In addition to the academic side of the U.S. law experience, almost all J.D. students and so many LL.M. students are very focused on the U.S. job prospects. For foreign-educated lawyers enrolling in LL.M. and J.D. programs, the job after the degree is crucial. Indeed, it’s one of the first things (along with scholarships) people want to talk with me about.

The focus for this blog is once again on the LL.M. experience, except where otherwise noted. The reason: international J.D. students have access to the same On-Campus Interview (OCI) programs as their domestic classmates. Attending a J.D. program where students tend to find their 2L Summer Associate positions through OCI and in large firms that sponsor makes the process a lot different from the LL.M. experience, and it’s why some students I teach and work with focus on the LSAT and getting into these schools. At other schools, alumni networks and self-motivation are crucial for international students to secure the type of post-J.D. jobs they likely thought about when enrolling.

1. Research: Outside of Tax LL.M. programs, it can be really hard to find public information about employment outcomes for LL.M. students. There are many reasons for that, including the very different goals of so many international LL.M. students. But it will be important when applying to law schools to learn about the job outcomes their students in your degree program generally have. Asking good questions is crucial in this regard, especially if you would require work authorization/sponsorship and/or are coming straight from an LL.B./Master’s in another jurisdiction without work experience.
2. Resources: How does the school help LL.M. students with the job search. Some things to look for: participating in LL.M. job fairs, a person with expertise in working with international lawyers in the career office, a path for LL.M. externships/clinics/OPT positions, and an alumni awareness of hiring LL.M. students, to name a few.
3. Activities: What activities during the year take place to help LL.M. students. How extensive are the resume/cover letter workshops? Are there sessions for mock interviews with career offices/alumni? Are there panels and other professional development activities with foreign lawyers who are able to share advice and assist international LL.M. students with networking.

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I hope you enjoyed the Beyond Non-JD Summer Head Start Series!