Career Paths available for LL.M students

 

 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.”

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