which specific LLM subjects are in big demand and why? Not quite what you asked, but I hope you find interesting.
The nine-month general LLM program from Northwestern University offers outstanding graduates of foreign law schools an opportunity to expand their knowledge of American law and legal processes, continue their studies in international law, and engage in comparative legal research.
In order to become a lawyer and practice law, a person must first obtain a professional law degree. While in most countries a Bachelor of Laws degree is required, the U.S. requires a post-graduate Juris Doctor degree to practice law, which is equivalent to the former American LL.B. A professional law degree is a generalized course of study that exposes students to a wide range of legal subjects. It is designed to provide the basic skills and knowledge needed to become a lawyer. As there are many required courses, it is hardly possible to focus on a particular area of law in the course of study leading to a Juris Doctor degree.
If a person wishes to gain specialized knowledge in a particular area of law, he or she can continue his or her studies after an LL.B or J.D. in an LL.M. program. The word legum is the genitive plural form of the Latin word lex, which means "law". When used in the plural, it signifies a specific body of laws, as opposed to the general collective concept embodied in the word jus, from which the words "juris" and "justice" derive.
The highest law degree, coming after the LLM, is the JSD (or SJD, depending on the school). Most schools require an LLM before admission to a JSD degree program; however, a few do not. The JSD degree generally requires a thesis that is graded (often times by two graders), orally defended and then published before the JSD degree is granted.
There is a wide range of LL.M. programs available worldwide, allowing students to focus on almost any area of the law. Most universities offer only a small number of LL.M. programs. One of the most popular LL.M. degrees in the United States is tax law. Another developing area is bankruptcy law. Other common programs include environmental law, human rights law, commercial law, intellectual property law, information technology law,estate planning (as a sub-specialty of tax) and international law. Some LL.M. programs, particularly in the United States, focus on teaching foreign lawyers the basic legal principles of the host country (a "comparative law" degree). Moreover, some programs are conducted in more than one language (e.g.LLM in Europa-Institut in Saarbruecken, Germany).
An LL.M. can also be achieved through legal research, often after completion of a single dissertation, rather like M.Phil post-graduate research degrees.
LL.M. degrees are often earned by students wishing to develop more concentrated expertise in a particular area of law. Pursuing an LL.M. degree may also allow law students to build a professional network. Some associations provide LL.M. degree holders with structures designed to strengthen their connections among peers and to access a competitive business environment.
In countries including the United States, the LL.M. is an advanced degree for persons who are already lawyers, rather than for persons wishing to become lawyers.
In the United States, the professional law degree discussed above is called the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Persons in the United States who obtain an LL.M. do so after they have received their Juris Doctor degree. Thus, they receive a doctorate degree first and their Master of Laws degree second. This is due to the fact that the professional law degree in the United States was originally called the Bachelor of Laws, abbreviated as LL.B. Although some U.S. law schools had granted a Juris Doctor degree to graduates holding a bachelor's degree, it wasn't until the late 1960s that the American Bar Association approved the change for all of its affiliated law schools to better represent the academic standing of those holding law degrees. However, the LL.M. name was never changed, resulting in a situation where a Master of Laws degree is actually a more advanced degree than a Juris Doctor degree for U.S.-educated lawyers.
However, a general LL.M. degree is often sought by foreign lawyers who wish to practice in the United States. An LL.M. degree from an ABA-approved law school allows a foreign lawyer to become eligible to apply for admission to practice in certain states, such as New York. It depends mostly on your city of living and working. For example if you are residing in big metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai....or even in Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc.... you can opt for specialized LLM in "Corporate Business" or "Management and Work Forces" as these specialization are much in demand from big houses. Ok...if you do not belong to any of the cities I mentioned, and still wish to continue with specialized LLM, then there is another option - go for "Civil and Penal". However, these two sectors are mainly male-dominance oriented, yet pretty much in demand....Best Luck. |
