Can you consider having a successful law career abroad with JD degree? Forum

[yeah]

Has someone in this forum considered graduating in Law School+A master degree in Inrenational Law and aimed a successful career in any part of the globe or is JD degree valuable only in USA?

[eagle2a]

maybe if your degree is from Harvard/Yale

[Nekrowizard]

.

[yeah]

Has someone in this forum considered graduating in Law School+A master degree in Inrenational Law and aimed a successful career in any part of the globe or is JD degree valuable only in USA?

I know a few people from my HYS who are starting at foreign offices of American firms. I don't know if that's what you were thinking of. They do not have any degrees in International Law or anything besides JDs, as far as I know.

Did they have a hard time getting there? You think they have perspective there?

[Manali]

An alum from my school works at an NGO in Haiti. It absolutely is possible. Very difficult to do, however.

[yeah]

An alum from my school works at an NGO in Haiti. It absolutely is possible. Very difficult to do, however.

In what sense u mean it's difficult?

[Manali]

An alum from my school works at an NGO in Haiti. It absolutely is possible. Very difficult to do, however.

In what sense u mean it's difficult?

Career Services offices are not that well-informed about international opportunities in NGOs, so you have to be self-directed in your job search. In addition, summer opportunities are routinely unpaid, and it is challenging to find funding for international public interest opportunities. A lot of the established summer fellowship programs only fund domestic internships. Feel free to ask other questions.

[Manali]

OP, I would recommend talking to the user, "worldtraveler". She is a wealth of knowledge on international human rights careers.

[philepistemer]

Many people get big law jobs in London, and getting such a job is a well-trod path at any T-14. Anything besides that will take hustle, I'd imagine.

[cavalier1138]

As mentioned, it takes a lot of hustle and quite a bit of luck to land international PI, but a JD can be enough to get you there.

It is my understanding, however, that if you want to actually practice PI law in Europe (unicorn jobs, like working at the ICC/Hague), you will probably need an LLM, since European countries treat law as an undergraduate field of study.

[Nekrowizard]

.

[heythatslife]

1. You need to specify whether you're looking to go abroad in the government/public interest sector or in the private sector.

2. If the latter, it's not hard to go abroad if you have the right skills and work at the right firm, though some regions may be harder to do than others. But the danger is that your practice might become pigeonholed as a result which could damage your advancement prospect and exit ops.
See this thread (and others linked within it) for more discussions: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=263567

[jbagelboy]

Has someone in this forum considered graduating in Law School+A master degree in Inrenational Law and aimed a successful career in any part of the globe or is JD degree valuable only in USA?

I know a few people from my HYS who are starting at foreign offices of American firms. I don't know if that's what you were thinking of. They do not have any degrees in International Law or anything besides JDs, as far as I know.

Did they have a hard time getting there? You think they have perspective there?

They definitely had to actively push for it. It was not just an "ask and ye shall receive" situation. What do you mean perspective? My understanding is that some cities are easier than others. Like you can make London happen with relative ease. Somewhere like Tokyo is going to be harder, I assume. Where do you want to go? Again, I only have second-hand knowledge here. I think the general path is you split your SA with the foreign office of the firm, and subsequently just start there.

Starting in London or HK at a US law firm definitely isn't that difficult coming from a T6. The question is more whether such a route is desirable. As I've laid out in other threads, more often than not it isn't.

[jbagelboy]

maybe if your degree is from Harvard/Yale

More erroneous TLS mythologizing. It's this kind of stuff that confuses and discourages people from considering the range of opportunities they have.

[worldtraveler]

Yes, you can go abroad. What are you trying to do?

[jeremydc]

I'm planning on using the JD in a different capacity. Teaching 'law' abroad a niche career but obtainable. Doing a dual Ph.D./ JD degree is my goal but the consensus around TLS suggests this is moronic at best.

I've spoken with current JDs teaching 'law' abroad in China, Korea, and Saudi. All mentioned 2 years practicing in the states is a pre req. A few were TT graduates.

OP, the market is tough wherever you go. I suggest getting a full ride just in case your plan falls through, you won't be 200K+ in debt. At best, 100K.

[TFALAWL]

maybe if your degree is from Harvard/Yale

More erroneous TLS mythologizing. It's this kind of stuff that confuses and discourages people from considering the range of opportunities they have.

I agree. Lots of T-14's have study abroad programs where you can make meaningful networks for potentially cool gigs such as clerking for the ICJ. You would also have the opportunity to meet with biglaw outposts there. I know of a couple of JD's working in Europe who get paid on the European scale (basically half) but are happy b/c that's where they wanted to be.