Studying in the US

Only 4 years till I can practice? That sounds good. One more thing. If I do an UG in law in the UK and then do an LL.M. in the US does that entitle me to work there as well?

Only 4 years till I can practice? That sounds good. One more thing. If I do an UG in law in the UK and then do an LL.M. in the US does that entitle me to work there as well?

From what I know, few (if not none at all) US unis offer LLM courses, so most of the people who study and practice law in the US just have the JD degree. The JD is supposedly enough because it includes both the academic and vocational part of legal training, which are treated separately in the UK. Also, many US law students are able to do law firm internships while they are still in law school, so by the time they graduate, they're prepped for working already.

1. Many Law schools do the LLM - including:
a) Harvard
b) Columbia
c) Stanford
d) NYU
e) Yale
d) U Chicargo
d) Boalt Hall

Aren't US LLMs mainly undertaken by people with non-US law degrees though? Stanford's LLM is only open to those who hold non-US law degrees.

1. Many Law schools do the LLM - including:

a) Harvard
b) Columbia
c) Stanford
d) NYU
e) Yale
d) U Chicargo
d) Boalt Hall

and many many others


2. The JD isnt vocational at all. Its purely academic - you then have to do your Bar exam which is more vocational.


3. You can do summer work at law firms whilst still at law school in most countries.

Ok, I stand corrected.

In general an LLM is taken in the US by three types:

1) US people with a JD from a lowly school who are trying to launder their first degree (which rarely works)

2) International students who want a taste of US law, either to return home or to be more employable in the US

3) Tax specialists - eg - the Tax LLMs at NYU and Columbia are highly recognised and very valuable to tax lawyers in the US - with a JD.

Do m/any people on the BCL course have JD degrees?

not really ... most of them are from Canada, Aus, NZ and UK colonies - we then have the Mjur people who are from non-common law backgrounds.

You wont need it.

You CAN practice in NY for inastance if you do an LLB at Oxrbidge or the UoL.

Only with Oxbridge and UoL LLBs? What abt Nottingham? Crap, now I know I should have applied to KCL as well...

Why do American schools allow greater flexibility in terms of JD transfers (often taking in some 25+ JD transfer applicants per annum) between institutions, than would appear to be the case here? Even the leading schools seem to permit this; whereas it seems to be the opposite in the UK - with Oxbridge and the leading UoL colleges operating a no transfers policy.

I heard it might have changed - though thats what I seem to recall.

I wouldn't worry about it - to be honest theres little to be gained from the NY bar. You will normally need a JD to work there, having the NY bar doesnt mean you have a job ... thats the hard part.

I know someone who practices in Manchester and NY. He has a partner in NY and goes over there a few months a year, I think he deals mainly with British ex-pats.

Hmm, true... Anyway, am more keen on practising in London, either with UK or with US firms. Do you think that am worse off at Nottingham than if I had applied for KCL?

Thanks for your help.

WHat firm?

He's a barrister.

Ahh ok ... well what firm in the US is he a partner with?