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US LLM or UK LPC LLM for 2021/22 (which one to do first?)

Hello,
I am currently in my final year of an undergraduate LLB Law degree in the UK and am conflicted between applying to do a LLM at a US university (Fall 2021) such as USC, or doing the LPC LLM or BPC LLM in the UK, and then doing a masters in US the following year.

I realise the financial demands of a US LLM and I would have liked to have applied earlier this year, preferably to UC Berkeley, but the deadline has now passed. I wanted to know which one to do first, as I really would like to study an LLM in the US and take the california bar exam. Qualifying in the UK is a second priority for me, as I am still unsure whether to become a solicitor or barrister.

If I apply to USC and go this fall 2021, will I get the full US university LLM experience regarding COVID? Also, would'nt doing an US LLM and passing the bar first better aid my vac scheme and TC applications during my LPC, especially to US firms in London? Or work in the US?

Also, I am turning 23 soon and I read that the students on the LLM program are generally older and if I wait till next year, I could apply earlier, to better schools, become more physically and financially ready for a US LLM, and restrictions would be less.

Any advice would be appreciated. Is it worth applying to USC now (April 2021) and paying the full fees for a COVID tainted experience, or do the LPC LLM first then do the US LLM. However, will this mean that I will have 2 LLM degrees and 1 LLB degree? If so, will US colleges allow me to do an LLM if I already have done a LPC LLM?

Kind regards.
If you are wanting to pass the bar in the US and practice there for a while then completing the LPC is redundant. There is an expiry date on the course and if you are qualified to practice in the US then you don't have to undertake the LPC or a training contract. I do believe that there is a requirement for some legal experience in the US.

In regards to the LLM LPC combo, this is not really seen as a masters by law firms in the same way that an LLM (insert specialism) and an LPC in a separate academic year is. It does not have the same prestige because law firms are very aware that for many this just just a bolt on module to the LPC and does not really evidence anything.
Reply 2
Original post by one_two_three
If you are wanting to pass the bar in the US and practice there for a while then completing the LPC is redundant. There is an expiry date on the course and if you are qualified to practice in the US then you don't have to undertake the LPC or a training contract. I do believe that there is a requirement for some legal experience in the US.

In regards to the LLM LPC combo, this is not really seen as a masters by law firms in the same way that an LLM (insert specialism) and an LPC in a separate academic year is. It does not have the same prestige because law firms are very aware that for many this just just a bolt on module to the LPC and does not really evidence anything.

What if it was an LLM in European Law or some kind of specialised area? (I’m considering doing an LLM before the lpc)
Original post by A1exei
What if it was an LLM in European Law or some kind of specialised area? (I’m considering doing an LLM before the lpc)

What are you wanting to practice in? A LLM in one academic year and then completing the LPC is completely different. I read the original post as you were wanting to complete your LLM and LPC in the same year as one of those bolt ons that are provided now.
Your LLM should be indicative of an area of law that you want to practice in and show passion for. For example, if you get a LLM in Admiralty Law and then decided that you wanted to do criminal law then really your LLM has no bearing to the firm, it is similar to turning up and saying that you have the pre-requisites and as a bonus you're a qualified chef. Yes it does show that you are able to study at a higher level but you are not applying to be an academic so the hope is that you LLM knowledge makes you a better candidate.
Again, if you are wanting to practice in the US then completing the LLM at a US college and the completing the bar is a better choice because then you can bypass the LPC and training contract if you decide to return to the UK. If you have no intention of practicing in the US then there is no point in sitting the bar exam.
Reply 4
Original post by one_two_three
What are you wanting to practice in? A LLM in one academic year and then completing the LPC is completely different. I read the original post as you were wanting to complete your LLM and LPC in the same year as one of those bolt ons that are provided now.
Your LLM should be indicative of an area of law that you want to practice in and show passion for. For example, if you get a LLM in Admiralty Law and then decided that you wanted to do criminal law then really your LLM has no bearing to the firm, it is similar to turning up and saying that you have the pre-requisites and as a bonus you're a qualified chef. Yes it does show that you are able to study at a higher level but you are not applying to be an academic so the hope is that you LLM knowledge makes you a better candidate.
Again, if you are wanting to practice in the US then completing the LLM at a US college and the completing the bar is a better choice because then you can bypass the LPC and training contract if you decide to return to the UK. If you have no intention of practicing in the US then there is no point in sitting the bar exam.

Thanks for your reply, I’m not the op haha I’d be practicing in the UK. I’m most interested in European law so I was considering doing an LLM in that before completing the LPC. I agree, I would only do the LLM if I was 100% sure I want to practice in that area specifically
Original post by one_two_three
What are you wanting to practice in? A LLM in one academic year and then completing the LPC is completely different. I read the original post as you were wanting to complete your LLM and LPC in the same year as one of those bolt ons that are provided now.
Your LLM should be indicative of an area of law that you want to practice in and show passion for. For example, if you get a LLM in Admiralty Law and then decided that you wanted to do criminal law then really your LLM has no bearing to the firm, it is similar to turning up and saying that you have the pre-requisites and as a bonus you're a qualified chef. Yes it does show that you are able to study at a higher level but you are not applying to be an academic so the hope is that you LLM knowledge makes you a better candidate.
Again, if you are wanting to practice in the US then completing the LLM at a US college and the completing the bar is a better choice because then you can bypass the LPC and training contract if you decide to return to the UK. If you have no intention of practicing in the US then there is no point in sitting the bar exam.

Thank you, my question is, as an international student in the US my chances of securing a job will also be very small as firms will prefer people with JDs over my LLM. Also, that will mean I might have to return to the UK after LLM (If i choose to do it.) My question is that whether it is worth paying 50k dollars and starting to apply now to an US LLM in the midst of COVID and do the LPC LLM next year or the other way around? Which one will better my chances of getting a job, training contract in the UK etc? Another reason is that I really want to study in the US, but is it worth getting an LLM?
Also, if I do the LPC LLM this year and apply for US LLM next year, would US unis let me as wouldnt I already have an LLM?
Original post by Jerome Mathew
Thank you, my question is, as an international student in the US my chances of securing a job will also be very small as firms will prefer people with JDs over my LLM. Also, that will mean I might have to return to the UK after LLM (If i choose to do it.) My question is that whether it is worth paying 50k dollars and starting to apply now to an US LLM in the midst of COVID and do the LPC LLM next year or the other way around? Which one will better my chances of getting a job, training contract in the UK etc? Another reason is that I really want to study in the US, but is it worth getting an LLM?
Also, if I do the LPC LLM this year and apply for US LLM next year, would US unis let me as wouldnt I already have an LLM?


If you need a visa to work in the US, you have virtually no chance of being hired with just an LLM (even if you pass the California bar). Its already insanely competitive in the US, to the point where not attending a T14 JD programme may severly limit your options, so if your ultimate goal is to work in the US you're better off qualifying as a solicitor in the UK and trying to move intra firm at 3PQE. I wouldn't bother with the US LLM at all at this point in time as it won't help you get a TC in the UK. The LPC LLM won't help you get a TC either. Try to find a role as a commercial paralegal instead of throwing more money at degrees. This is all written with the assumption that you want to work in commercial law whether in the US or the UK, cause if it isn't commercial law then your chances of getting hired in the US drop even further.

I can't say if US unis will admit you if you've already done the LPC LLM, but I find it unlikely that it would cause any issues. Their policy is probably written on their websites, and if not, it might be worth giving admissions a call.
(edited 2 years ago)

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