Looking into the LLM

Technological advances and new developments in the law are providing the push for lawyers to go back to school.

LLM is Latin for Legum Magister (or Legum Magistra for women), which translates to Master of Laws. Defined by Black's Law Dictionary as: 'a law degree conferred on those completing graduate-level legal studies,' the LLM is recognised internationally as the first advanced academic degree in law. With the proliferation of evolving new technologies and globalisation, it has become more important for lawyers to understand, learn how to navigate through and handle complex legal systems effectively and efficiently.

The LLM in detail

The LLM is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course. There are also many different types of LLMs that students can choose from, to fit their immediate or long-term needs - for example a general LLM or a more specialised LLM - which can be studied on-site or through distance learning, by coursework or research. This type of course is offered by over 300 schools in 40 countries worldwide, and is gaining international popularity.

The target market

The LLM is for ambitious lawyers seeking additional training, in order to understand the complex modern law systems we have in place today; lawyers wanting a career switch; lawyers aspiring to be able to work anywhere in the world; and also those who simply want to strengthen their knowledge and improve their core skills among others.

Similar to other postgraduate degree programmes, studying for an LLM involves commitment and sacrifice. You should therefore consider whether doing the programme would be worth the time, money and effort you will be investing.

Questions

Before deciding upon whether to study an LLM, ask yourself these questions:

• Where am I in terms of my career?
• Am I able to leave my job for a year? Part-time or full-time?
• Can I afford to lose my income and also support my fees, books and personal expenses?
• Do I need an LLM?
• What can I do with an LLM?
• What do I want to gain from my LLM?
• Will it give me the edge over less-qualified candidates?
• Into which type of practice do I want to move?
• Do I want to stay in Malaysia or move overseas?
• In which area of law do I want to specialise?

The prerequisites for studying an LLM

Entry requirements for the LLM differ from one law school to another. Generally, the schools accept those with a first degree in law or a qualification of an equivalent standard. Some law schools also accept graduates from other disciplines who have completed a graduate diploma in law. Please check with the respective law schools for further information.

The reasons for taking an LLM

To be truly global
It is the 21st Century and we live in a global market. More and more companies have international operations. To keep up, it is critical that lawyers understand and are able to advise clients about the practices and laws specific to the countries in which they operate. The LLM programme is designed with many perspectives in mind - to provide law graduates with an introduction to the legal systems of other countries, to broaden their global perspectives and to aid in their development of an in-depth understanding of law, to name a few.

To be a cut above the rest
Whether you choose to study a specialist or a general LLM, knowledge gained through the course will build on your first degree, add to your skill base and, in the process, enhance your credentials. Upgrading yourself academically also tells employers one thing - you have specialised law knowledge. With a good-quality LLM qualification, it will be easier to get your foot in the door of prestigious law firms - in Malaysia or overseas.

To specialise
An LLM can aid in the change of your career focus. Specialisations range from the more traditional, eg banking and finance, to the more modern, eg intellectual property and international business, so there is great variety to choose from.

Popular specialisations

1. Banking and finance
2. Human resources
3. Commercial and corporate
4. Competition law
5. Environmental law
6. International business law
7. Intellectual property law
8. Medical law
9. Tax law
10. Entertainment law.

Conclusion

Whatever the reasons behind your choice of studying an LLM - be it working in an international law firm, earning your first million as a lawyer, or just studying for the sake of gaining more specialised knowledge - knowing exactly what you want from the course will be beneficial to you. Therefore, it is best to take some time to think about what you really want with the qualification and choose your law school according to the way you want your career to develop.

© GTI Specialist Publishers. Reproduced with permission.