Accelerate your career with a Master of Laws (LLM)

19 Aug 2016

“I chose to go to law school because I thought that someday, somehow, I’d make a difference.” – Christopher Darden

It’s a well-known fact that Law is one of the most challenging, rewarding and sought-after fields of study within the global sphere of higher education. But with recent figures showing that an average of 52 applicants apply for each available graduate job, it’s never been more important for international law graduates to set themselves apart from the crowd.

So what’s the most efficient way for this to be achieved? Michael Roster, Co-Chair for the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Value Challenge for the past eight years, believes gaining a deeper level of specialised law education is one of the most effective ways for recent law graduates to gain the employment advantage.

“As law firms return to a business model where profitability turns on expertise and efficiency versus how many hours can be racked up, law school graduates who are much further up the learning curve will have a competitive edge,” Roster writes for the ABA Journal.

Image courtesy of the University of Strathclyde

With all this in mind, if you really are serious about building a career in Law, gaining an LLM (or Master of Laws qualification) could be a direct line to the top of the professional pyramid.

Here are a few career benefits you’ll gain in the pursuit of an LLM education:

You will develop sought-after specialist knowledge…

The very nature of the LLM is to develop expertise within your preferred area of study. “Many lawyers focus on specific fields like Criminal Litigation, Islamic Finance or Maritime Law,” writes Top Universities.

“These very specific topics require specialised training – which is something undergraduate courses fail to provide,” the report concludes. All LLM courses require a Bachelor’s degree in Law, so with your existing knowledge of principles, theories and concepts paired with increasing industry value of the LLM qualification, your career will be ready to soar to new and dramatic heights.

You will greatly improve your command over the English language…

If you dream of becoming a jet-setting lawyer at the top of your legal game, you’ll need to be able to communicate effectively via the English language.

“Common law is normally expressed with the help of the English language,” writes Heikki Mattila in Comparative Legal Linguistics. “…From the standpoint of the language of law, it is essential to know that English enjoys the status of the official language, more or less completely…some 85% of international organisations use English as one of their languages or as their only language.”

So if you’re considering studying at an institution overseas, how better to improve your English language comprehension than by studying at an English-speaking university? If you aspire to take the leap at an international law firm, your best bet is to graduate from an English-taught LLM programme to highlight your familiarity with both everyday and professional legal language.

Image courtesy of School of Law, Queen Mary University of London

Your degree will receive global recognition…

The LLM is a qualification that boasts international accreditation, giving graduates the unique opportunity to branch out into brand new countries and cultures. Upon completing your LLM, you will have studied the global climate, honing in on a particular topic of your choice – such as Immigration, or Energy and Natural Resources Law, for example. Since these topics form part of our interconnected and universal society, you could be given the chance to work on exciting projects all over the world.

So if you’re looking to accelerate your career options within the legal field, you should consider submitting your LLM application to one of these leading global Law Schools:

LAW SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE – UK

The University of Strathclyde is a stellar technological university located at the core of Glasgow – Scotland’s largest and most vibrant city.

Strathclyde Law School is known for providing experiential learning that is truly unparalleled, allowing all Law hopefuls to truly apply theory to practice. Ranked 14^th out of 97 UK Law Schools in 2015, the quality of Strathclyde’s Law provisions certainly speaks for itself.

Through its award-winning Law Clinic, world-leading Clinical LLB and LLM programmes and classes that blend real life experience with academic study, Strathclyde Law students benefit from unrivalled opportunities. The School hosts a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, with Master’s offerings including diverse topics such as: Human Rights Law, Internet Law & Policy, Climate Change Law, Criminal Justice and Mediation & Conflict Resolution

All Strathclyde Law courses are delivered by expert instructors, and have established a long-held tradition for high-quality teaching and research.

SCHOOL OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT – USA

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is one of the top public research universities in the United States, hosting more than 30,000 students on a vast network of campuses, united by a culture of warmth and innovation.

UConn School of Law boasts a curriculum rich in courses with small and inclusive classes. Each student is given the opportunity to explore law and theory in an environment conducive to learning. Thanks to the Faculty’s broad specialities and creative intellectual approaches, students have the opportunity to prepare for a successful legal practice in numerous areas of interest.

The School provides five prestigious LLM programmes: LLM in U.S. Legal Studies, LLM in Insurance Law, LLM in Human Rights and Social Justice, LLM in Energy and Environmental Law and LLM in Intellectual Property and Information Governance

International LLM students can complete the LLM programme on a full-time basis in two or three semesters.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

SCHOOL OF LAW, QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON – UK

Queen Mary University of London is one of the most esteemed higher education providers of the modern world. With 21,187 students, 4,000 staff and an annual turnover of more than £300m, Queen Mary represents one of the largest University of London colleges.

Ranked 4^th in London, 5^th in the UK and among the Top 35 worldwide, the School of Law at Queen Mary University is one of the most respected of its kind. The School provides approximately 700 comprehensive LLM and MSc programmes, and with 22 sought-after and varied specialisms, the School also boasts the largest focused LLM offerings in the UK higher education system.

No matter which course of study students decide to follow, they must be ready to deal with complex issues systematically and creatively. Taught by expert and cutting-edge instructors, Queen Mary’s LLM provisions enable students to gain an advanced and thorough understanding of key and current issues within their chosen field.

LAW SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME – USA

The University of Notre Dame is one of the few universities to regularly rank in the Top 25 in the U.S. News & World Report survey of America’s best colleges, with its students representing all 50 states and over 100 countries.

Notre Dame offers an LLM degree that can be pursued either at the University’s main campus in South Bend, Indiana, or at the Law School’s London Law Centre in the UK. Students from European countries who wish to obtain an LLM degree from a U.S. law school while studying in England and focusing on international and comparative law are encouraged to learn more about the London program.

Image courtesy of the University of Notre Dame

SCHOOL OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER – UK

The University of Manchester is an institution that answers life’s biggest questions. It’s set in a city with a passion for innovation and reinvention, setting the pace in industry, sport and the arts.

Manchester’s School of law is committed to providing academics that are internationally recognised, as well as a stimulating environment for research and business collaborations. The School offers one of the broadest portfolios of degree specialisms of any law school in the country, with undergraduate, postgraduate, and research opportunities in a variety of areas. Manchester provides a number of LLM courses, including: Healthcare Ethics and Law LLM, Intellectual Property Law LLM and Security and International Law LLM.