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My Personal Experience with an LLM Program

I came to the USA with the idea to improve my professional development and to learn about other legal systems that may be useful in my career.

As a first step, I decided to pursue an LLM at Berkeley. I remember asking myself if it was worth it, and realizing that others also shared the same question.

During my studies, most of my fellow law students were also thinking of how this would help them reach their own goals, such as a better salary, a higher position in a law firm, networking opportunities or just a year break from long hours of work.

I realized that you should know why you are pursuing such an expensive educational investment. As a self-practitioner, I wasn’t pursuing advancement in a law firm or a one year sabbatical.  Rather, with a small office and a few clients, I decided that taking an LLM at a young age of 28 would give me the opportunity to learn not only legal subjects but also further my personal experiences and expand my practice to international contracts and bigger clients. I also had the hope of finding a job and learning about practicing and living in a different country..  In many ways, I wanted to have a taste of the American dream.

Before enrolling in an LLM or a paralegal certification program, ask yourself why are you doing it. Is it to find a job in America, to go back to your country after you have finished, or to experience living abroad? After my graduation I found myself in the middle of America’s economic crisis.  When you go to the US on a student visa for an LLM, after the competition of your studies you get the opportunity to sign up for a practical training program that will extend your visa status for one more year. This OPT is work authorization to international students who have been in valid F-1 status for at least two consecutive semesters. This will allow you to stay in the US and experience professional life, but the job must be directly related to your major area of study.

Ana Barrera

Tips of when to apply to a LL.M.

1.    Be sure you have the necessary English proficiency- remember that you will be taking classes in English.
2.    Study the profile of the law school you are applying to before writing the essay.
3.    Be organized with the application deadlines for the universities you are applying.
4.    Before applying to an LL.M. program, look for ways to fund your studies and think about how much debt you can afford to take on.
5.    See the value of the LL.M. degree in your life and how it will help you achieve your professional goals. You may find that there exists other easer and shorter ways to reach your goals.
6.    Consider other options, such as a paralegal certificate, other postgraduate law degrees, an internship at a law firm, an American juris doctor (J.D.) degree, and alternative career options. 

Why is it worthy to do an internship or work after your LL.M.?

When I was on my second and last semester of my LL.M. at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, I started to think what was going to be my next step. One option was to go back to Colombia and work. But, another alternative was to do my Optional Practical Training –OPT- after gotten my degree as it was possible with the visa I had as a LL.M. student.

The decision was not hard. I decided to do my master in the U.S. because I wanted to learn as much as possible about another legal system and expand my knowledge on certain areas of the law. Thus, the OPT was the logic option according with my goals. Nevertheless, as a foreign law student it was not easy to get a job or an internship in the U.S.

Thus, I decided to ask as many people as I could where to find openings, to attend any job fair and social events to do networking. I presented several applications for jobs and internships and I was called for few interviews until I finally got an internship with Prisoner Legal Services (PLS) of the Sheriff’s Department of San Francisco.

PLS is an office that provides legal assistance to inmates in the county jails of San Francisco. Therefore, as a criminal attorney from Colombia, it was an amazing experience to have hands on experience on a jail system of California. I got to learn about the re-socialization programs they have for women and defendants of violent crimes as well as, about educational programs. Also, I had the opportunity to understand beyond the theory, about the criminal legal system in the U.S; its positive and negative things; and, how it actually works.

In addition, as a Spanish speaking person, I provided legal assistance to monolingual inmates. Most of them were illegal immigrants. It was satisfying to help them as they not always can access the legal aids given by the Sheriff’s Department, due to their language and cultural barriers. Also, it was a great experience to deal with legal issues that are common in first world countries, but not in Colombia such as, immigration consequences of a conviction and access to justice to foreign citizens, among others.

It could keep telling my stories and anecdotes about how was it to work in a U.S. But in short, I definitely recommend current or future students either to work or do an internship after their studies in California. It not only adds to your C.V., but also to your personal and professional experience. I the future, the knowledge and skills you acquire might be useful either in Colombia or any other part of the world. Of course, good luck!        


Juliana Escobar.