The value of a postgraduate law degree is based on many factors-the reputation of the university awarding it, the specializations offered, and the quality of instructors. Your success hinges on your commitment to consider all worthy prospects and pick the school that best suits your needs.
More than Rankings
Having acquired a general law degree, you undoubtedly know some "big names" within the legal education sector. And while word-of-mouth advice can be very helpful, there are plenty of lesser-known schools with boundless potential.
Earning an LLM means being able to dedicate your practice to the area of law that interests you most and, as you know, the possibilities are veritably endless. You can become an expert in anything from human rights protection to corporate and finance law.
Perhaps you're intrigued by international business and trade law. Maybe family law is your thing. Whatever direction you choose, you can be confident that a growing number of the world's top law firms seek only those students who commit to taking their legal studies as far as possible.
Here are some important factors to consider when searching for the right LLM program:
- Career opportunities after graduation. Whether you're starting your career or changing fields, the LLM can open doors to your dream career. Choose a program with well-connected advisors who will be able to point you toward career success.
- Fellow students. It inspires confidence when your chosen school's LLM students receive awards and recognition within the legal sector, but it is even better news for a prospective student when those same students also occupy influential positions around the campus and in the outlying community. Find out as much as you can about your would-be peers during this important stage in your search.
- International education. LLM programs, which recently began gaining unprecedented popularity in the United States, often emphasize the importance of practicing law froli>. Location. Where you live is important no matter your profession, but in the legal world, the demand for a particular specialization can vary drastically from region to region.
- Reputation. Although, as previously discussed, a program's reputation is hardly the only qualifying credential, it doesn't hurt to take a law school's ranking and overall reputation into account. Consider only well-known and respected educational journals and indices when gathering statistics.
- Work experience vs. academic credentials.s It is widely known that some postgraduate degree programs rate recent work experience over past academic performance. But before you commit to an LLM program, find out the extent to which your legal experience, involvement in various groups or publications, and pro bono work will matter-it could mean valuable funding and assistantships for you.
The full version of this article originally appeared in Hobsons' LLM Guide.
By Hannah Roberts, staff writer
