LLM abroad and job opportunities
First and foremost, your article is pretty informative, and gives a brief idea about LLM.
Secondly, I have a few queries.
I am a final year law student. I come from a non-National Law School, Law University. I have been in the top 5 ranks of my university consistently and even the recipient of a Gold Medal for topping my university in Jurisprudence. I have done about 8 internships, most notable among them being under Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, fmr. Addnl. Solicitor General of India, another one under Hon’ble Justice A.S. Bopanna, Judge, Ktaka HC and yet another one under Mr. Ashok Haranahalli, Advocate General of Ktaka. In addition I have one publication, and 2 research projects- both comprehensive research projects, one with the Centre for Science, Technology and Policy, and second with the Karnataka Knowledge Commission. In addition, I have done my Summer School in Commercial Laws from the London School of Economics.
The problem now is I applied for Training Contracts with Linklaters and Herbert Smith, both of which got rejected. Unfortunately, I wasnt aware of the Indian Internship Scheme, which is a stepping stone to a Training Contract which I should have applied at the end of my 3rd year. I’m pretty sure about getting a nod for LLM in one of the good universities in the UK, but what are my job opportunities in the UK thereafter? I wouldn’t wanna come back to India and start afresh. I also would want to go for my LLM immediately after the completion of my course. I’m extremely confused. Please could you elaborate on job opportunities after an LLM in the UK. The bar-at-law, the solicitors exam, etc… I’m also not averse to a career in teaching, if its lucrative as I’ve read from various websites. Also, some advice on US universities would be really helpful Thank you.
3 Replies
Hello Mr./Miss Confused if i may call you. I feel you have really poured your heart out in your post. After reading your post i was just interested in making the situation clearer for you.
Frankly your internships with Additional Generals, Hon’ble Justice and Advocate Generals will be of no relevance to “A Linklaters/ Herbert smith” neither is your topping the charts in jurisprudence (For god sake grow up!) will really help you.I suggest you look around in India before you try to take a leap into traineeship programes abroad. As i can personally ensure that your application had not even made it to the desks that considers traineeship applications!
Also by the way Mr. Confused you forget to mention what exactly are you looking to do in law? Are you inclined in Corporate or litigation (i hope you understand the difference)? Please understand that your grades are the last thing that “A Linklaters/ Herbert Smith” would take into consideration before hiring you. Your bold statement about you getting a nod from a UK or US university for a LL.M. may also not entirely meet your optimistic expectations. I suggest that you start doing meaning full (Legal)work before you actually start dreaming big!
Well, if you could pour some more insight into what is required to get a training contract, I will be grateful.
getting a TC is quite a difficult challenge, if we look at the stats almost no one from non nlu background have got TC in magic circle law firms. the situation becomes even worse if you get rejected once, as per the law firms unless the situation changes significantly the firm would not consider your application again. doing llm even from oxbridge would not greatly enhance your chance but would give you another shot at the TC, however you have to weigh the pros and cons, you would be spending close to 15 lakhs and would have little assurance of a TC, I would rather advise that if you are interested in teaching, do a llm from oxbridge or ivy league and join one of the nlus they are always short of faculties