How about a foreign JD?

Parents Forum
1

<p>I wrote earlier about possibly doing the JD part of a JD/MBA, for personal reasons rather than career ones: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/596641-getting-jd-personal-reasons.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/596641-getting-jd-personal-reasons.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It occurs to me that perhaps a foreign degree would allow me to fulfill my goals: </p>

<p>(I've wanted to go to law school since I was a kid. I love to read, write, and research. Many of the people I admire are law professors and I have taken classes at the law school during undergrad through cross-enrollment. I enjoy philosophy and public policy and may want to pursue a career in policy or academia in the future. I've read the bios of many lawyers who are now in "alternative" fields and really like the paths they've taken. Basically, I want to fulfill a dream of going to law school and keep my options open as far as future policy and academic careers.)</p>

<p>Since:</p>

<p>(I know that I don't want to be a conventional private practice lawyer. I've read many articles about the general unhappiness in the legal field and know that the corporate life is not for me. I'm fairly bohemian in style and don't want the fancy car, house, etc.)</p>

<p>Do you think a foreign LLM or JD (from a common law system, like the UK) would give me a legal and policy framework more quickly and more cheaply than a US degree, especially since I don't want to do the corporate law route? Could I then do policy work in the US, or internationally, if I choose?</p>

<p>I don't know much about foreign law degrees. I've searched here on the forum and on the web, but haven't found very much information. Anyone know about this?</p>

<p>(Sorry to pester everyone with endless questions, but I think that perhaps this one can benefit others who might be considering policy careers or foreign degrees.)</p>

2

<p>Unlike a foreign medical school education, which can work in the US provided it is of decent quality and you can pass the US exam, a foreign legal education prepares you to practice law in that country and not in the US. The human body is the same in all countries. The legal systems are not. </p>

<p>I'm not saying it can't work, but if you ever plan to use your law degree at all in the US, you better take hard look at how graduates of the specific foreign law school you are considering fare when trying to move to the US before going abroad and enrolling.</p>

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<p>I dont know if your goal is to gain bar admission in the states but without attending a US ABA accredited school, your options are critically limited as far as practicing here goes (meaning you cant practice law here without an active license in any state)..I know in NY you can sit for their bar with a foreign degree if you have such a degree from a common law country..I am not aware of any other state where this is the case. I do not think it would be cheaper to attend school in the UK...Things cost a fortune there and I mean everything...If you just want the degree and dont want to actually practice law then I cant see the time and or money investment being worth it really..Getting one for personal reasons might seem nice but after having gone through it I can tell you it is a commitment in time and money that is not something one should do just on a whim. Think long and hard before you make any concrete plans..There are too many lawyers out there and not enough jobs. I just wish someone had sat me down a few years ago and told me the harsh realities of becoming a lawyer today. My daughter wants to go to law school and yes I am trying to discourage her even before she goes to undergrad..</p>