Doc review/temping after graduation vs. UK LLM? Forum

[Anonymous User]

About to graduate with no job; I'm seriously considering a one-year LLM program with a UK law school. I have family in Scotland and Ireland and really would prefer to do an LLM program abroad next year than continue this grueling job search. Areas of focus would be corporate, business/tax depending on the curriculum. Though I'm obviously concerned I still won't be able to find a job after that. I'm wondering if anyone knows the prospects for US law grads going straight through LLM programs and finding employment in the UK/EU? I'd be happy to come back to New York as well, but I prefer London or Dublin. Should I focus on finding temp or doc review positions after taking the bar this summer instead?

Some background: I'm a 3L at CCN, at median, lots of pre-law school WE and good undergrad. I did clinics and outside internships in law school but no journal or moot court. I'm about to graduate and have no job lined up; I went to law school with the hope of working in a New York area firm and eventually transitioning to an international office. Totally struck out at OCI, and worked in government offices for both 1L and 2L summers. My debt load isn't that bad, about $60k in fed loans so I can do income-based repayment. My school has a good public interest program but I hate litigation and really don't want to go down that road; I've applied far and wide this year to all kinds of transactional positions with no luck. An LLM would add $20-40k to my debt load. Would prefer not to name the schools I'm considering.

I'd appreciate any thoughts you guys have on my situation or advice for me! Thanks

[Aqualibrium]

The LLM probably wont help you much, but if you're seriously thinking about permanently living overseas, it's at least a plan.

Doc review gigs will spell the end of any hope you had of finding a real job; don't do it unless it's your absolute last resort. Your best bet as someone who is median at CCN is to expand your search criteria (geographic as well as subject matter) and keep looking.

[target]

IF you have to go for a LLM degree, why not go for something that is more employable in the U.S. like a tax LLM?

[Anonymous User]

Thanks guys. I was considering doc review because I did data entry temping at law firms between jobs before law school and made a fair amount of money that way; it wasn't so terrible and it's something I can do in NYC. I've applied for jobs all along the east coast, from Boston to DC. I'm reluctant to live in a city other than Manhattan for a very low-paying job though, because I don't have ties elsewhere.

I don't want to live in the US for the rest of my life and I've researched the US LLM programs. I think the tax programs sound good but I don't know how much of an extra boost an American tax LLM would give me on top of my law degree with several tax courses already on my transcript.

I'd be really happy just to get one of the trainee positions small UK firms hire LLB students into; I'm not hoping for a biglaw job at a firm that does NY/UK transactional stuff. I know that's unrealistic and that I missed the boat about two years ago! Haha...
I wish I could go back in time and tell myself just to get the LLB from the start.

[09042014]

Doc Review temp work is by all accounts a career killer. There is no reason you have to abandon your job search yet.

[Danteshek]

Just get off your ass and move. There is no good reason to stay in the US when the market is so dreadful.

(I'll be in Moscow in a few months.)