LLM before JD question

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Anthony Ciolli, Sep 2, 2003.

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  1. Anthony Ciolli

    Anthony Ciolli New Member

    Hello,

    I am seriously considering Keele University's LLM in Gender, Sexuality, & Human Rights:

    http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/aa/postgraduate/studyguide2003/courseleaflets/socialsci/gendersexhumanrgts.htm

    I hope to attend a top tier ABA law school for my JD in Fall 2004 and will be beginning that application process within the next month. However, I currently have this year free and have a desire to do Keele's LLM program (which does not require a first law degree for admission).

    I'm not worried as much by the DL aspect of this since although Keele's program was listed in the DegreeFinder database it's technically a B&M program since all classes meet oncampus, although intensely (four modules, each lasting three or four days, with research papers due by the start of the next module, plus a thesis at the end).

    My concern is that, if admitted, I'd have earned an LLM prior to starting law school: earned an advanced degree in the field prior to getting my "first" degree.

    My question: would this negatively impact my chances at admission to a highly competitive law school?
     
  2. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    I can't imagine why it would hurt you. More to the point, will the JD school accept your LLM work, since it isn't D/L, for credit against your JD? Also, do you really think you can complete a thesis based LLM in a single year?
     
  3. cmt

    cmt New Member

    This has run across my mind a couple of times. What I have found out is that ABA requires all ABA accredited schools to put the student through 6 full semesters. So, it really doesn't matter if they accept transfer credit or not. In addition, an ABA school can only accept ABA credits - this is what Duke told me.


    Anthony Ciolli,

    I don't think it would hurt you at all. According to two Duke graduates (JD friends of mine), they think the LLM in question would really help you with employment more than school admission (depending on firm/school). However, they think it would be of some value - dedication to ..., seriousness about the profession, etc.
     
  4. David Boyd

    David Boyd New Member

    What Duke told you is wrong. ABA Standard 507 allows law schools to give credit for foreign law study not to exceed one-third of the total degree requirement.

    Likewise for transfer applicants from non-ABA accredited resident programs.

    But as a practical matter, they won't.

    I believe you would be better off, for admission to an elite program, to spend the year as an intern in some congressional office or something similar. (Or studying for the LSAT for a year.)
     
  5. cmt

    cmt New Member

    Hmmm thanks - it's always good to get more than one source!

    I will be spending almost a year studying for the LSAT by the time I take it officially. Four of my good friends are JD graduates. Two are from 2nd tier schools and two are from top 15 schools - you can guess which two studied for the LSAT the most. Also, their employment has been and is directly proportional to their education.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 2, 2003
  6. jon porter

    jon porter New Member

    Yup.

    My wife entered IU School of Law with:
    (i) an undergraduate law degree from one of the best Belgian universities
    (ii) a graduate law degree from the best Belgian university
    (iii) an LL.M. from a top-5 British university
    (iv) three years as an associate in a boutique maritime law shop, where she also took a couple-three London external LL.B. exams and did lots of pro-bono criminal and civil defence work.

    She got a waiver on the LSAT and the TOEFL. No credit for time served.

    She's now, BTW, a clerk in the Court of Appeals (started this morning)
     
  7. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    So Duke won't give ANY credit, hunh? That's interesting because I know of a Canadian lawyer accepted into the University of New Mexico School of Law who received EXTENSIVE credit, course AND residential, for his LL.B. from the University of Alberta, all of which applied toward his JD.

    Of course, UNM is not prestigeous but it IS ABA accredited.

    Maybe shopping around would be a good idea?
     
  8. cmt

    cmt New Member

    When I asked Duke, my question was aimed at finding out if a non-ABA school would be acceptable for tranfer credit. I was thinking about (and therefore my question probably came across as such) a non-ABA US law school. I would think/hope that Duke would give something for recpectable non-ABA credit from another country.

    I'm sure the school and state (type of law) have a lot to do with it.
     

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