Top Law Schools

AreJay711 wrote:

justwondering123 wrote:

albanach wrote:

justwondering123 wrote:
This is completely wrong, a student can apply to whatever programme they choose. Plus all the schools i have looked at have stated that if one wants a more long term career in the US e.g. wants to reside in the States and work then a JD is a more efficient route to take rather than the LLM which will limit you in the long run.

I'm happy to stand corrected. I guess US schools are happy to take the cash. Effectively you get to pay $250k for a chance at OCI.

It's still maintain that, if you can graduate with a 1st, working in London then transferring will be a safer and cheaper route to the same end.

[s]Yes but again your mistaken, according to reports ([/s]i've had various meetings about this with my personal tutorat my university) in terms of longevityand sufficiency the JD route is a much better path to take, asthen your not simply placing all you've got on that firm, say if that firm fires you? no other firm will take you (hardly likely) you will most likely have to start from scratch again. I think it needs to be remembered that those with a foreign law degree and an LLM will be competing against national students with a FULL law degree. why would a firm want a transfer from another country who has minor knowledge of one of the worlds leading legal systems, over a candidate who has trained for 3 years studying the law and passed the bar with work experience.

What I read.

BrianGriffintheDog wrote:Doesn't law schools in US don't count GPA from foreign universities, except for Canada? And as a result, don't they just look at your LSAT & soft factors to assess your application?

BrianGriffintheDog wrote:Doesn't law schools in US don't count GPA from foreign universities, except for Canada? And as a result, don't they just look at your LSAT & soft factors to assess your application?

justwondering123 wrote:

BrianGriffintheDog wrote:Doesn't law schools in US don't count GPA from foreign universities, except for Canada? And as a result, don't they just look at your LSAT & soft factors to assess your application?

Sorry what was the soft factors I'm all new to this?

albanach wrote:

BrianGriffintheDog wrote:Doesn't law schools in US don't count GPA from foreign universities, except for Canada? And as a result, don't they just look at your LSAT & soft factors to assess your application?

That is pretty much the case - they have a floor which I believe will usually be "Above Average" though schools like HYS might look for a Superior designation. Other than that, your undergraduate degree becomes pretty much irrelevant because there's no useful way to compare to US GPAs.

descartesb4thehorse wrote:

albanach wrote:

BrianGriffintheDog wrote:Doesn't law schools in US don't count GPA from foreign universities, except for Canada? And as a result, don't they just look at your LSAT & soft factors to assess your application?

That is pretty much the case - they have a floor which I believe will usually be "Above Average" though schools like HYS might look for a Superior designation. Other than that, your undergraduate degree becomes pretty much irrelevant because there's no useful way to compare to US GPAs.

Doubt this is the case for T-14s, who probably know quite a bit about the British system. For HYS and to a lesser extent CC, you're probably going to want a first. You might be able to scrape by with a high LSAT (over 172, although to be repetitive, don't assume you can get this without a lot of work) and good softs: work experience, awards/designations, a good undergrad institution, a unique story, interesting major (although you obviously did law), etc. I'm not sure how URM factors into an international application. I would definitely write a diversity statement if it applies to you, but it may not be as big of a boost as it would be for a domestic applicant.

If you did get Columbia, would you (could you?) do the dual with UCL, King's, or the other offered schools to get your LLM? I doubt you'd know right now, but that would be an interesting thing to find out.

justwondering123 wrote:

descartesb4thehorse wrote:

albanach wrote:

BrianGriffintheDog wrote:Doesn't law schools in US don't count GPA from foreign universities, except for Canada? And as a result, don't they just look at your LSAT & soft factors to assess your application?

That is pretty much the case - they have a floor which I believe will usually be "Above Average" though schools like HYS might look for a Superior designation. Other than that, your undergraduate degree becomes pretty much irrelevant because there's no useful way to compare to US GPAs.

Doubt this is the case for T-14s, who probably know quite a bit about the British system. For HYS and to a lesser extent CC, you're probably going to want a first. You might be able to scrape by with a high LSAT (over 172, although to be repetitive, don't assume you can get this without a lot of work) and good softs: work experience, awards/designations, a good undergrad institution, a unique story, interesting major (although you obviously did law), etc. I'm not sure how URM factors into an international application. I would definitely write a diversity statement if it applies to you, but it may not be as big of a boost as it would be for a domestic applicant.

If you did get Columbia, would you (could you?) do the dual with UCL, King's, or the other offered schools to get your LLM? I doubt you'd know right now, but that would be an interesting thing to find out.

I thought the reputation of your undergrad institution doesn't count- its more on the academic factors, so with a superior and a 175 along with good softs- is columbia a reality?


Had I would do the JD programme as I would like to reside in the US long term, and want the majority if not all of my career to be spent there, hence I would pursue this route rather than an LLM and nope I wouldn't do the UCL/KIngs programme as I already have a domestic law degree

AreJay711 wrote:

justwondering123 wrote:

albanach wrote:

justwondering123 wrote:
This is completely wrong, a student can apply to whatever programme they choose. Plus all the schools i have looked at have stated that if one wants a more long term career in the US e.g. wants to reside in the States and work then a JD is a more efficient route to take rather than the LLM which will limit you in the long run.

I'm happy to stand corrected. I guess US schools are happy to take the cash. Effectively you get to pay $250k for a chance at OCI.

It's still maintain that, if you can graduate with a 1st, working in London then transferring will be a safer and cheaper route to the same end.

[s]Yes but again your mistaken, according to reports ([/s]i've had various meetings about this with my personal tutorat my university) in terms of longevityand sufficiency the JD route is a much better path to take, asthen your not simply placing all you've got on that firm, say if that firm fires you? no other firm will take you (hardly likely) you will most likely have to start from scratch again. I think it needs to be remembered that those with a foreign law degree and an LLM will be competing against national students with a FULL law degree. why would a firm want a transfer from another country who has minor knowledge of one of the worlds leading legal systems, over a candidate who has trained for 3 years studying the law and passed the bar with work experience.

What I read.

But good luck OP, assuming you're not trolling. And I think for good answers you may want to call Harvard/Yale/Columbia directly and ask to speak with an admission counselor who can briefly advise you. You will really need to 'kill' the LSAT to have a chance at any of those schools, however, so I would also focus on LSAT prep.