Scroll Top

Join thousands of law students - it's free

How to choose a U.S. LL.M. program

Related Articles

Professor George Edwards of Indiana University urges foreign students choosing a school for their LL.M. to “make the choice based on what is important to them in a law school, not based on what other people consider the rankings of the law schools.”

Edwards has traveled the world speaking to law students, university personnel and U.S. embassy officials to champion the idea that students should seek out LL.M. programs in the United States. Now he has also written a book coming out next spring with Aspen Publishers titled “Foreign Student Roadmap to a U.S. Master of Laws.” According to Edwards, some 130 law schools in the United States offer LL.M.’s to international students, and he has singled out 200 different criteria in his book to use for choosing among them.

Among questions he tells students to ask themselves: “Are you going to have to write a thesis or just take courses? How many credits do you have to earn? What’s the grading scheme like? Some schools are more generous; some are harder. Will the school offer career development to help you find a job? What are the facilities like on campus? What do they charge? Some schools actually charge LL.M. candidates more than J.D. students.”

But Edwards also urges schools be more upfront about what students will get from their U.S. degree.

“They need to say, ‘We can offer you A and B, but not C,’” Edwards said. “Sometimes a student can have a bad experience when there is not a meeting of the minds. That can happen when the students have one set of expectations and the school has another set. Schools should advertise clearly what they offer. Some students may want help from a career office; others may plan to go back to their old law firm. Some schools may be grooming candidates to be professors; others are training students to work at the U.N. Do research on the school and find out what is best for you.”

One of the biggest letdowns for many students, Edwards said, is that after their earning an LL.M. they can’t find work in America for the year of optional practical training that their visas usually allow. They have come to the United States hoping for a degree plus one year of job experience before going home.
“Out of 100 students, five will usually get positions,” he said.

A current problem is the economy, of course. Positions have dropped off, and schools are busy finding jobs for their own American J.D. candidates.

Rosie Edmond, assistant director of admissions for international legal studies at the Washington College of Law at American University, advises potential applicants to do extensive research and avoid magazine rankings.

“Look at the programs, the faculty, student population; talk to alums from your country,” she says. “Go to EducationUSA advising centers funded by the U.S. State Department. They’re free and they’re unbiased.”

Her school’s LL.M. program is made up primarily of international students, mostly Asians and Middle East residents, with 120 starting in the fall and another 30 to 40 in the spring. Students can take courses in eight different legal areas and have the option of specializing.

Mark Shulman, assistant dean in graduate programs at Pace University in New York City, also suggests that students think about where in the United States they want to study.

“We’re in a great metropolitan area with daily interactions and networking that will expand students’ exposure greatly. Being in a global city is a unique way to start your career,” he said. “Students should also look for a teaching culture and environment in which they’ll thrive. Pace has a small campus with very supportive teaching.”

At Pace, students can do an LL.M. in comparative legal studies or follow three different tracks in environmental studies: traditional environmental topics, climate change and land use and sustainable development. The school now has 65 students in its LL.M. program.

Other smaller programs have distinct specialties. St. Thomas University School of Law offers an LL.M. in intercultural human rights, open to both Americans and international students. Out of 24 credits needed for the degree, said Professor Roza Pati, almost all must be in human rights studies. The school can take about 25 international students in the program.

Successful applicants, she said, should have strong academic backgrounds, outstanding recommendations and a good knowledge of English.

“They need to be passionate as well about human rights and solving problems in society,” she said.

The LL.M. program at the University of Pennsylvania Law School has 1,200 applicants each year for 100 spots. Matthew Parker, assistant dean for graduate programs, said about a third of the students are from China and Japan, a third from Europe and nearby areas like Turkey, and a third from the rest of the world, including Central and South America, India, Pakistan and Africa.

To stand out among the many applicants, he recommends that students emphasize their English language ability when applying and work to score high on the TOEFL test.

“When you have grades and transcripts sent in, if something is unusual or different about these forms, explain what’s going on,” Parker said. “Explain the grading systems. Try to get those who write your recommendations to talk about why you would do well and how you will fit in.”

admin

admin

Digital Magazine
Newsletter Signup
Related Articles

Get unlimited access

Get a premium subscription to the National Jurist for less than $2 a month.