[blindlaw] Questions about universities in the US

Sat Jan 12 21:57:54 UTC 2013

In my experience as a recruiter the school you attended for your JD and how you did there is significantly more important than where your LLM is from. The area of specialization for the LLM degree i.e. taxation, labor relations and such will be of more concern to the big firms. I should caveat that I stopped recruiting when I started law school in the fall of 2007, just before the economy went to hell and the legal hiring landscape fundamentally changed forever so it could be different now. I had a big firm Summer offer in San Francisco for my 2L summer in 2009 but the firm ended up canceling the summer program that year and I've been struggling to keep my head above water ever since. Had a one year contract gig at a 40 attorney shop in my home state of Maine after working as a research director on a 2010 Gubernatorial campaign also in Maine. Been out of work since June and trying to find anything I can get in a large city with good public transit. I'm licensed in MA but also open to paralegal work somewhere I'm not licensed if that's what it takes. Unfortunately on the JD level it's still all about where you went and how you did. I was top 3rd and published in a law journal but, while I know I got a top notch legal education, Suffolk is still a third tier school so I've had to fight for every opportunity and, given the economy, there are too few out there. Good luck to you if you decide to make the leap though.

Adam B. Zimmerman, Esq.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 12, 2013, at 4:22 PM, Gerard Sadlier <gerard.sadlier at gmail.com> wrote:

> I am not personally planning to pursue an LLM in the US at this time
> but I would be interested in an account of the supports available to a
> blind student and how these would be funded for an international
> student, who would presumably not get US government funding?
> 
> As a general comment Marco, I would look first at what the school
> offers and decide on a list of the schools you would like to attend,
> based on what specializations they offer. Then focus on supports,
> costs etc.
> 
> Certainly outside the US (I am in Europe) rankings matter more than
> one would think, perhaps much more than they should.
> 
> Would I be right in thinking that large US firms are really hireing on
> where a JD was completed and what school you did your JD in, rather
> than LLM results?
> 
> G
> 
> On 1/12/13, Fred Wright Lopez <fwlopez at comcast.net> wrote:
>> There are many LLM programs of study, but the starting question is what do
>> you envision doing with a LLM degree?   Are you interested in an academic /
>> teaching career?  If so, in the United States or elsewhere?   If so, than I
>> would argue that the reputation of the school and it's LLM program will most
>> assuredly factor into the hiring process.   If you want an LLM in tax law
>> than it may not count as much but would still factor in to hiring and
>> promotional opportunities.
>> 
>> By way of background, I attended UCLA and UC Berkeley as an undergraduate
>> and UC Berkeley Law (Boalt Hall) for my JD degree.  Although I graduated
>> many years ago did not purse an LLM I am familiar with the LLM program at
>> Berkeley Law School.  The LLM program at Berkeley is world renown and highly
>> competitive.   Many of the LLM students who come to Berkley are interested
>> in teaching, technology / business or judicial administration careers.
>> Several LLM students are on foregin government or US State Department
>> sponsored programs.
>> 
>> Although lost my vision several years after graduating from Boalt Hall I
>> remain in close contact with the University on issues of disability and
>> access for students.   The law school has had previous JD students who are
>> blind and visually impaired.   There are great support systems for students
>> on campus and in the community at large.
>> 
>> An additional aspect of any LLM program is not just course offerings, but
>> access to professors and the make up of the LLM class.  Basically, will you
>> make the kind of  contacts in an LLM program that will benefit you
>> throughout your legal career.
>> 
>> I hope these commens of of some assistance.
>> 
>> Federico (Fred) Wright Lopez
>> Boalt Hall "79
>> 
>> On Jan 12, 2013, at 11:43 AM, Marcos Rodrigues wrote:
>> 
>>> thanks Adam, I will search tis school.
>>> 
>>> Enviado via iPhone
>>> 
>>> Em 12/01/2013, às 17:06, Adam Zimmerman <adam.zimmerman719 at gmail.com>
>>> escreveu:
>>> 
>>>> Marco,
>>>> 
>>>> Certainly a good question. With an LLM the rank of the law school matters
>>>> far less than it does for a JD. I base that statement on my background as
>>>> a legal recruiter working externally with large firms prior to law
>>>> school. I attended Suffolk University Law School in downtown Boston which
>>>> has a highly regarded international LLM program though the law school is
>>>> ranked in the third tier by US News. I had a lousy undergrad experience
>>>> with respect to accommodations for students with visual disabilities at a
>>>> prestigious liberal arts school that does not have a law school and I was
>>>> thoroughly amazed at the quality and attentiveness of the Office of
>>>> Disability Services at Suffolk Law provided. I could not have asked for
>>>> better partners in my legal education. They went above and beyond on a
>>>> regular basis to ensure I had all my books in digital format and worked
>>>> with me to deal with any concerns professors might have had. As a result
>>>> of Suffolk Law's experiences with me as a law student I am proud to say
>>>> they have had at least one blind or visually impaired student
>>>> matriculated in every graduating class from 2010 to the present 1L class
>>>> of 2015.
>>>> 
>>>> I hope that's helpful.
>>>> 
>>>> Adam B. Zimmerman, Esq.
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> 
>>>> On Jan 12, 2013, at 1:01 PM, Marcos Rodrigues <mrodrigues81 at hotmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Hi listers:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I am thinking about taking a LLM in the US next year and would like to
>>>>> know about good law schools in the US.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I also would like to know (if you do not mind answering) in what law
>>>>> school did you take your law course degree and post graduation degree or
>>>>> LLM?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Cheers.
>>>>> Marcos Rodrigues
>>>>> mrodrigues81 at hotmail.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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