If you follow this blog, you know I spend a lot of time talking about J.D. programs. One reason for the Beyond Non-J.D. title of this blog is so international students know that their options are not limited to Non-J.D. Programs. Even if you attend an “LL.M.” fair, you can ask schools for information about their J.D. Program.

I’ve spent time throughout my career working with J.D. students and have really enjoyed that work. I also recommend that junior staffers in the LL.M. world figure out J.D. synergies for their work (a post for another time on why). So when I was faced with my own important decision in Spring 2021, I was glad that the work I was already doing to assist J.D. students was recognized with an additional title. In my Senior Director of International Programs role, I am more visible to international J.D. students and domestic J.D. students interested in international opportunities.

Law school administrators: there is a growing body of academic literature on international J.D. students. I highly recommend Professor Carole Silver‘s work on the topic! This blog is focused on information for students considering J.D. programs who would study on an F-1 visa.

Groups & Goals

All three groups below would be part of the “international” J.D. pool (and even this is a bit underinclusive). Which category best describes you?

• A student or graduate studying or have completed a bachelor degree in the U.S. on a student visa.
• A law school student or law school graduate from another country interested in studying in a U.S. J.D. program.
• A bachelor student or graduate from another country in a subject other than law interested in a U.S. J.D. program.

Notice how different these categories are. If you are in a bachelor program in the U.S., you’ve likely gone through the I-20/F-1 process, had an international student check-in, had to think about CPT or OPT processes at some point, and gone through at least one situation where something was more difficult because of visa status. People in the other two categories may have just looked up I-20, F-1, CPT, or OPT.

And even in those two categories, there is a big difference. If you studied law in another jurisdiction, you may have taken courses on issues of cross-border law, read American judicial opinions, or even had a course taught by a professor from an American law school. Coming from a common law jurisdiction may make certain things easier, including the legal English, a foundation in law from any jurisdiction is a different dynamic than the third category.

All of this ties into goals. A J.D. in the U.S. is a professional degree and most people go to law school with the intention to be lawyers.

• If you’ve already completed a bachelor degree in the U.S., you’ll likely have spent at least 7 years educated in the U.S. higher education system after completing the J.D. degree. At that point, my anecdotal conversations point to an expectation of working (and earning a salary!) in the U.S. as a lawyer.
• If you’ve studied law in another country, you may already be eligible for a state bar exam to be licensed in a U.S. state or you may be able to complete a one-year program (LL.M.) for certain other U.S. states. Is a J.D. or LL.M. the right degree for the goals you have for your legal career?
• If you studied a subject other than law in another country, you would be like me and many other J.D. students! A J.D. is a path to become a lawyer in a U.S. jurisdiction. Understanding your goals for a U.S. J.D. and the start of a legal career is important.

Asking F-1 Questions During the Application Season

On the application and admissions side, you’ll want to do a lot of the same best practices successful J.D. applicants do. LSAT scores above median at the schools you’re applying to help, taking time to find thoughtful recommenders who can best speak to your ability to succeed, researching schools using the ABA Required Disclosures, putting together an application package that highlights your strengths, and completing optional essays that demonstrate your interest.

But you’ll want to do even more than that, especially if you plan to study on an F-1 visa. As students in the first category above know, there are situations where something is more complex for an F-1 student solely because of visa status. That also happens in law schools and law schools that have larger numbers of F-1 J.D. students are more likely to have encountered these issues at levels that require processes or at least guidance.

For example, you’ll hear a lot about getting practical experience. J.D. students in the second and third year have a number of internships, externships, clinics, and other programs to work. CPT is going to become a common acronym throughout and stands for Curricular Practical Training. It’s crucial to ask about questions relating to CPT as you consider U.S. law schools. Schools may have different policies that may make one school more or less attractive. For example:

• How do credits taken during the summer get billed if I am enrolled in a course specifically for CPT purposes?
• Are there any rules for work placements that would be more complex under CPT purposes. E.g., enrolling in externship credit and the ability to get paid/work at a certain type of entity.

This is just one tiny example of ways that F-1 J.D. status may make life more complex. Asking these questions during the application and admissions stage avoids surprises later on.

“The Alumni Network”

You’ll hear a lot about the alumni network at your school. You’ll likely hear a lot about the alumni network at every school you apply to. Schools will highlight their alumni as being passionate supporters of the school. As being people standing ready to hire graduates. As wanting you to carry on the proud traditions of their school.

There is a lot of information about employment of U.S. J.D. graduates. You can see the Employment Outcomes for every ABA J.D. program here (though you won’t get to see how F-1 students specifically fared). You’ll learn about the ways J.D. students get hired, through OCI (on-campus interviewing) and other channels. Understanding how students generally get hired at the school you plan to attend is important as you plan for your J.D. as an F-1 student. You’ll want to make sure the types of jobs students generally secure from the school you attend are also available and open to international students. Some public sector jobs may not be as attainable as an international student and some private sector jobs may not be as enthusiastic about OPT or sponsorship.

This is where the alumni network comes into play. During admissions, ask to speak with a current F-1 student, ideally a 2L or 3L who has already gone through at least one CPT cycle and summer working. But also ask to speak with alumni either with a connection to your background or who have hired an international student. Introduce yourself to a director from the alumni office when you arrive for 1L and share a little bit about yourself and background. Ask to be paired up with an alumni mentor if your school doesn’t have a formal program. Volunteer to assist with an alumni reception/reunion/function as a way to meet alumni from your school. You’ll meet alumni who studied abroad in your country, alumni who practice at firms with offices in your country, and alumni who have connections to your country. Develop those ties and make the alumni network work for you.

Final Thoughts

As an international J.D. student, it’s important to be somewhere that supports you. Are you constantly being asked to go to the LL.M. office when you visit other offices for questions? There’s a balance between having someone who assists international J.D. students and getting the same J.D. experience as your classmates. In my role, I tell international J.D. students that I’m available as a resource and to liaise, but that I want them to think of themselves as J.D. students and to try to have similar interactions and experiences as their domestic classmates to the greatest extent. For example, they work with the career office and I’ll assist with any CPT questions as needed.

You can also determine your level of interaction with the LL.M./Non-J.D. Office at your school. You may be interested in attending an event to meet other international students, connect with a similar background or shared culture, or similar activities. Or you may be focused on your J.D. experience and want to go through the 1L process with your classmates. Like above, I’ve tried to let international J.D. students make that determination on their own and just let them know I’m available for support and connections.