkeley's JDs are highly considered in the interview process across the nation and not only), the LLM is not aimed to obtaining a job in the US and is generally not sufficient for that purpose.I would advise you to check previous posts on this topic.
Of course, I don't want to kill your hopes and I am myself the kind of person that thinkss "never say never". It will much depend on your qualification (with regard to previous jobs, your expertise, your LLM grades and reference letters), your adaptability and your enterpreneurial spirit....and of course whether the firms' partners like you as a person. It's a combination of skills and luck, I would say.
Best of luck,
N

Hi,

Thank you very much for your reply.

After taking my both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Civil Law, i know found myself working in a common law country. Though i already have an LL.M Degree, i would love to learn about the common law system. my initial plan is to work in the US for a year or two to apply what i have learnt in an International firm in the US before going back to my country. Seems its not that easy to find a job there.I have checked the previous post as you suggested.
On a separate note, will it greater our chance to be admitted to Berkeley if we already have a master degree? I have stayed in Asia, Europe and Australia before. I really want to experience staying in the US.
Anyway, appreciate you taking time to reply my post :-)

Hi,
I was visiting scholar at Berkeley in 2007 and I can tell you that of the LLM class that year (about 50 people) only 2 got a permanent position at a US law firm. They both were specialized in Corporate Law, which is indeed your best bet if you want to work in the US as a foreign educated lawyer. Of course they both had to take the bar exam after completing their LLM.
Although you are certainly right that Berkeley is a very reputable university (in fact, Berkeley's JDs are highly considered in the interview process across the nation and not only), the LLM is not aimed to obtaining a job in the US and is generally not sufficient for that purpose.I would advise you to check previous posts on this topic.
Of course, I don't want to kill your hopes and I am myself the kind of person that thinkss "never say never". It will much depend on your qualification (with regard to previous jobs, your expertise, your LLM grades and reference letters), your adaptability and your enterpreneurial spirit....and of course whether the firms' partners like you as a person. It's a combination of skills and luck, I would say.
Best of luck,
N