The common way out for LLM graduates to study in the United States

LLM is specially designed for practicing lawyers all over the world. Anyone with a bachelor's degree or above in law can go to the United States to study LLM, but there are usually two kinds of people who study LLM. One is a lawyer with work experience, and the other is a student who just graduated from undergraduate course. So where do LLM graduates want to stay in the United States? Come and see what I made up for you. Welcome to read!

The common way out for LLM graduates to study in America;

LLM takes a short time and can be completed in 9 months. The main teaching content is a brief introduction to the basic legal system and legal system of the United States, with emphasis on the study of legal theory. After LLM graduates, most schools can take bar exams in some parts of the United States, among which NY BAR and CA BAR are the most popular, namely new york Law Exam and California Law Exam.

But LLM's shortcomings are obvious, and its professionalism is not enough! LLM is too basic compared with JD (Doctor of Law). So where is LLM's way out?

First: Go back to China to be a lawyer.

LLM takes a short time, only one year's tuition and living expenses, and the cost of time and money is low. Moreover, domestic law firms and companies recognize LLM's degree. After all, LLM is more like recognition of your English ability, and domestic law firms don't need you to be proficient in European and American legal systems.

So this is the choice of most people. Lawyers with work experience will generally return to China because they have a certain economic base or family in China. However, LLM without work experience is relatively difficult in the United States, as we mentioned above. Of course, LLM is also effective if you want to work in a foreign law firm, but JD will give you more advantages!

Second: Transfer to JD.COM.

Some people, after learning LLM, find it too difficult to find a job in America. Even if I can find a job, my salary is low and I don't want to go back to China. At this point, there is another way out, and that is to go to JD.COM.

Generally, it is transferred to the top level, but the requirements of each school may be different. Some require you to take an LSAT, and some not only don't have to take the LSAT, but also earn credits and graduate early. Some schools may not allow transfer at all, but it still depends on official website's requirements!

Third: Continue to apply for JSD.

SJD/JSD is a research doctor. This program requires applicants to have a master's degree in law before applying. Some law school applicants with JD degrees can also apply for JSD directly without LLM. This project usually lasts 3-5 years. First-year students need to study the course of legal research methodology. After that, students will conduct independent research and complete hundreds of pages of graduation thesis.

Students from American law firms rarely choose LLM graduates if they pass the "Judicial Examination". Even if LLM graduates are admitted, the starting salary is quite different from JD graduates.

LLM Employment Advice in America

Many students have the same requirements for their first jobs as domestic graduates: it doesn't matter if they go to a well-known company, have a good office building, work overtime desperately, and would rather be a small screw.

But is this "halo" really what you want? How much growth have you made behind these repetitive tasks? Is it creative? Is it in line with your long-term career development plan?

Different people have different views on these answers. But "talking to yourself" is an unstoppable process. If you can understand what you want and find the right direction, whether in China or the United States, success is only a matter of time.

In fact, the more common way for LLM graduates to stay in the United States is to stay in law firms run by people in China-they are often short-established, small-scale, low-paid, with uneven customer base and diverse business fields (immigration, real estate, business transactions, corporate legal affairs or civil litigation, etc.). ).

Professional advantages:

1) Training legal skills, such as legal document writing, customer communication, business awareness and management skills;

2) The employer is willing to apply for a work visa for you;

3) Closely linked with income and ability.

It is possible for you to open your own law firm when you are in America in the future. It is also very important that because of the busy business of small law firms and the small number of cases, many cases need lawyers to handle independently. Often, from the time the guest enters the door to the time the case is closed, the client only knows you.

This kind of processing mode is very training and will have a sense of accomplishment. If you change jobs, you will find that your clients will still follow you. It can be said that in a small law firm, you can quickly find the feeling of being a "partner" and a "partner".

We can take a long-term view, abandon the "halo", consider the nature of the legal profession, and pursue our inner desires. Maybe you will find happiness and a sense of accomplishment from your first job. The feeling of being in control every day is unmatched by many positions.

Recommended by LLM study abroad institutions in the United States

Master of Laws, American Law School

1, Yale University

2. Harvard University

3. Stanford University

4. Columbia University

5. new york University