The LLM evokes a series of various responses. Many are such that you do not encounter them till you actually complete the program and hit that first interview.
There is a deep-rooted, somewhat misguided skeptical outlook for the degree. Essentially, it should be seen as an investment in oneself. But often, financial and personal insecurities, fuelled by discounting by law firms, changes the way the degree is perceived. So hearing words like “vacation,” “good experience” and “waste of time” are common and often partially accurate. I say partially accurate, because a degree can be all these things, and yet, be worthwhile. But, at an interview stage, these perceptions can get awkward to handle, especially when you are competing for a coveted position.
So, if you are thinking or have graduated from an LLM program, be prepared to defend your choice. An interviewer may tell you that LLM’s often “warehouse” and stay at firms for some time only to move on to somewhere else (Subtext: LLM’s are not trustworthy). Or, you might be told that an LLM is not equal to a year of work experience (Subtext: Don’t expect more money/salary just because you studied further). This perception is to some extent fair to the person that did not go for an LLM. But, what about the person that took a year of their life to invest in themselves? This will not be considered as it represents a “downgrade” for some employers. The reality is that it is also convenient for employers and law firms to save a bit of money while hiring somebody. So they will try to make to feel this way in an interview just to pursue their economic interest further. What makes better sense for firms and employers is to forgive the early discounting and compensate the person later for their advanced degree. But, till that doesn’t happen, we are stuck with these perceptions.
To be fair to the critics of the LLM, there are cheaper options available. So an expensive LLM can be compared to an exam like the QLTS which is much more affordable and does not require you to leave your job to study full-time. So whilst you would spend 9 months and go through a gruelling bar exam at the end to become dual-qualified, the QLTS allows you to be dual-qualified at much less expense and becomes a neat substitute for the LLM. What the QLTS can’t replace though, is the academic and personal transformation that those 9 months bring about. So if someone tells you they would rather do the QLTS, this decision makes financial and practical sense. But, equating the QLTS and LLM to each other is not correct.
The LLM and its related choices (e.g. bar exams) may also evoke some questions from employers. Like why you would choose to write the bar exam as a foreign law graduate if you wanted to come and practice in your home country. Many will either dismiss the effort you put in or simply not understand your time during the LLM and speak like an expert on why the degree isn’t a good choice. Simply put, this arm-chair philosophy is much like social media chatter, which can only represent a viewpoint. These perceptions do not have to be right or wrong. Only that you can either counter them with the right reasons or more information. So, the next time you hear a misguided soul dissing the LLM degree, question their assumptions and call them out. You may actually be doing them a favour, by helping them see the value of the LLM.
