UK graduate looking to study law in America?
Hey guys,
I'm from the UK, currently doing a history masters in cambridge. I'm looking to apply to Law (JD) in the US. If possible I'd like to live and work there after (i.e. emigrate). Have a few basic queries though, which are basically to do with the fact that I don't have much money.
1. Can I get access to normal loans and funding as an international student? (I don't mean those really specific scholarships e.g. "One scholarship for a disadvantaged student from XYZ" but general funding programmes from the school or state or whatever.)
2. Can I work as an intern at regular law firms during my vacations as an international student? (This will be very important for bankrolling my studies and I have no particular desire to return to the UK during holidays).
3. Is it possible/easy to get a work visa to get a job there once I've graduated?
Any help would be warmly welcomed.
I'm from the UK, currently doing a history masters in cambridge. I'm looking to apply to Law (JD) in the US. If possible I'd like to live and work there after (i.e. emigrate). Have a few basic queries though, which are basically to do with the fact that I don't have much money.
1. Can I get access to normal loans and funding as an international student? (I don't mean those really specific scholarships e.g. "One scholarship for a disadvantaged student from XYZ" but general funding programmes from the school or state or whatever.)
2. Can I work as an intern at regular law firms during my vacations as an international student? (This will be very important for bankrolling my studies and I have no particular desire to return to the UK during holidays).
3. Is it possible/easy to get a work visa to get a job there once I've graduated?
Any help would be warmly welcomed.
Original post by bkf88
Hey guys,
I'm from the UK, currently doing a history masters in cambridge. I'm looking to apply to Law (JD) in the US. If possible I'd like to live and work there after (i.e. emigrate). Have a few basic queries though, which are basically to do with the fact that I don't have much money.
1. Can I get access to normal loans and funding as an international student? (I don't mean those really specific scholarships e.g. "One scholarship for a disadvantaged student from XYZ" but general funding programmes from the school or state or whatever.)
2. Can I work as an intern at regular law firms during my vacations as an international student? (This will be very important for bankrolling my studies and I have no particular desire to return to the UK during holidays).
3. Is it possible/easy to get a work visa to get a job there once I've graduated?
Any help would be warmly welcomed.
I'm from the UK, currently doing a history masters in cambridge. I'm looking to apply to Law (JD) in the US. If possible I'd like to live and work there after (i.e. emigrate). Have a few basic queries though, which are basically to do with the fact that I don't have much money.
1. Can I get access to normal loans and funding as an international student? (I don't mean those really specific scholarships e.g. "One scholarship for a disadvantaged student from XYZ" but general funding programmes from the school or state or whatever.)
2. Can I work as an intern at regular law firms during my vacations as an international student? (This will be very important for bankrolling my studies and I have no particular desire to return to the UK during holidays).
3. Is it possible/easy to get a work visa to get a job there once I've graduated?
Any help would be warmly welcomed.
I can't answer 1, but 2 and 3 as I looked extensively into the same thing.
From my understanding, it is very hard to intern at American law firms as an international student. Most don't open them to non-US visa holders, but even if they did, securing a visa that allows you to stay and work in america over the summer is difficult. You would be able to intern in wherever your home country is though.
Regarding 3, unfortunately just because you have an american degree it won't mean getting an american visa is any easier at all. The american visa process is so so hard. In your scenario, the most likely option is to get a company to sponsor you. But even if this happens, the company has to prove that your doing a job that no other american can do, and with plenty of american law students I'm not sure how easy that will be. The other ways to get visas are to start a business which employs americans, marry someone, get a job in the UK and get the company to transfer you, or have a 'specialist' talent in a field. (basically for actors, actresses, nobel prize winners, uni professors, etc.). It's soooo hard to get a working visa for America from the UK. Sorry
It won't matter that your american law qualified. The process is the same for all.Original post by bkf88
Thanks I-love-coffee.
Such a shame it is so difficult. May have to take the dreaded PhD route!
Such a shame it is so difficult. May have to take the dreaded PhD route!
I know! I really wanted to work in the USA too as I like that the lawyers play both the barrister and solicitor role, but it seems impossible
Original post by bkf88
Hey guys,
I'm from the UK, currently doing a history masters in cambridge. I'm looking to apply to Law (JD) in the US. If possible I'd like to live and work there after (i.e. emigrate). Have a few basic queries though, which are basically to do with the fact that I don't have much money.
1. Can I get access to normal loans and funding as an international student? (I don't mean those really specific scholarships e.g. "One scholarship for a disadvantaged student from XYZ" but general funding programmes from the school or state or whatever.)
2. Can I work as an intern at regular law firms during my vacations as an international student? (This will be very important for bankrolling my studies and I have no particular desire to return to the UK during holidays).
3. Is it possible/easy to get a work visa to get a job there once I've graduated?
Any help would be warmly welcomed.
I'm from the UK, currently doing a history masters in cambridge. I'm looking to apply to Law (JD) in the US. If possible I'd like to live and work there after (i.e. emigrate). Have a few basic queries though, which are basically to do with the fact that I don't have much money.
1. Can I get access to normal loans and funding as an international student? (I don't mean those really specific scholarships e.g. "One scholarship for a disadvantaged student from XYZ" but general funding programmes from the school or state or whatever.)
2. Can I work as an intern at regular law firms during my vacations as an international student? (This will be very important for bankrolling my studies and I have no particular desire to return to the UK during holidays).
3. Is it possible/easy to get a work visa to get a job there once I've graduated?
Any help would be warmly welcomed.
As per the internship question, yes!
Every international student in the US is entitled to: a) 12 months worth of CPT which is a clearance to do university related work (e.g. Internships) and b) 12 months of OPT which is a permit that allows you to stay in the states upon finding a job after Uni. H1Bs usually aren't an issue as the firm employing you will have immigration lawyers to pad out the details - the company sponsors the visa application.
That being said, if you are looking to do a JD in the states you're going to have to be either independently wealthy (i.e. You can afford $200k in tuition easily) or prepared to take out a TON of loans. There are a few schools that give out scholarships - some even full scholarships - but the chances of getting one are slim; some top law schools (namely Harvard and Yale) give out 'base' loans and a financial aid grant on top depending on your income. In addition, you should only be focusing on the top 14 law schools if you want a good chance at a BigLaw job.
Generally, I would advise you to just do a GDL and LPC here, find a training contract and become a certified solicitor and then ask for a company transfer.
Original post by i-love-coffee
I know! I really wanted to work in the USA too as I like that the lawyers play both the barrister and solicitor role, but it seems impossible
Either get a job at a law firm with offices in the US and ask to transfer over or do an LLM in one of the states that allow you take the bar exam with a foreign degree - California and NY mainly - try your luck at jobs and make sure to pass the bar.
Original post by Princepieman
As per the internship question, yes!
Every international student in the US is entitled to: a) 12 months worth of CPT which is a clearance to do university related work (e.g. Internships) and b) 12 months of OPT which is a permit that allows you to stay in the states upon finding a job after Uni. H1Bs usually aren't an issue as the firm employing you will have immigration lawyers to pad out the details - the company sponsors the visa application.
That being said, if you are looking to do a JD in the states you're going to have to be either independently wealthy (i.e. You can afford $200k in tuition easily) or prepared to take out a TON of loans. There are a few schools that give out scholarships - some even full scholarships - but the chances of getting one are slim; some top law schools (namely Harvard and Yale) give out 'base' loans and a financial aid grant on top depending on your income. In addition, you should only be focusing on the top 14 law schools if you want a good chance at a BigLaw job.
Generally, I would advise you to just do a GDL and LPC here, find a training contract and become a certified solicitor and then ask for a company transfer.
Every international student in the US is entitled to: a) 12 months worth of CPT which is a clearance to do university related work (e.g. Internships) and b) 12 months of OPT which is a permit that allows you to stay in the states upon finding a job after Uni. H1Bs usually aren't an issue as the firm employing you will have immigration lawyers to pad out the details - the company sponsors the visa application.
That being said, if you are looking to do a JD in the states you're going to have to be either independently wealthy (i.e. You can afford $200k in tuition easily) or prepared to take out a TON of loans. There are a few schools that give out scholarships - some even full scholarships - but the chances of getting one are slim; some top law schools (namely Harvard and Yale) give out 'base' loans and a financial aid grant on top depending on your income. In addition, you should only be focusing on the top 14 law schools if you want a good chance at a BigLaw job.
Generally, I would advise you to just do a GDL and LPC here, find a training contract and become a certified solicitor and then ask for a company transfer.
Thanks very much for this. I'm prepared in principle to take out loans (or get scholarships) if they're available. The fact that I simply havent heard of Brits studying law there made me wonder whether it was possible. Do you think the fact that I'm also an Australian citizen (ie can get E3 visa) might help?
Original post by bkf88
Thanks very much for this. I'm prepared in principle to take out loans (or get scholarships) if they're available. The fact that I simply havent heard of Brits studying law there made me wonder whether it was possible. Do you think the fact that I'm also an Australian citizen (ie can get E3 visa) might help?
Definitely! It would probably be the same process as getting an H1B but with less competition.
Just know that your odds are against you; make sure to get 170+ in the LSAT and you should have a chance at the top schools and scholarships!
Original post by bkf88
Thanks for the heads up guys. Better get onto that LSAT!
I went through the same process this year after turning down a training contract offer from a magic circle firm. I just finished undergrad in Oxford, and I am going to Yale this autumn. I am not American / British.
1. Yes, but mostly in Top 14 schools, preferably in Top 6 schools. If you got first class honours in undergrad, then with an LSAT 177+, you have some really good shots in Harvard, and full / half scholarships in Columbia / NYU / Chicago, etc. If you got 2:1 and with an LSAT 170+, you would also have chances getting scholarships in lower T14. So, to a large extent, it is dependent upon LSAT.
2. Yes. Internships after 1L are frequently unpaid (of a public interest nature), and internships after 2L in law firms are normally paid at $3150 per week.
3. If you get into T6, it is easy to get a job with salary starting $160k, and a firm willing to sponsor your H1B application. If you do not get into T14, it is gonna be hard.
PM me if you have more questions. You can also explore around in www.top-law-schools.com, the law school equivalent of tsr.
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