Acquiring a master of laws (LL.M.)
degree may be beneficial to future academics and attorneys looking to break
into tax law; but the advantage it confers to other attorneys in the general
job market is debatable. Here a
few things attorneys, especially recent graduates, should consider before they
enroll in a LL.M. program:
1.
There is no guarantee that an LL.M.
will offer an advantage in the general job market, outside of certain
specialized fields. Currently,
there is no data proving that an LL.M improves an attorney’s chances of being
hired in the domestic job market.
2.
If you are going into tax law an
LL.M. can be beneficial. Or, if you
went to a lower-tier school and had a high ranking, or went to a higher-tier
school but had a low ranking, obtaining a LL.M. may help you get through the
door at more prestigious firms; but it is still not guaranteed.
3.
If you are a recent graduate,
obtaining an advanced law degree may not be beneficial because so many graduates
are choosing to extend their education during the job market slump. Once you obtain your LL.M. you may
simply be one of many graduates who took the time to obtain the degree.
4.
If you are considering working
abroad, a LL.M. degree could be beneficial because attorney with an LL.M. are
in demand abroad.
(source: http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=1202472284083&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1)