Getting a job in the US - is relatively easy after 2015. Because the educated migration wave ended after Trump era. Less number of people go for LLM. People who want to settle go to Canada, not USA. Americans have less JD's for an insanely high number of legal entry level openings.

Canadian Market - the problem is that - there are 100 overqualified people willing to fill in one Legal Articleship in Blake's or Fasken.

Canadian people themselves are over qualified for the job.

What about immigrants?

They are even more qualified. Have seen Tier 1 Mumbai law firm A3's (Trilegal types) getting into low paying Compliance jobs at small companies and immigration clinics in Canada. I have never seen the same in US.

There are 10 firms like Blackes/Fasken in Canada. But there are 1000 such firms in USA.

I came to Canada about a decade back with a law school degree and did a JD here. The law market was saturated then as it is now, just like the US. However, let’s me break it down a little further for the readers to give you guys a fuller picture to make your own decisions.

1. The saturation in the US is due to too many lawyers, while in Canada it is due too few opportunities.

2. This means, if you are good you might find ‘getting in’ in the US easier. That said if you are good enough you will rise in the limited Canadian market as well.

3. However, the rise in care will be sharper in the US. The ceiling on your earnings will be much higher, and the work you do possibly much better.

4. But, one doesn’t come to Canada (if you have done your due diligence) for a career, but for a life. The pathway from a student visa to work permit to permanent residence to citizenship, especially the last, is clear, defined and not a lottery.

5. Further, you get access to free healthcare. You kids to free schooling till grade twelve (with schools gun free). You could - at least in the past - get your parents here over and their path to citizenship was similarly rosy. That is no longer the case.

Summary: I would say the comparison between the two isn’t Mumbai and Jharkhand, but more like Mumbai and a smaller hill station.

Quality of life v. career opportunities is the trade off.

LLM in tax is the only LLM Americans take seriously in the profession. The US market is very bad and unlikely to resume its glory days; the way corporations purchase legal services there has changed fundamentally and is still evolving in a way that is not favorable to traditional lawyers. Weigh carefully your options. If you invest that money here and back yourself to start a business that has an international angle of some sort you have a good or better shot of getting yourself to the US than spewing that cash and hoping for the best. There are many, many less risky ways to aim for a move to the US than putting good money on a degree which Americans themselves are taking up at the lowest rates since the 1970s.

People here are going to Canada for LLM.

Canadian legal market is 100 times more saturated than the American one - Too many migrants qualifying NCA, LLM, too many locals having JD from Canada and abroad.

Canadian Corporate Legal Market is like Jharkhand and the American market one is like Mumbai - saturated, but many opportunities and ever expanding.

So I don't think this should be an argument to oppose an American LLM.

I’ll be honest. With an LLM it’s all based on luck in the US even if you to Harvard. You will have only 1 shot at the h1b lottery even if you get the job. I would suggest getting an MBA(with stem certification) or an MS( in finance, computer science etc). You can either apply for regular Corp jobs or apply as a lawyer to law firms/in house. I would also advise you to prepare for the New York bar as soon as you send in your application if you decide to go through with the lawyer path.

Hey,

There are many scary threads on LI about the same. I have 7 years of mixed law firm and in house experience - and my time is running out faster than ever.

LLM costs are 60L - I have 25 L hard earned personal savings, and intend to take 35 with parental support; any amount rest I wish to get a part time job while pursuing LLM and bursaries (Is it possible?)

I don't necessarily want any top paying law firm jobs in the US ($160k+); and I don't mind going to any mid Tier law school there (I don't have an obsession for T14)

My only objective is to get a job (any decent job) and settle in the US. But I don't have family members or connections there to help - so getting a visa/ marrying fast for citizenship is out of question.

How far will an LLM help me in achieving this dream at setting in the US? Realistically ; please give some optimistic - but practical opinions. It would be really helpful.