Any Americans studying law in UK?

If so, where? Do you already have a degree from the US? What are you planning to do with your UK qualification?

Thanks.

Reply 1

littleheadache

Yep, I'm an American applying to four unis. I have been at St Andrews (in Scotland) for two years, but I just figured that it'll save time if I start on my career track now rather than fiddling about with IR and then going to a US school. I'm hoping to work in the UK office of a US firm, and do international/corporate law work. Might even attempt to get qualifications in European law, as I'm a British citizen as well and so can live in the EU.

Reply 2

americankid

OP

My ambitions are about the same. I do worry, however, about not being a UK citizen.

I'd have to be sponsored by a British firm. I know this isn't impossible, but perhaps an added complication to an already extremely competitive job pool.

Plus I'd be paying overseas rates. Just not sure at the moment if it will be worth it.

J

Reply 3

littleheadache

americankid

Plus I'd be paying overseas rates. Just not sure at the moment if it will be worth it.

The tuition is less than for an American college; plus, you're eliminating 5 extra years of education and jumping straight into a law degree. An LLB from certain (or all?) British schools makes you eligible to sit the NY Bar. Don't worry about the exchange rate. It's seriously a good opportunity; you have a chance to get qualifications that most Americans don't even consider, and that might make you more attractive to a US firm. The UK firms will probably like the fact that you will have passed the Bar in America (if that's what you choose to do).

Sorry, that's my rationale, anyway.

Reply 4

americankid

OP

Any opinions on SOAS for someone in my position?

Your advice has been encouraging so far.

Thanks,

Jordan

Reply 5

americankid

OP

bump

Reply 6

littleheadache

Never heard much about it... however if you're looking to work for a US firm I would stick with schools they would have heard of... I would bet that they assume an international reputation translates to quality. Hope you find a better answer than that! :P

Reply 7

americankid

OP

I'm interested just as much in British firms...wonder what they think...

Reply 8

ElWilson

14

What universites have U.S firms heard of?

Reply 9

americankid

OP

That's anyone's guess. Obviously, Oxbridge, LSE, maybe UCL. It depends on in what country someone is being recruited. A large U.S. firm like Shearman & Sterling recruits as many U.K. qualified lawyers for its London office as it does U.S. qualified lawyers. Whereas I think the vast majority of people applying to work as first-year associates in New York offices, have American law degrees. I dare say that legal recruiting for my firm haven't much knowledge of or experience with U.K. law schools, even ones as prestigious as LSE, UCL and King's. Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Fordham, UPenn, Georgetown, Stanford, YES.

Reply 10

Onearmedbandit

17

I think most qualifying UK law degrees will make you eligable to sit the NY Bar, but I've read that only a few UK undergraduate law programmes are considered decent enough for you to get away with not having a JD or similar post-graduate qualification. I think these included the G5 (Oxbridge, UCL, LSE, KCL) plus Durham, Bristol, Warwick and some others...

I'm not sure how true this all is, though.

Any Americans studying law in UK?

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