JD vs JD/LLM Forum

[oceanmd]

Does JD/LLM in International Law give a distinct advantage in employment possibilities?

[RCSOB657]

Why would you assume you would have lower grades? Or are you just trying to hedge I guess. I don't know what to tell you, one of my main criteria is a school that offers a joint advanced degree. I have no worries about the other degree, there is nothing wrong with my research skills.

[patogordo]

no

[McAvoy]

getting an llm (that is not in tax from a few particular schools) when one is an american will often make one reek of striver mediocrity

[gatesome]

the only reason to get an LLM is if you want to work and live outside the US

[oceanmd]

Gatesome, I do not want to live or work for extended period of time outside the US, but I would like to work for a company/firm that does business in that part of the world.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Specialty LLMs are entirely unnecessary and with the exception of very rare instances (e.g. tax) will not help you get a job in the field of the LLM; employers do not require or seek LLM degrees. Also, no, you will not get lower grades in a JD/LLM program than a JD program just because it's a joint program. (I'm not aware of any that allow you to complete both in 3 years as opposed to adding an extra semester, if not year, to your JD, but even so, the idea is not that students completing the program will get lower grades.)

[FSK]

I don't get LLMs. Everyone knows law school classes are useless. Why in the hell would you spend more time taking useless classes?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Semi-serious reply: I think originally they were all intended for foreign-educated JDs - doing the LLM allows them to sit for the bar in US jurisdictions. But law schools being law schools, they were always looking for more ways to make money, and opening LLMs up to US JDs is an easy way to do that. So law schools convince students the degree is worth something, there isn't any particular pent up demand for JDs with additional education.

I know a few people who did LLMs - two of them were in tax, and the people are now working at big tax firms; one was in another field entirely, and he's now working in that field. But I think the biggest benefit was having one more year to make connections, rather than the degree itself, and it's a lot of money for one year.

[oceanmd]

Thank you sooo very much for all the replies. A. Nony Mouse, Duke has JD/LLM for three years. "Students complete requirements for both degrees in three years" from Duke's brochure.

[baal hadad]

Thank you sooo very much for all the replies. A. Nony Mouse, Duke has JD/LLM for three years. "Students complete requirements for both degrees in three years" from Duke's brochure.

Llms are stupid

[McAvoy]

Thank you sooo very much for all the replies. A. Nony Mouse, Duke has JD/LLM for three years. "Students complete requirements for both degrees in three years" from Duke's brochure.

Llms are stupid

[oceanmd]

Thank you, McAvoy

[McAvoy]

here to help, 0L