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Is it worthwhile to do an LLM post JD if not practicing

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:08 am
by DCC
Had to shorten the subject line.

Essentially I have an MBA and just finished a JD in PA but came to Dallas for SMU.
I do not have any intention to practice but figured a corporate law LLM at SMU might be helpful in making connections.
The problem is that I am finding the courses to be all case oriented. VERY little practical knowledge. That essentially makes it like my 1L year all over again and I'm pretty burnt out after just graduating and taking the bar.

I now must decide if it's an advantage to have an SMU LLM if I'm going to be practicing in the financial word (at least that's the aim, it's all about finding a job)


I did just meet after typing this, a 3L who agreed that near all of the courses are casebook, cases, dates etc and not a lot of practical application or teaching the rules. Rather most are trying to think a learning process similar (like I stated above) to 1L.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks

Re: Is it worthwhile to do an LLM post JD if not practicing

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:16 am
by TommyK
IBLLMflowchart.jpg

Re: Is it worthwhile to do an LLM post JD if not practicing

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 2:00 pm
by MrAnon
wow don't do this. The only people in the program are JDs who couldn't get jobs. You want to make connections with them? Go right ahead.

Re: Is it worthwhile to do an LLM post JD if not practicing

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 2:21 pm
by CanadianWolf
The above poster wrote that all SMU LLM students are unemployed JDs---is this accurate ?

The financial world--especially life & annuity companies as well as tax shelter advisors--value LLMs. Also, I recently read over the individual profiles of a highly respected law firm (with less than 100 lawyers) that included three LLMs who earned their JDs at tier two & tier three law schools. The problem, however, is that LLMs in the financial world are not highly paid.

P.S. The best path, in my opinion, to earning a LLM degree is while working full-time in a related field so that you can combine practical experience with academic learning while enjoying tuition reimbursement from your employer.

Re: Is it worthwhile to do an LLM post JD if not practicing

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:17 pm
by nealric
The financial world--especially life & annuity companies as well as tax shelter advisors--value LLMs. Also, I recently read over the individual profiles of a highly respected law firm (with less than 100 lawyers) that included three LLMs who earned their JDs at tier two & tier three law schools. The problem, however, is that LLMs in the financial world are not highly paid.
WTF is a "tax shelter adviser"?

Re: Is it worthwhile to do an LLM post JD if not practicing

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:29 am
by ResolutePear
nealric wrote:
The financial world--especially life & annuity companies as well as tax shelter advisors--value LLMs. Also, I recently read over the individual profiles of a highly respected law firm (with less than 100 lawyers) that included three LLMs who earned their JDs at tier two & tier three law schools. The problem, however, is that LLMs in the financial world are not highly paid.
WTF is a "tax shelter adviser"?
Hey, people don't call you out when YOU decide to call yourself make-believe things like...


........


!!

Re: Is it worthwhile to do an LLM post JD if not practicing

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:47 am
by reasonable_man
LLM = Lawyers Losing Money. Period. End of Story.