| Topic Name: |
LL.M. |
| Message Name: |
LLM |
| Date Posted: |
05/08/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
I'm considering returning to school to get an LL.M. I have been accepted by NYU's tax LL.M. program and the general LL.M. program at Cambridge University. Does anyone have an opinion as to the relative merits of these two programs? |
| Message: |
I wish I'd gotten an LLM
from a top school in my time.
I would have enjoyed seeing a different city, and the extra education in law school (which I always enjoyed) would have been grand.
But in private law practice,
my top grades from a third tier landed me a very good job, and I can't imagine that
an LLM would have added much value. An LLM might have given me a minor shot at switching to academia some day, which was a much longer shot with only the lower-tiered JD.
(law schools are in general and subject to discrete exceptions far greater ranking snobs than
private law employers by far--that's why I never cease to be amused by the "open letter" issued by numerous of them which critique the USNWR rankings. Look at their own recruiting--slavishly rank-oriented, with limited exceptions--I can't believe that rank-slaves feel the moral superiority to critique USNWR's flawed but fun and useful rankings. I love 4th tier schools that talk about how rankings don't matter, but would never dream of hiring a 4th tier grad as a professor).
A few LLMs are considered
"career enhancing" LLMs.
NYU's tax program, or, moving down a bit, Florida's, are considered excellent ways to break into tax, and some "lesser" law school attendees do use them as a "way up".
Similarly, though the case is much less clear, one could argue that an LLM from GWU in IP (or, again to move down a bit, one from Houston) has some career advantages, but
not the same upward hit that extra tax courses in a tax LLM might have.
In your place, I might go to Cambridge,because it is Cambridge (my memory fails me, but doesn't it matter *where* in Cambridge you go? Or is that only important undergrad?), but I would only see this as a career move if my goal was to get UK or maybe even Oz solicitor training, and try to emigrate (I'm not sure how hard that is these days--I see people do it, but I don't know how hard it was). In the US private market, leaving aside academia (where it would be a good credential), a Cambridge LLM would be unlikely to be an investment worth the time and money. You'd be in danger of learning something, of course, and it would be fun,
and that is something.
So, my summary:
a. If you want to do tax,
an NYU LLM adds value, even if your law school is lesser, but if your JD credentials are abysmal, it will be a boost rather than a salvation.
b. a Cambridge LLM is likely to be of value in the US
only as a tool for a top law school grad (particularly one from a lesser law school) to try to look better at the AALS academic meat market, but may have advantages if your real goal is to practice overseas.
If what you want is a sabbatical to do something career oriented while you re-tool for your next career move, then an LLM might be a good resting place. In every event, I'm sure the education would be interesting.
But don't see it as a career move which will lead to dollars worth the opportunity and career costs, unless tax law is something you really want to break into.
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