Many LL.M.s going into ‘in-house’ and government roles
She cites the UK’s civil service, where LL.M. alumni can work across a
variety of areas, including parliamentary and advisory work,
litigation, commercial and employment law.
“The remuneration may not match the dizzying heights of that offered
to some [graduates] in private practice, but pay is only one way in
which people may feel rewarded,” says Watton. Indeed, work that has a
positive impact on society or the environment can be worthwhile and
satisfying.
Another benefit of public sector work is that the government legal
profession in the UK offers training contracts and pupillages — an
apprenticeship that qualifies barristers to practise independently in
England and Wales.
“The quality of work undertaken is top notch, with the benefit of
being able to move within departments, so lawyers are not pigeon-holed
into narrow fields,” says Watton.
Beyond government roles, many LL.M.s also go into non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), such as the United Nations or Amnesty
International. These and other NGOs often recruit LL.M.s to help with
legal issues, both internal and external.
Some LL.M.s go onto careers outside the legal sector
LL.M. graduates can use their legal training in many different
fields, even those outside the legal profession. Queen Mary’s LL.M.
graduates have gone on to work in regulation and compliance (a growth
sector), policy-making, as financiers, entrepreneurs, journalists and
charity leaders.
Berkeley Law is seeing a small uptick in LL.M. graduates pursuing
consulting, but for the most part they are interested in pursuing legal
work.
Queen Mary’s Watton says: “An LL.M. gives you advanced legal
knowledge and skills, such as the ability to research, critical thinking
and problem-solving capability, and the power to persuade. All of which
may be very useful in non-legal contexts.”
She adds that LL.M. students can supplement these skills by making
the most of other opportunities while studying. For example, getting
involved in societies, keeping up with hobbies and interests, or doing
voluntary work, can help students acquire further transferable skills
such as communication, and demonstrate initiative to potential
employers.
“Being a strong all-rounder can make you attractive to many different employers,” says Watton.
Another post-LL.M. career path: the academic route
Some LL.M. graduates go on to study for a PhD in a complementary
discipline, which is a fantastic route into an academic career, perhaps
working as a professor at law school.
“Our students [who are] interested in an interdisciplinary academic
career often take advantage of their time here to make connections with
other departments on campus through events and coursework,” says Zuraw,
at Berkeley Law. The school offers a J.S.D, another pathway to an
academic career.
It’s important for LL.M. graduates to stay open to new opportunities
rather than expecting to follow a rigid path, says Watton. “There’s
always an element of luck.”
Whichever career path you follow, networking will be vital to its
success — an LL.M. provides access to a network of legal professionals
from around the world. “Learn from the people around you and make
yourself useful to them in turn, and you will find that you have built
an invaluable career network,” says Zuraw.
Back at DLA Piper, Ólafsdóttir advises: “Surround yourself with
interesting people who are bold and enthusiastic, and don’t be afraid to
challenge the status quo.”
For more information on LL.M careers and programs visit
http://www.legalenglish.com/llm/
Or visit
http://www.legalenglish.com/llm/classifieds.php
