Lawyer Salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Which LLM?

Toronto LLM

Originally Posted by Unregistered

How has your prospects changed before and after

I haven't took it yet which is why I'm asking if and why a LLM ranking matters so much

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I haven't took it yet which is why I'm asking if and why a LLM ranking matters so much

Hmm okay. Congrats on admission btw!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Toronto LLM

Not worth it bro. Imo.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not worth it bro. Imo.

Yeah not worth. If it’s Columbia, NYU or LSE, not that valued too.
But at least can still say worth a shot.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yes, agree insofar as it 'adds pedigree'. You already had pedigree, you're just adding to it.

Exactly. that’s why “Add to it” means doing it at anywhere OTHER THAN Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge is pointless.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not worth it bro. Imo.

The only worthwhile Masters to take if you're concerned with career progression (particularly if you're at the International side of an FLA, JLC, academia or inhouse, everywhere else 1PQE is worth more) are:

1. Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, Wharton (combined Wharton + LLM, I don't think UPenn alone is worth it), Yale
2. Oxford, Cambridge, LSE (but let down by high admission rates for LLMs)

The rest are not worth it (only LLMs are worth it).

I'm talking in terms of getting to the international side of an FLA, not the Singapore side. Every Singapore side practice, B4, mid-sized etc, 1PQE is worth more.

There's also significant risk involved, in that you don't really know how it'd affect you in terms of career prospects. 1PQE is certain, the benefits of getting an LLM may not materialise in a concrete and observable way.

E.g. if you are a first class from NUS, you get a Harvard LLM offer. You take it. You don't know for a fact that it actually makes you more valuable than if you didn't. There's a possibility/probability that it does not help in any material way.

Second, LLMs have more to offer in terms of transactional work especially if your LLM is transactional related. LLMs for disputes or arbitration practice, not so much. Your track record talks more than your grades. You can be very academically sound but impractical.

Anything else, if you do a Masters in Economics, it doesn't really speak to aptitude.

Also, you only really need an LLM if there is something you want and you're not there yet. The LLM is a stepping stone to something you need above and beyond your LLB.

So for instance, a 2:1 from Oxford at a MC is not likely to get an LLM. Why? Because 1PQE + loss of 1 year salary + loss of tuition fees and expenses for an LLM without a scholarship. Most don't seem to cover expenses.

Anything else, I would not take up an LLM. If they were free and I got paid with an extra PQE, why not. But nope, not worth it.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Exactly. that’s why “Add to it” means doing it at anywhere OTHER THAN Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge is pointless.

No, what I meant was if you're not of that pedigree at an undergraduate level, an LLM is not likely to shore up your prospects.

But yeah, those ARE solid schools, except I'd cast my net a bit wider depending on what I am seeking to achieve by an LLM (which may already come with a lack of practicality - see post on fees + loss of 1 PQE)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yeah not worth. If it’s Columbia, NYU or LSE, not that valued too.
But at least can still say worth a shot.

Agree. I say this without any tinge of bias. LSE LLM has too high of an admission rate to be a distinguishing factor.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Agree. I say this without any tinge of bias. LSE LLM has too high of an admission rate to be a distinguishing factor.

Refer to QS Survey 2020 for law.

1.Harvard
2. Oxford
3. Cambridge
4. Yale
5. Stanford
6. LSE