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The globalization of international law
International postgraduate legal education is experiencing a radical change, with a vast range of programmes on offer to meet the growing demand from students. For law graduates with a JD or LLB, the most popular international postgraduate law course preparing you for legal practise is the LLM. So why the dramatic increase in the perceived importance of LLMs? How do you go about making your choice from the range on offer? And finally - and perhaps most importantly - how can you benefit?
Postgraduate law study
The growing trend
The numbers of international students at US university law schools increased five-fold between 1980 and 2000 – almost two-and-a-half times the general growth rate of international students in the USA in the same period. Similar growth is beginning to take place in Europe and throughout the world.
Like the enormous growth in interest in international postgraduate study across all disciplines, law – now most commonly manifested in the internationally recognised LLM qualification – is becoming increasingly popular amongst undergraduates. In the US alone, the number of universities offering LLM programmes has increased from only a few dozen in the early 1990s to 102 in 2003/04.
Why choose an international LLM?
So why study for an LLM overseas? Is it because you want to experience life and the culture of a certain country? Or to focus on a certain specialisation? Perhaps you’ll increase your prospective career prospects by selecting an LLM relating to your desired field of practise? Making this decision will enable you to narrow down the option of which school, or in which country to study. Having said this, the latter may often prove the deciding factor due to influences such as funding, travel and lifestyle.
But why the recent rise in popularity of LLMs? This is in part due to the fact that employers are beginning to consider them more favourably. One reason for this is the increase in the representation of foreign clients at home, as well as the Bologna Accord and technological advances opening the door for cross-border, distance learning and personalised study. The choice of a huge array of specialisms is also desirable.
Carole Silver, Senior Lecturer at Northwestern's School of Law and an expert on LLM education comments on this growth in popularity: “Some students explain that the LLM provides legitimacy for them in their practices at home, especially in relation to their representation of foreign clients and work in transnational transactions. Transnational work is often the most sophisticated, but in order to gain entry to that practice they must be fluent in English and be familiar with US law and business culture – those are powerful reasons for coming to a US LLM programme.”
Recent trends are also beginning to indicate that gaining an LLM qualification may result in a higher salary
An LLM gives the opportunity for general study or specialisation, as well as the chance of comparative study abroad and to take advantage of the chance to immerse oneself in a foreign culture. Recent trends are also beginning to indicate that gaining an LLM qualification may result in a higher salary.
This increase in the supply of candidates, is helping meet the growing demand for specialised LLMs. Our natural surrounding and environment are beginning to dictate a higher level of demand for certain specialisms, for example, environmental LLMs are on the increase, with the rise in natural disasters and global pollution. There are plenty of institutions offering such specialisms – use our Grad School Search to find out where you can study your chosen discipline.
Generalise or specialise?
Whatever your preferences, it is now likely that you’ll be able to find a tailored LLM as well as a more generic overview with a generalised LLM.
The specialised LLM is a more focused degree and whether your area of interest lies in banking, IT, sports, criminology, human rights or taxation, there is likely to be a course to satisfy your needs. Students pursuing such a qualification often have a clearly defined career path, and already have some academic background in the area.
