Boost Your Legal Career with an LLM: How to Increase Marketability Among Firms

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Summary

LL.M.s (Master of Laws) are higher degrees in law that can help enhance the marketability of lawyers when applying to law firms. An LL.M. can greatly benefit the career of a lawyer by providing specialized knowledge, industry-specific skills, and advanced expertise that are highly sought-after by employers. There are several areas in which an LL.M. can add a great deal of value to a lawyer's career.


For lawyers who want to break into a particular area of law, LL.M.s can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the field, as well as the specialized skills and expertise necessary to demonstrate to employers that they are well versed in their chosen field. Additionally, many law firms actively seek those with an LL.M. due to theextra level of legal knowledge and skills that are required to excel in the field.

When considering taking an LL.M., lawyers should take into account the type of specialization they are looking for, as some LL.M.s are more focused on general legal topics while others are more specialized in particular fields. Those looking to specialize should research the various LL.M.s that are available to ensure they find one that fits their specific interests.

It is also important to keep in mind the cost of an LL.M., as it can be costly, and the amount of time it will take to complete the degree. Generally speaking, an LL.M. can take up to two years to complete, depending on the type of program chosen. Although the time investment may be significant, the rewards that may be gained from having an LL.M. can be well worth it.

In addition to the specialized knowledge and skills that an LL.M. can provide, there are other benefits that may be gained from completing the program, such as increased job opportunities and access to exclusive networks and resources. Having the LL.M. may also provide a competitive edge when applying to certain positions.

Overall, pursuing an LL.M. can be a great way to increase a lawyer's marketability when applying to law firms. Those considering the degree should research the various types of LL.M.s available, to ensure they find one that fits their specific interests, as well as keep in mind the cost and time involved in completing the degree. An LL.M. can provide specialized knowledge and advanced expertise that can be of great value to a lawyer's career.
 

LL.M.'s and Marketability

As the legal job market continues to tighten and demand for legal services grows, the need for specialists rises. It is becoming increasing important for law students to create a marketable identity to stand out among other job seekers. One of the best ways to do this is by completing a Master of Laws degree, or LL.M., during or after law school. An LL.M. enhances one's law background and can give a job seeker the edge in the crowded job market. This article focuses on the advantages of having an LL.M. in terms of becoming more marketable when seeking employment in the legal field.
 

Gaining Real-World Experience

For those considering pursuing an LL.M., the first thing to consider is the level of real-world legal experience he or she currently has. An LL.M. is meant to supplement one's existing legal background, which means one should strive for practical experience prior to attempting to pursue an LL.M. This can come in the form of working for a law firm or other legal entity or from completing an internship. While working in the legal space, individuals will gain insights into the work and strategies of successful lawyers, which can be invaluable during the pursuit of an LL.M.
 

Focus on a Certain Area of Law

When considering an LL.M., one should consider his or her ultimate career goals. Pursuing an LL.M. in a certain area of law can make one a specialist in his or her desired field. This can be valuable in terms of becoming more marketable in the legal job market. If a person has a specific area of interest in the legal field, it is important to research the benefits of applying for an LL.M. in this area and the potential returns on the investment.
 

Networking Opportunities

In addition to the skills and knowledge one will gain from pursuing an LL.M., it also provides a unique opportunity to network with like-minded individuals. There are countless networking groups, meet-up events, and conferences that can be accessed while pursuing an LL.M. These connections can last a lifetime and be invaluable during the job search process. Furthermore, many LL.M. programs are designed to help those interested in making connections in the legal field in order to increase their overall marketability.
 

Increasing Job Prospects

With the heightened competition in the legal job market, having an LL.M. is an excellent way to increase job prospects and stand out among other applicants. An LL.M. can make one more marketable, regardless of the industry or area of the law. This means that an LL.M. can help individuals land a position at a firm that would otherwise be out of reach. In addition, an LL.M. can provide the opportunity to enter legal fields that may not have been considered prior to pursuing this degree.

Question
How valuable is earning an LL.M. in a particular field (such as international business and trade law, or intellectual property law just to cite two examples) in improving an entry level lawyer's marketability?

Answer
There is no question that an LL.M. degree in a particular discipline can be quite prestigious, but let's tackle the issue of whether obtaining one will meaningfully increase your chances of obtaining a better position.

LL.M. degrees are not for everyone. But they can be beneficial to some attorneys. For foreign lawyers who have obtained their law degrees in other countries, obtaining an LL.M. degree may be the only way that they will be able to get licensed in certain states. We have seen a marked increase in the number of foreign attorneys who have come to the United States hoping to find meaningful work opportunities here once they have received their LL.M. and passed the bar in a particular state. Sadly, not all of these attorneys have fared well in the job market here. However, without question, if they are interested in returning to their native country with their U.S. LL.M. in hand, these attorneys are likely to be highly regarded and may even have a strong shot at being hired by a U.S. firm doing business with an office in their own country.

For attorneys in this country, an LL.M. degree may or may not be a suitable choice, depending upon the practice area. For instance, an experienced civil and white-collar criminal trial lawyer without a technical undergraduate degree may not benefit from obtaining an LL.M. in intellectual property law. Intellectual property law in the areas of copyright and trademark, as well as technology and licensing have recently been badly hit by the collapse of the tech sector, and consequently, many attorneys in this area have been hard pressed to find work, despite their strong credentials and expertise in this practice area. For recent law school graduates, particularly those with little to no practical hands-on work experience in the area of intellectual property law, obtaining an LL.M. may not be a suitable choice at this juncture in their career.

Not all LL.M. degrees are created equal. One of the most respected LL.M. degrees to receive is in the area of tax law. Indeed, many firms make it almost a prerequisite that their tax attorneys have also gone on at some point in their career to obtain an LL.M. in tax, regardless of whether their practice area is corporate and partnership tax, international tax, or even ERISA and employee benefits. Consequently, many graduating law students, particularly in this market and especially if they are not graduating from a top tier law school, may find it useful to go right on for an extra year of study in order to have the added cache and prestige of an LL.M. in tax.

Tax law is obviously not for everyone. But it is a specialty that will always be in demand and many tax lawyers are capable of handling a number of transactional business matters in addition to their tax counseling and advisory work. Very few corporate transactional lawyers can say the same for being able to also do the quite complicated tax aspects of a business deal. In the areas of ERISA and employee benefits law, so few lawyers have this expertise, that the added cache of an LL.M. makes them an attractive candidate to virtually any quality law firm, even if the attorney did not originally graduate from a top tier law school.

The same cannot necessarily be said of other practice areas. While there is no question that an extra year of specialized law studies in a particular practice area, whether it be international law or intellectual property, or health care law, will certainly enhance one's resume, it is unlikely that an LL.M. will in and of itself make the difference in your job search.

Not all LL.M. programs are created equal. U.S. News and World Report publishes a yearly report on the best law schools in the United States. Resources such as these are available to help you research what law school excels both across the board, and with respect to certain specialties. In considering an LL.M. program, do your due diligence and speak with the school's placement office and find out the number of recent graduates who received job offers upon completion of their studies. Find out which law firms came on campus to the school to actually recruit for attorneys from the program. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, bear in mind that, with the exception of a few truly top ranked law schools such as Columbia or N.Y.U. which probably have a number of law firms from several parts of the country recruiting on campus, most LL.M. programs only attract indigenous law firms. Consequently, if you want to practice as a health care attorney in Florida, don't go for an LL.M. in healthcare law in Ohio. No matter how successful that particular school's placement record is in Ohio, there is little chance a Florida firm will be knocking on your door.

Should I do an LL.M.? Find out if it is right for you here.

Conclusion. While an LL.M. can be a prestigious credential for some attorneys, it is not a panacea, even in a poor economy, for recent law school graduates with little to no work experience in that practice area. The most notable exception to this is in the tax arena. For experienced attorneys seeking to jump-start their careers or change practice areas, an LL.M. may prove useful, provided the practice area is in demand and provided the school they choose has a good track record.

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