14_of_spades

Hi folks

I'm not a regular in this part of CC. Hopefully this isn't re-hashing a common discussion.

A friend of mine (female, from a 2nd-world Asian country) was apparently offered admission to both programs this year. For financial reasons, she's decided to go to NUS (Singapore) for the same degree.

Just curious - how much of an achievement is acceptances to LLM at these schools? She's a bright student, but I don't know the specifics of her academic background. I know she did an LLB in her home country. (As an aside, she's absolutely gorgeous and I've been in love with her since the day I met her)

Anyhoos - just curious to know what the "prestige" is in attaining these acceptances?

Thanks in advance.

legalbrain

At least admission to Harvard should be considered an achievement even if if it's the LL.M. rather than the J.D.

drusba

They are a lot easier to get into than the regular law program of either college. LLM programs like those at Harvard and Stanford actually cater to foreign students because they are not programs that can be filled with domestic students. Those who already have a JD may attend an LLM program for something like tax or patent law but the population that attempts to do so is far less than the LLM seats that are available including because such an advance degree is not needed to practice law.

Nevertheless, they are ideal for foreign students particularly those who already have a degree from a foreign law school (which in many cases unlike the US is really an undergrad program). They provide a wealth of information on US law that is usable for them in those foreign countries, and in some US states having the combination of a foreign law degree and an LLM can qualify you to take the bar so you can practice in the particular state (such as in NY).