LLM Students
Overview of Services
Learning the Job Market
Employers
Information for International LLM Students
Sample Resumes
Overview of Services
Introduction
The John Marshall Law School has a full service, professional Career Services Office (CSO) open to all students. We provide a wide array of services ranging from career planning advice to extensive electronic resources accessible from anywhere in the world. Students receive access to our web-based career services system where they can access online job listings and upload their resumes for review. We also offer a series of career development workshops.
We plan a series of popular events for our students, including partnering with the various centers to offer career programming for LL.M and Master students. We are committed to helping you in your job search and career development. Recruiting and hiring practices in the U.S. job market require that career development be an ongoing process. However, a job search requires the active participation of the student. You can start by familiarizing yourself with the resources and services provided by the CSO. Also, we hope that you will utilize the full range of services offered by the law school, especially those provided by the center of your particular field.
Summary of Services
- One-on-one Counseling
LL.M. and Master students will receive many services through their centers. However, students may make appointments with a career counselor, at which they can discuss:
· the US job market,
· ways to learn more about this market, including via electronic and Web based
research sources,
· contacting employers,
· review resume and cover letters, and
· interviewing strategies.
- Mock Interviews
The CSO offers students the opportunity to practice interview skills through a “mock interview”. The counselor will critique your performance so that you will be at your best when you are granted an actual interview.
- The CSO Library
The CSO Library has a wealth of information on a variety of topics relating to your career search, including general career search information, legal job search resources, specialty practice area information, employer recruiting materials, public sector resources, and legal news publications. We encourage you to spend some time browsing through our resources.
- Office Equipment
Two computers and a stand-alone printer are available in the Career Services Office. Students may use these to research employers, locate John Marshall graduates, and write and print resumes, cover letters and other job search correspondence.
A fax machine, typewrite, copy machine, scanner and telephones are free to students and alumni using the office for job-related purposes.
- EASElaw
EASElaw is the Career Services Office online resource center. It provides 24-hour access to a wide range of CSO services and is accessible through the CSO’s website www.jmls.edu/careersvcs/index.shtml. Your Username and Password are the same as those you use for LegalEase.
Learning the Job Market
The United States job market is very competitive and has been tough during the past few years. If you are returning to school to get your LL.M. or Master degree to distinguish yourself you need to familiarize yourself with the job market so you will know the value of your degree and how to market yourself.
The LL.M. and Master degrees are especially helpful to students who want to specialize in a particular field. Students should research that field and not only consider legal placement, but non-legal jobs where that specialty area is vital. We encourage you to read as much as you can about the job market. The American Lawyer and the National Law Journal magazines are useful resources for LL.M. students. We recommend that Master students read The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times business section. Read with the following in mind:
· What are the hiring trends?
· Which practice areas are expanding, which are not?
· How are my skills marketable in the market place?
· How can my network help me reach employers?
· What can I contribute to a particular employer?
Employers
As continuing students many of you are familiar with the employers in your field and have identified potential employers. However, before starting your job search it is crucial that students evaluate where they want to work. In making that decision there are three things to think about:
1. Geographic Location – In what city/state/country do you want to work?
2. Practice Area – What type of law or business do you want to practice? Do you want
to practice law or use your degree for something else?
3. Setting – Do you want to work for a private law firm, a public employer, or some other
type of employer?
Private Law Firm Practice
Private Practice is the most common background of our entering LL.M. students and is the most common field into which LL.M.s return upon graduation. If you would like to practice in a firm you will need to decide what type of firm best suits your interest and personality. Firms range from small (with 2-15 attorneys) to large (with over 100 attorneys). These are things to consider:
Small firms: may range in size from 2-15 attorneys and practice areas tend to vary greatly. As a general rule, small firms offer greater responsibility and more personal client contact. They also may have greater flexibility but a lower starting salary. Small firms hire on an “as-needed” basis, generally when someone leaves the firm, or when the firm is growing. Small firms typically do not participate in fall on-campus interviewing because of this inability to predict their long-term hiring needs.
Medium firms: range in size from 15-100 attorneys and are more flexible in terms of hiring than large firms, though may place greater weight on academic credentials than a small firm would. Medium firms value candidates who have good client development skills and prior clerking or clinical experience.
Large firms: range in size from 100 + attorneys and as a general rule require more billable hours (1800-2500 annual billable office hours), but offer higher salaries. Students who show the drive and commitment necessary are attractive to these firms. Grades are extremely important to large firms and factor greatly into their hiring process, as well.
In-House Careers
Many corporations and nonprofit organizations, of all sizes, employ lawyers on their own staff. These attorneys provide legal advice on issues that impact the organization and its employees. Legal departments vary in size based on the size and structure of the company. A legal department may consist of one attorney or several hundred. In a large corporation, you may find a general counsel, assistant general counsel(s), and staff attorneys. Additionally, in-house counsel will, often or occasionally depending on the organization's needs, hire outside counsel to assist in specific matters considered too time-consuming or requiring special expertise.
Business Careers
Business careers are viable opportunities for both LL.M. and Master students.
Consulting
Consulting firms are retained by organizations and other businesses to provide expertise in the organization, operations and management of a given business. Legal training is an excellent skill to have for this industry. However, consulting firms also often look for prior experience in a particular field that is related to their clients' businesses. Accordingly, they will pay particular attention to candidates who bring additional professional expertise as well as study of the law. For example, if you did human resources work before your legal training, or have experience in the financial field; your skills may be of value to a consulting firm.
Financial Services
Legal training is also useful in the financial industry and some international financial services organizations hire professionals with legal training. A background in taxes and client counseling are especially useful because employees most often sell financial products to individual and business customers.
Tax Consulting with International Accounting Firms
Accounting firms hire lawyers and people with legal training. Attorneys with the major accounting firms typically do consulting work with the firm’s clients, particularly on tax issues but occasionally on other business development issues as well. Here, some kind of financial, economics, accounting, or tax background is helpful.
Opportunities in Non-Law Careers
For Master students and LL.M. students looking for non-legal careers it is important to know how to find employment and when hiring occurs. Non-legal employers, which typically hire primarily M.B.A. candidates, will be on the M.B.A. time frame. The hiring season is different than that of legal employers. Many companies will hire during November for Fall graduates and January through March for Spring graduates.
This is a much different search than a search for a position with a U.S. law firm. As with law firms, students should research the employers thoroughly to familiarize themselves with; the language of the industry, current industry issues, and the working of the particular company. Publications such as the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and other business press are useful and should be read weekly.
Effective use of your network is vital in the non-legal job search. Informational interviews are commonplace in these industries. You want to contact friends, family, alumni and other business associates to set up informational interviews. In the interview you want to ask questions to learn more about the day-to-day activities of the job, what skills are relevant to the industry and how to best market yourself. Please see our job search guide for more detail.
Academic Careers
Many LL.M. students express an interest in teaching, whether in law school or in undergraduate school. Careers in academia are very competitive and require a great deal of work and dedication.
Getting Tenure
For most schools in the U.S. becoming tenured requires that the person have teaching experience, service to the community and university and publish scholarly articles. The steps necessary to obtain tenure are outlined in a bi-annual spring volume of the Michigan Journal of Race & Law entitled "Breaking Into the Academy: The 2000-2002 Michigan Journal of Race & Law Guide for Aspiring Law Professors."
If you plan on entering a career in academics, during law school, you will want to build a strong academic record and to develop close professional relationships with your faculty (who will ultimately serve not only as your mentors but also as your recommenders). You will want to write a work of publishable quality related to your area of scholarly interest. You might also want to consider aiming for a federal clerkship and to have a variety of (relevant to your scholarship) employment experience.
It is important that students wanting to teach establish a scholarly agenda. Law Schools are interested in hiring academics who demonstrate a sincere interest to a particular area of law. You must have an agenda for your own academic work; you must be able to describe the field to which you would like to contribute through your research and teaching, and the scholarly direction this contribution will take.
In creating your agenda, it is wise to consider areas where there is a greater need for teaching. For example, popular areas such as Constitutional Law and Criminal Law rarely have open teaching slots. However, areas such as Property Law and Corporations often experience shortages. For the LL.M. the most opportunity is in the International Law areas.
The Hiring Process
The screening and hiring process for positions in law schools has been greatly standardized by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). The AALS holds an annual Faculty Recruitment Conference each fall (typically held in late October in Washington, D.C. at a large conference hotel). Most law schools and representatives from the faculty recruitment committees will attend and interview potential candidates.
The AALS also maintains a faculty appointments register, in which it collects information about candidates interested in law teaching positions. The register is then circulated to law school deans and hiring committees several times throughout the year. For more information consult: http://www.aals.org
Information for International LL.M Students
WORKING WHILE YOU ARE IN THE UNITED STATES
International students often need to work during their studies to gain valuable practical experience. Your visa allows you to work on-campus for 20 hours a week (or full time when school is not in session, such as during holidays or annual vacation), but you may not work off-campus during your first year of study. After the completion of your first year of study, you may apply to the USCIS for a work permit that authorizes you to work off-campus, but you must demonstrate a special need (and work no more than 20 hours per week, except when school is not in session). Students are allowed a total of 12 months employment for professional training. You should discuss employment with your Designated School Officer, Melissa McAlister. Your accompanying spouse and child may not accept employment.
BAR EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Practicing Law in the United States
In the U.S., to be permitted to practice law in any State you must first pass the bar exam of that State. Many States require that the lawyer first graduate from an accredited law school in the U.S. There is no national bar exam, so if you are interested in practicing law in Illinois, you need to take the Illinois Bar Exam. If you later move to California, you would have to take and pass the California Bar Exam. The bar exam is a comprehensive exam that takes months of preparation and many people do not pass on the first try.
Some jurisdictions in the United States will admit foreign attorneys. Some jurisdictions, including Illinois, New York, California, and the District of Columbia, do permit foreign law graduates to sit for the bar under certain circumstances.
The American Bar Association's annual publication, Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements provides additional information on bar admission requirements in these and other jurisdictions. To access this publication go to: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/publications/compguide2005/compguide2005.html.
Taking the Bar Exam
The bar examination varies from State to State, but has a similar format in every jurisdiction. Most States have a two day exam, but a few jurisdictions, including California, have a three day exam. One day consists of multiple choice questions in a format similar to the TOEFL. This part of the bar exam tests knowledge of general principles of U.S. law, and is known as the Multi-State Bar Examination. The other day or days of testing include essay questions and sometimes additional multiple choice questions that test applicants on various aspects of law that apply to the particular jurisdiction in which the applicant seeks admission, e.g. the District of Columbia or New York State. In some jurisdictions, such as California, a third day of testing requires applicants to answer essay questions regarding certain practice procedures in that particular jurisdiction.
The examination is held two times a year, once in late July (which is when most U.S. JD graduates sit for the exam) and once in February. Additionally, most states require an applicant to pass another, shorter examination known as the Multi-State Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). The MPRE is given in November, March and August, and is a two hour multiple choice exam. For details, see: http://www.ncbex.org/tests/mpre/mpre.htm
Almost all students (including J.D.s) take an intensive review course in preparation for the bar exam. This review course is offered by several competing private organizations and begins several months before the exam is offered. Students usually begin the review program soon after graduating from law school. For foreign attorneys, the review courses taken by U.S. lawyers may not offer adequate preparation for the bar exams (consider whether an eight-week review can provide the depth of familiarity with U.S. law which students here gain over a three-year training). In general, students from countries with a common-law heritage tend to fare better on the exam. In addition, some foreign students are not experienced with the multiple-choice format of the exams. Bar review courses are expensive, sometimes costing in excess of $2,000; the exam fees themselves run $200 and up.
Sample Resumes
Your resume is often the first impression that an employer will get of you. It is important that your resume reflects your skills and abilities, professionalism and personality. For LL.M. and master students it is important that your resume conform to the format used in your given industry. Below we have included sample resumes for LL.M. students and Master students. Please use these as a guide on how to format your resume and what to include. However, please do not copy these resumes exactly. Also, please review our complete section on resume writing on the CSO website.
Domestic LL.M. Resume
315 S. Plymouth Court • Chicago, IL • 60604 • (312) 427-2737
email:studious@students.jmls.edu
________________________________________________________________________
BAR ADMISSIONS: State of Illinois, November 2006
EDUCATION: The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL
LL.M. (Master of Law) in Taxation, May 2007
· Federal Income Taxes, Corporate Taxation, Gift and
Estate Tax
The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL
Juris Doctor, May 2006
· Moot Court Board
· Student Bar Association Treasurer
· Corporate Law Society
Big State University, Little City, IL
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, May 2003
· Debate Team
· Club Soccer
WORK EXPERIENCE: Partner & Associate, Chicago, IL
May 2005-Present Intern
· Research and wrote memoranda on Tax Code.
· Negotiated client claims with IRS agents and appeals
officers.
· Interviewed clients and witnesses.
Summer 2005 The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL
Research Assistant for Professor Iteach Tax
· Researched issues pertaining to state and federal taxes in
preparation for upcoming law review article on the Tax
Code.
· Analyzed and summarized various law review articles and
legislative histories with respect to above.
May 2004 – May 2005 James Jamison, Attorney at Law, Chicago, Illinois
Paralegal Assistant
· Scheduled real estate closings and consultation
appointments, updated contingency reports.
· Maintained files and filed water certiorari, checked status
of loan applications.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE: Prepared taxes pro bono, Habitat for Humanity
International LL.M. Resume
Current Address: Permanent Address:
312 S. Plymouth Court Via Nomentana
Chicago, IL 60604 56 00161
312-527-0007 Rome, Italy
student@students.jmls.edu Tel.: +39 6 44 0 36 78
________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION: The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL
LL.M. in International Business and Trade May 2008
Relevant Courses: International Business Transactions,
European Union Law, International Intellectual Property, Comparative
Law, International Trade.
University of Rome Law School, Rome, Italy
“Laurea in Giurisprudenza”(J.D.), 2005
Thesis in International Arbitration as an Approach to contract disputes
EXPERIENCE: DiVinci, Michelangelo & Puccini, Rome Italy
Attorney, 2005 - 2007
Represented clients on cases involving international law, business
and corporate matters including purchase of corporations. Advised
corporate clients concerning trade law, corporation law, stock exchange
regulations and contractual matters. Represented clients in trial
experience and appellate courts. Prepared briefs, contracts, settlement
agreements and corporation charters.
Afrique du Sud, Terre de Justices, Paris, France and South Africa
Researcher, Summer 2004
Performed field research, drafted report for a policy research project on
Access to Justice in South Africa. Project supported by the French
Government and the Paris Bar Association
Gianco & Armani, Rome, Italy
Legal Intern, 2003 - 2004
Assisted partners on general corporate matters, international
commercial contracts, intellectual property matters, trademarks
agreements and real estate negotiations.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSE: Member of the Rome Bar since September 2005
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Fluent in English and Italian (native), conversational French
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS: Playing football (soccer) and international travel
Master Student Resume
315 S. Plymouth Court
Chicago, IL 60653
312-427-2737
master@students@jmls.edu
_______________________________________________________________________
PROFILE
Real Estate professional with property management experience, outstanding communication skills and a Masters in Real Estate Law. Have the ability to oversee corporate real estate transactions and commercial real estate acquisitions/dispositions.
EDUCATION
Master of Science in Real Estate Law – Real Estate, May 2006
The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL
Relevant Coursework:
Commercial Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Litigation, The Real Estate Industry, Federal Income and Tax Aspects of Real Estate, Fair Housing/Fair Lending Law
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, May 2000
Liberal Art College, College of Business, Big City, Michigan
Graduated Magna cum Laude
EXPERIENCE
Independent Real Estate Broker/Investor
Real Estate Company, Chicago, IL 2003-2006
· Brokered a $2 million apartment complex for the seller at a 5.5% cap rate
· Purchased a 4,000 square foot office building as an investment and sold part of the
unoccupied adjoining land for a large percentage of the original cost
· Consultant for various real estate related activities
Commercial Real Estate Broker Associate
Smith Dickinson, Chicago, IL 2001-2003
· As a licensed real estate broker, specialized in investment properties and retail
leasing for investors
· Developed detailed shopping center database covering Illinois (over 1,000 centers)
to facilitate relationship-building with investment property owners
Financial Intern
Seafront Rowing Company. New City, NY 1998-1999
· Managed entire inventory: assessed losses and damages, reworked and
computerized inventory management system to identify and rectify problems
· Employed computerized system to file monthly tax returns to State of New York
SKILLS
· Computer: Argus
· Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
· Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project), and SAP.
LICENSURE/ACTIVITIES
· Licensed Realtor in the State of Illinois 2001
· Activities and Fundraiser Chairperson: Houston-based Ski Club, as a member of a
national ski association
Last Updated On: 7/11/07
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