LLM because of OCI strikeout? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone here stuck around an extra year for an LLM because they botched OCI and didn’t wind up where they wanted to be?

If I can get a free LLM and be competitive down the road, would it be a decent move to do that rather than to settle and grind for a couple years just for a chance to *potentially* lateral up the ranks to a more prestigious firm?

[Iowahawk]

The opportunity cost seems very high, even if the degree is free, and unless it's an LLM in tax from NYU, etc. most major legal employers do not regularly hire out of LLM programs. On the other hand, it's very common to "move up." As long as you have a decent legal job of some sort, or you want to be a tax lawyer, I don't see why you would get an LLM.

[2013]

I think starting at a midsize firm and moving up is easier than trying to get some random securities LLM.

[daolivesea]

I've heard of a few people doing the tax LLM at GULC and having that work out for them.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard of a few people doing the tax LLM at GULC and having that work out for them.

This would involve interviewing again at OCI for an SA after 3L year before LLM semester.

[mwells_56]

I thought about doing this until I ended up with a good in-house gig, but my friend who followed through with it ended up getting a good firm job in a secondary market.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard of a few people doing the tax LLM at GULC and having that work out for them.

NYU and GULC are two of only a few schools where doing a tax LLM because you can’t get a job you like would make sense. Do it there or at Florida if you want, but definitely don’t do a random LLM at like Vanderbilt because you don’t have a better idea.

[2013]

I've heard of a few people doing the tax LLM at GULC and having that work out for them.

NYU and GULC are two of only a few schools where doing a tax LLM because you can’t get a job you like would make sense. Do it there or at Florida if you want, but definitely don’t do a random LLM at like Vanderbilt because you don’t have a better idea.

I’ve met a couple of people who went to UF for their LLM. Getting a firm job from there appears to be extremely difficult. So if the goal is to get biglaw, not sure if that is a viable option either.

[Anonymous User]

[*]I think generally landing at a firm from any tax LLM program is difficult. Even NYU, which has by far the best program, still places less then 60% in firms of any type. GTown and Florida both struggle with it too. NU placed like 18% of their class in a firm.

If you are bound to get one, I would only recommend NYU or GTown, though an argument can be made that Florida with a scholarship makes financial sense.

[daolivesea]

[*]I think generally landing at a firm from any tax LLM program is difficult. Even NYU, which has by far the best program, still places less then 60% in firms of any type. GTown and Florida both struggle with it too. NU placed like 18% of their class in a firm.

If you are bound to get one, I would only recommend NYU or GTown, though an argument can be made that Florida with a scholarship makes financial sense.

Thanks for emphasizing. Definitely agree with the above. Even the few I had heard of, is really only a small handful. By no means am I implying or suggesting that everyone who strikes out at OCI would successfully go down this path. Just wanted to provide a data point for OP's initial question that yes, there have been people who do so.

[BrainsyK]

I know someone who dropped out of 2L, returned, and was allowed to re-do OCI. They ended up getting an offer. It's probably more fun and less costly than an LLM. Maybe try to see if you can make that work.

[Anonymous User]

I know someone who dropped out of 2L, returned, and was allowed to re-do OCI. They ended up getting an offer. It's probably more fun and less costly than an LLM. Maybe try to see if you can make that work.

I did this. Not the most fun option but I did get a NY biglaw. Should talk with your school's career service before making that decision though.