The LLM Degree

Class Location: The Internet.

Description: This course will teach you all the important information there is to know about the LL.M. degree.

Objective: Learn the vital differences between the J.D. and LL.M. degrees and decide which is best for your needs.

With such fierce competition in today’s job market, having a law school degree is sometimes not enough to win the job you want. As a result, many law school graduates are pursuing an LL.M., or masters of law, to stand out from the crowd. Both U.S. and international law school grads are discovering the benefits of this advanced degree.

Between 1990 and 1999, the number of LL.M. degrees earned at U.S. universities increased by 82 percent. Most LL.M. students are international law school grads who want an American law degree. The degree can also be very useful for U.S. law school graduates who want to pursue a specialty, such as tax or corporate law.

International students comprise the biggest portion of LL.M. candidates. These students usually already have law degrees in their home countries. They want the American LL.M. to compete in the global marketplace and advance their careers. These students realize they need to understand American law to work on international deals and do business with American clients.

For those who graduate from a U.S. law school, an LL.M. can provide several benefits. The advanced degree can allow them to develop expertise within a specific field or change specialties after working in another area for several years—especially if the student didn’t have a chance to pursue that specialty while earning his J.D. For instance, certain areas of law, such as tax or environmental law, change constantly and quickly. A lawyer interested in one of these fields may want to get an LL.M. from a law school that specializes in these areas. Getting an LL.M. from a nationally recognized school can also help a lawyer build up his credentials or get his career back on track after taking time out to do something else.

The legal profession is extremely competitive. Having a specialty and an LL.M. to back it up makes you much more desirable in the challenging job market.