Duke JD/LLM? Forum

[dmnshm]

Looking for someone who can tell me more about the JD/LLM program in International and Comparative Law at Duke.

Specific Questions:

1. Has anyone found separate placement statistics for the joint-degree holders? (1L summer, 2L summer, or graduation)
2. Where do the Dean/Admin see this program going in the next five-ten years?
3. What are the summer institutes like? How are the summer internships?
4. Are the JD/LLM students all in the same section? (Assuming yes) Do the students feel like a community or is it every (wo)man for themselves?

I guess that's enough to start with...feel free to comment on any other aspects of the program.

[onenotesamba]

BUMP

I got into this program and am curious about this as well.

[a.williams]

Me too. Any Duke students out there with any connection to this program?

[dmnshm]

Here's what I found (google search) so far...

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =1&t=18120

http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thr ... forum_id=2

Overall not very helpful...still waiting for someone with firsthand knowledge...

[iceman12354]

I'm a first year in the program and would be happy to answer any specific questions.

1) As for employment statistics, I don't think there is any difference in employment opportunities for any of the JD dual degree candidates. Therefore, the general 95-100% post-graduation rate should apply. I know for a fact that firms look favorably on the LLM as a seperator from other similiar students if you can market it well. I found this in interviews so far, and my old roommate got a job at Skadden immidiately after graduation -- also a JD/LLM

2) I don't know where the dean sees the program is going, but I think that international law is only growing vis-a-vis globalization.

3) Not sure about the summer institutes yet, but for job opportunities, i'd say 4/5 of my class who wanted an international internship before the institute got one through the career office, they basically do all the leg work and you just sign your name.

4)We do feel like a community and are in the same section, but I don't feel the competition at all. No one is competitive about jobs or grades and we mostly collaborate in study groups etc... The down side to this is that there is some resentment/separation between us and the fall starters because we already have some experience and knew people from before the fall. But if you work at getting to know them and making friends this is not an issue.

[a.williams]

I'm a first year in the program and would be happy to answer any specific questions.

1) As for employment statistics, I don't think there is any difference in employment opportunities for any of the JD dual degree candidates. Therefore, the general 95-100% post-graduation rate should apply. I know for a fact that firms look favorably on the LLM as a seperator from other similiar students if you can market it well. I found this in interviews so far, and my old roommate got a job at Skadden immidiately after graduation -- also a JD/LLM

2) I don't know where the dean sees the program is going, but I think that international law is only growing vis-a-vis globalization.

3) Not sure about the summer institutes yet, but for job opportunities, i'd say 4/5 of my class who wanted an international internship before the institute got one through the career office, they basically do all the leg work and you just sign your name.

4)We do feel like a community and are in the same section, but I don't feel the competition at all. No one is competitive about jobs or grades and we mostly collaborate in study groups etc... The down side to this is that there is some resentment/separation between us and the fall starters because we already have some experience and knew people from before the fall. But if you work at getting to know them and making friends this is not an issue.

Do you think it has been a worthwhile investment of your time/money? Was the summer start a big help with grades, adjusting, etc.? What's Durham like in the summer or just whenever? People have kind of bashed it on here and I have yet to visit. Thanks for your help.

[iceman12354]

1) I think the time is a great investment and I think it paid off in figuring out how to best study. I think I did even better this fall than I did over the summer and I did better than the median in the summer. In terms of money, I'm probably not the best person to talk to since I have help from my parents. It is expensive--21k in tuition combined for the first summer tuition and summer institute--but from an academic and social perspective, I would highly recommend it.

I adjusted well to Durham and like the town a lot. Chappel Hill is close, and I like the area, the weather, and generally the southern culture. Durham is hot in the summer but all the housing in the area--i.e. apartment complexes that most students stay in--have pools, and I staid indoors a lot doing homework.

Honestly, the best advice i can give is visit. I visited here and Cornell and the decision wasn't even close, I got a much better feeling from this school. Good luck!

[dmnshm]

Can you give some examples of international internships? On the website they seem to all be in the public sector, i.e. human rights/international institutions. Do you know anyone who's doing private sector work abroad?

[maddy]

i'm also considering this program, so thanks for providing more information! a couple more questions - what have you heard about the summer institutes from 2Ls or 3Ls? is it a generally positive experience? is one (either hong kong or geneva) more popular? in the same vein, do you think there's a good balance of people interested in/with experience in different regions?

[iceman12354]

Can you give some examples of international internships? On the website they seem to all be in the public sector, i.e. human rights/international institutions. Do you know anyone who's doing private sector work abroad?

1) Most of my friends are actually working for firms internationally. I have one friend working for a firm in Geneva, and a bunch working in Tokyo before the Hong Kong Institute. The career services office is great for both areas. The office contacts the firms for you because it already has established relationships with firms in Japan, Switzerland and Belgium for sure that I know of. These don't pay huge market, but you'll make something and that's more than most 1Ls.

[a.williams]

iceman i was reading about the requirements and I was wondering if the extra 20 credit hours are covered basically through the summer start and summer abroad or if you have to overload to catch up? i'm not used to the credit hour class system (everything is 1 credit at my UG - 32 credits to graduate), so forgive my ignorance. do you feel like the extra credit hours make life a little more stressful or is your schedule pretty much the same.

thanks - I'll be visiting at the beginning of March and looking forward to it

[dontstopbelivin]

bump for this year's cycle. Any more Duke JD/LLM's out there? Have the above answers changed at all ITE? And knowing what you know now, would you still choose the Duke JD/LLM over other schools?

Thanks!

[hellerskeller]

Bumping this thread. Does anyone have info on this topic?