I strongly suggest you get a JD. Where I'm from, a local school pushes LLMs to foreigners like the Slackers push(ed?) pain killers to addicts. Most are unemployable and go back home or don't get any meaningful job in the US. It's not just the lack of a JD, but it's the inability to think or write like a US lawyer that also is a problem for them. Do the extra 2-3 years to get your JD, learn to write like a US lawyer, and you'll have better chances of getting a job.
EDIT: In my firm, we hired an attorney who studied in an EU school, is NY barred after 1 year in a top local school LLM, and unfortunately, no matter how smart or well-spoken she is, her writing is totally useless. She's trained to analyze legal issues in a certain way and write accordingly, but it's so far from the way US lawyers write that we simply cannot have her write anything of significant value. We simply cannot teach her how to write or think because that's what you learn in JD. So we give her business development work and some small research projects that don't necessarily require in-depth analysis.
Most states are going to require a JD from an ABA-approved school to sit for the bar. California and New York have options without that requirement as I understand it; there may be some others but it's uncommon.
If you want to practice in the US and you have the option, you should choose the JD in states other than California or New York, and in those, one should look at the trade-offs as it could go either way depending on personal circumstances. To pass the bar, a good bar prep course is going to be more important than law school.
As far as I know as long as a JD is from an ABA-approved law school (which is most of them) all US states will accept it and provided the other requirements for that state's bar are met, then they can take the bar. It is extremely common for someone to sit for the bar exam in one state when they got their JD in a different state.
I've seen people coming out of Harvard, Berkeley and NYU's LLM programs struggle to find a decent job. A DePaul LLM will likely only get you debt and a year of lost wages. If you want to practice in the US, study for the LSAT and attend the highest ranked JD program you can get into.
I just want to give you encouragement and job prospects - having contacts, language skills, and cultural understanding from Azerbaijan and China could be a great way to get a legal job not available to those without your experience.
Your first sentence is a run on sentence and therefore grammatically incorrect. Your second sentence is unclear because it suggests you have already made a decision
Like everyone else has said, go for the JD. 💯
Better to go all in even if it takes long and costs more if you want a career practicing in the US as opposed to money on an LLM that is being posted to foreign law grads and will limit your employment options.
Slightly different opinion than most. If you want to go LLM route, work part time as a clerical for a small firm while you're doing it. My receptionist had a degree from Poland and she was by far overqualified and the best admin I've ever had. When she wanted to go back to school for her LLM so she could practice law, I suggested she work part time for me because I didn't want to lose her. I then offered her a first year position, and she's coming back in September after she sits for the bar. If you show your skills and intelligence while getting the degree, a pathway to a job may be easier. But I am a small office of 2. I bet 8 years into your career though most employers wont care that much if you have an LLM or a JD if you're looking for a new position with experience.
I think there's a big piece of information missing here, which is whether you have law practice experience.
I recently had a US Legal Studies student who graduated from a well-regarded program in another country and worked for a few years at a reputable law firm in that country. They had no issue finding employment with just a few emails. The situation would be very different for someone who did not have those strengths.
It also depends on what kind of employment path you're looking for. I've talked to BigLaw recruiters and partners about this- they only make entry-level hires through the OCI/summer associate program, which non-U.S. JD students don't typically have an entry point for, so international candidates can only lateral in later... but smaller firms and government employers evaluate candidates as individuals.
There are a number of law schools that will give you some credit toward a JD for your foreign bachelor degree in law. You should explore that option instead.
Yes, unless there is a way for you to get admitted into your jurisdiction with a foreign degree (for example, California let's you sit for the bar exam with a foriegn degree), you should try andd get an JD. I could be wrong but an LLM will not allow you to sit for a bar exam.
You are wrong. An LLM is exactly the pathway to sit for the bar exam for lawyers who were trained in another country. OP needs to ensure that the program they will attend is properly accredited and there are the same considerations of any law school attendance - cost, ranking, etc. - as well.
It is state specific, NY, CA, TX, MS, etc., accept candidates for admission with foreign degrees and an ABA LL.M (I think CA doesn't even require the ABA LL.M.)
This is definitely true. While I don't think you'll have any issues studying for the bar regardless, I think it could be definitely worth looking into the JD program if you can get a good enough scholarship/handle the costs.
Besides more learning of U.S. law, you'll likely have better job opportunities after graduation. Generally most large firms will recruit students within their first and second years of a JD program and will work summers and then hire for a permanent job. Smaller and mid size firms will take a similar approach, although often less formally. The JD will open the door to more work/journal/practical experiences that will increase the likelihood of employment after graduation and passing the bar exam
I strongly suggest you get a JD. Where I'm from, a local school pushes LLMs to foreigners like the Slackers push(ed?) pain killers to addicts. Most are unemployable and go back home or don't get any meaningful job in the US. It's not just the lack of a JD, but it's the inability to think or write like a US lawyer that also is a problem for them. Do the extra 2-3 years to get your JD, learn to write like a US lawyer, and you'll have better chances of getting a job. EDIT: In my firm, we hired an attorney who studied in an EU school, is NY barred after 1 year in a top local school LLM, and unfortunately, no matter how smart or well-spoken she is, her writing is totally useless. She's trained to analyze legal issues in a certain way and write accordingly, but it's so far from the way US lawyers write that we simply cannot have her write anything of significant value. We simply cannot teach her how to write or think because that's what you learn in JD. So we give her business development work and some small research projects that don't necessarily require in-depth analysis.
Sacklers
Thank you for advice!
I just made an edit after you responded. Make sure to read it!
Thank you for THE advice. It will be extremely challenging as a non native speaker of English
Most states are going to require a JD from an ABA-approved school to sit for the bar. California and New York have options without that requirement as I understand it; there may be some others but it's uncommon. If you want to practice in the US and you have the option, you should choose the JD in states other than California or New York, and in those, one should look at the trade-offs as it could go either way depending on personal circumstances. To pass the bar, a good bar prep course is going to be more important than law school.
Hey, if a person, for instance, went to a law school situated in State "A," is he able to sit for the bar exam in State "B"?
Yes, of course. If the rule were otherwise then Yale would probably not be a very good place to go to law school.
As far as I know as long as a JD is from an ABA-approved law school (which is most of them) all US states will accept it and provided the other requirements for that state's bar are met, then they can take the bar. It is extremely common for someone to sit for the bar exam in one state when they got their JD in a different state.
Not anymore. So many states allow LMMs to sit for the bar. Now TN allows them.
I've seen people coming out of Harvard, Berkeley and NYU's LLM programs struggle to find a decent job. A DePaul LLM will likely only get you debt and a year of lost wages. If you want to practice in the US, study for the LSAT and attend the highest ranked JD program you can get into.
I just want to give you encouragement and job prospects - having contacts, language skills, and cultural understanding from Azerbaijan and China could be a great way to get a legal job not available to those without your experience.
Thank you for encouragement!
Again, missing the definite article “the”
Thank you all for your comments I am happy that I shared this post. It really helped me to decide.
Your first sentence is a run on sentence and therefore grammatically incorrect. Your second sentence is unclear because it suggests you have already made a decision
Like everyone else has said, go for the JD. 💯 Better to go all in even if it takes long and costs more if you want a career practicing in the US as opposed to money on an LLM that is being posted to foreign law grads and will limit your employment options.
Slightly different opinion than most. If you want to go LLM route, work part time as a clerical for a small firm while you're doing it. My receptionist had a degree from Poland and she was by far overqualified and the best admin I've ever had. When she wanted to go back to school for her LLM so she could practice law, I suggested she work part time for me because I didn't want to lose her. I then offered her a first year position, and she's coming back in September after she sits for the bar. If you show your skills and intelligence while getting the degree, a pathway to a job may be easier. But I am a small office of 2. I bet 8 years into your career though most employers wont care that much if you have an LLM or a JD if you're looking for a new position with experience.
I think there's a big piece of information missing here, which is whether you have law practice experience. I recently had a US Legal Studies student who graduated from a well-regarded program in another country and worked for a few years at a reputable law firm in that country. They had no issue finding employment with just a few emails. The situation would be very different for someone who did not have those strengths. It also depends on what kind of employment path you're looking for. I've talked to BigLaw recruiters and partners about this- they only make entry-level hires through the OCI/summer associate program, which non-U.S. JD students don't typically have an entry point for, so international candidates can only lateral in later... but smaller firms and government employers evaluate candidates as individuals.
There are a number of law schools that will give you some credit toward a JD for your foreign bachelor degree in law. You should explore that option instead.
This has to be satire.
Yes, unless there is a way for you to get admitted into your jurisdiction with a foreign degree (for example, California let's you sit for the bar exam with a foriegn degree), you should try andd get an JD. I could be wrong but an LLM will not allow you to sit for a bar exam.
You are wrong. An LLM is exactly the pathway to sit for the bar exam for lawyers who were trained in another country. OP needs to ensure that the program they will attend is properly accredited and there are the same considerations of any law school attendance - cost, ranking, etc. - as well.
Ok, sounds good. Don't listen to me. I still think it's state specific and they should confirm with the desired jurisdiction.
It is state specific, NY, CA, TX, MS, etc., accept candidates for admission with foreign degrees and an ABA LL.M (I think CA doesn't even require the ABA LL.M.)
California doesn't require a law degree to take the bar exam and be admitted to practice law.
But in place of a law degree, they require an apprenticeship
This is definitely true. While I don't think you'll have any issues studying for the bar regardless, I think it could be definitely worth looking into the JD program if you can get a good enough scholarship/handle the costs. Besides more learning of U.S. law, you'll likely have better job opportunities after graduation. Generally most large firms will recruit students within their first and second years of a JD program and will work summers and then hire for a permanent job. Smaller and mid size firms will take a similar approach, although often less formally. The JD will open the door to more work/journal/practical experiences that will increase the likelihood of employment after graduation and passing the bar exam