On December 4, 2024, I had the pleasure of joining Cardozo Associate Dean Val Myteberi for her session on “Studying Law in NYC” with colleagues at East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL).

I provided opening remarks given my deep connection to ECUPL and focused my attention on New York’s connection to what happens *after* the LL.M. year. Dean Myteberi then spoke about Cardozo’s programs and more about what happens for LL.M. students *during* the LL.M. year.

I focused, as I usually do, on why so many LL.M. students tell me they came to the U.S. for their degrees: bar exams and jobs. And yes, I know there is plenty more to the LL.M. than just what comes after, including the courses, credential, network, and experience.

After the LL.M.: The New York Bar Exam

The New York Bar Exam is the bar exam of choice for residential LL.M. students. And it’s really not even close from my overview of statistics. No matter where you go in the United States, you will find LL.M. classmates who are planning to take the New York Bar Exam. Indeed, if you look at law school websites marketing their programs for General LL.M.s, you’ll notice a lot of schools explain that their programs can meet curricular requirements for eligibility and some even go into detail on the steps needed.

I think the U.S. law school community that relies on LL.M. students owes New York a great thank you. Without them, who knows what would happen to General LL.M. programs! As you can see from a survey I did on Beyond Non-JD earlier this year (scroll down to the graph), the LL.M. is the biggest “carrot” for many General LL.M. students, even more than OPT-type positions (plenty of LL.M.s plan to return home upon graduation).

After the LL.M.: OPT Jobs in NYC

New York is the largest legal market in the United States. Combined with it’s easily accessible bar exam for foreign-educated lawyers and its status as a global financial hub, that means there are a lot of positions that value dual-licensed, dual-educated, multilingual attorneys. Whether it’s elite Visiting Foreign Associate positions at market paying BigLaw, entry-level positions in areas like immigration law, or a host of other law firm, accounting firm (Tax LL.M.!), or in-house positions that value prior experience, New York City is the most likely place for F-1 graduates to be able to launch their careers for OPT positions and beyond.

During the LL.M.: Dean Myteberi’s Portion

The majority of the session was focused on Dean Myteberi given the theme! Dean Myteberi focused on some of the very real advantages of studying law in New York City too: building out those networks throughout the year in person, alumni concentrations in NYC, and events throughout the year that are easily accessible. And she connected many of Cardozo’s programs, courses and extracurriculars, and LL.M.-specific programming to the general themes I had opened with.

Conclusion

Having been born in Queens (yes, New York City is bigger than Manhattan!), raised *on* Long Island (we don’t say in!), and gone to law school in Queens and then worked for my law school for 6 years (2.5 from Shanghai!), it felt nice to be “back” in Shanghai and New York City, albeit virtually.

As always, important caveats: You can absolutely have great experiences across the U.S. that position you well for a New York Bar Exam license and/or working in NYC after graduation (I have seen that regularly in my post-2019 career outside NYC). And there are certainly other amazing places to take bar exams and/or work after the LL.M. degree. Indeed, Miami’s market for Latin America, D.C.’s market for government and international options, Texas’ clear path for a bar exam and growing market, are just a few of many. With remote work and post-pandemic shifts, more opportunities abound that help those who are tied to other areas too!