LLM full name is Master of Law, the equivalent of a master's degree, is a specially prepared for international students American law courses. Length of schooling is usually 9 months. USA national students basically to read JD. Those with bachelor degree or above can apply for American LLM.

Selected readings of LLM two main groups:

One is the experienced lawyer. Due to the foreign capital, no foreign lawyer's license, basically not possible from legal assistant up to associate. While the UK license with respect to America license to a lot of difficulties, need 2 years of InternPCLL exam, so many lawyers choose to American gold-plated, access to foreign law license with the most rapid, economical method.

Two has just graduated from undergraduate students. For international students, LLM basically no scholarship, so every applicant must hold at their own expense plan. LLM tuition for one year in 30000 53 million $9, plus all the living expenses ranging (with NY and LA is the most expensive). The total cost is estimated at 500000 yuan. LLM cost is increasing every year, basically the annual growth rate of 10%.

LLM General program and specialized program two. Most schools offer only general program, select general program undergraduate course can be arbitrary; a few schools, such as NYU corporate llm, GTU Taxes program, international law program, the sepcialized program has certain requirements of the course, for example, must choose how many points with related courses.

Recommend undergraduates choose general program, because the undergraduate academic direction of future is not clear positioning, general program can freely elective. Secondly, the general program application is relatively easy, many specialized program related work background, undergraduate to apply for these program no advantage.

Is also a law major, LLM compared with JD differences are not small. The biggest difference is that the application of JD require LSAT scores, and LLM for as long as TOEFL. From the student perspective, JD visa difficult, school fees, because the average is 3 years and the scholarship is not much, but LLM is relatively better. But in terms of employment and academic point of view, the gold content of JD is much higher than LLM.

JD degree in America valuable (whether from the academic angle of view or occupation), LLM is now increasingly worthless. For China applicants, if you intend to stay in the American a lifetime, then read JD sooner or later; only LLM could not stay long in USA. If you intend to return to China, then do not read JD, LLM is more substantial, more economical, and LLM knowledge learned in the Chinese absolutely sufficient. In general, only JD can do America bar, but some states, also allows the ABA certification LLM examination of the state of the Bar, including CA and NY. Relatively speaking, NY Bar than CA Bar more attractive to some, because the NY Bar examination as long as 2 days, while CA Bar to test 3 days, and it is said that CA Bar needs a foreign lawyer's license.

The main way of LLM:

First, to China as a lawyer. This is the most LLM selection. Experienced lawyers usually will return, because there are certain economic basis or family. But no work experience of LLM in USA more can not find a job, so still have to come back.

Second, find work or a year in America internship. But according to the previous LLM statement is' it is extremely difficult to find a job offer, especially those who will support your J-1 visa '. LLM find a job in American is difficult, difficult to what extent? According to U Penn career office, in the past 6 years (05 years ago) LLM class, successful people find work only 15%, the worst one, only 3 people find jobs. Although the schools is different, but basically "job" is very difficult, especially for lack of experience, direct read LLM people. Even in people who find work, is a large part of all work experience at home and abroad, and the outside of American branch prior agreement, where work or internship for a period of time. So, if you are an undergraduate, basically be the worst: unable to find a job, may I finish the Bar will be back. Similarly, intern is also very difficult.

  Third, LLM JD. Therefore, many students go out, in under the helpless under decided to make a greater investment risk, is JD. Some schools, such as Columbia, Cornell, and U Penn are allowed to outstanding achievements of LLM into JD. But some schools, such as NYU, is not allowed.

Attached: the most popular USA law school rankings:

100 Most Popular Law Schools 2010

Rank	Full Profile	University / Business School		Profile Views
1	-	New York University (NYU) School of Law	NY	47331
2	-	Harvard University - Harvard Law School (HLS)	MA	36741
3		University of California, Berkeley Law (Boalt Hall)	CA	35970
4	-	Columbia University - Columbia Law School (CLS)	NY	29926
5	-	Georgetown University Law Center (GULC)	DC	25409
6		Boston University School of Law (BU Law)	MA	25373
7		Northwestern University (NU)	IL	22016
8		University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	CA	21807
9		Fordham University School of Law (New York City)	NY	19696
10		American University (AU) - Washington College of Law (WCL)	DC	17945
11	-	Stanford University - Stanford Law School (SLS)	CA	17693
12		University of Southern California - USC Law School	CA	17124
13		George Washington University Law School (GW Law)	DC	16058
14		University of Miami School of Law	FL	15590
15	-	Yale University - Yale Law School (YLS)	CT	12456
16		The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy - Tufts University	MA	11771
17	-	University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Law School - Penn Law	PA	11130
18		Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Yeshiva University (New York City)	NY	10950
19		George Washington University - Intellectual Property Law Program	DC	10576
20		University of California, Davis (UC Davis)	CA	10482
21		Penn State University	PA	10381
22		Chapman University School of Law (Southern California)	CA	9740
23		New York Law School (NYLS)	NY	9718
24	-	Cornell University - Cornell Law School	NY	9689
25		Boston College Law School (BC Law)	MA	9221
26		Vanderbilt University Law School	TN	8782
27		Stetson University College of Law	FL	8436
28	-	University of Chicago Law School	IL	8306
29	-	Duke University - Duke Law School	NC	8256
30		University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law (WSRSL)	HI	7939
31		Tulane University - Tulane Law School	LA	7881
32		University of Connecticut School of Law (UConn Law)	CT	7809
33	-	University of San Diego (USD) School of Law	CA	7780
34		St. John 's University - Bankruptcy Program	NY	7269
35	-	University of Michigan Law School	MI	7262
36	-	University of Washington, Seattle UW School of Law	WA	6750
37		University of California, Hastings College of the Law	CA	6729
38	-	University of Virginia (UVA) School of Law	VA	6693
39		Southwestern Law School	CA	6621
40		University of Maryland - School of Law	MD	6527
41		Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Law)	IN	6505
42		Case Western Reserve University School of Law	OH	6462
43		University of Minnesota Law School (UofM Law School)	MN	6448
44		The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law	OH	6332
45	-	University of Houston Law Center (UHLC)	TX	6268
46		Lewis & Clark College	OR	6131
47	-	University of Florida (UF) Levin College of Law	FL	6051
48		Golden Gate University (GGU)	CA	5871
49	-	The University of Texas School of Law (UT Law)	TX	5871
50		University at Buffalo (UB) Law School	NY	5850
51		University of Georgia - Dean Rusk Center	GA	5792
52		Emory University	GA	5497
53	-	University of Illinois (UIUC) College of Law	IL	5403
54	-	Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL)	CA	5259
55	-	Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law	PA	5165
56	-	University of Denver Sturm College of Law - DU Law	CO	4949
57		Florida Coastal School of Law	FL	4928
58		The Catholic University of America (CUA) - Columbus School of Law	DC	4848
59		University of Oregon School of Law	OR	4733
60		University of Alabama School of Law	AL	4567
61		Ohio Northern University - Pettit College of Law	OH	4560
62		Louisiana State University (LSU) - Paul M. Hebert Law Center	LA	4553
63	-	Southern Methodist University - SMU Dedman School of Law	TX	4459
64		Hofstra University School of Law	NY	4431
65		Loyola University New Orleans - College of Law	LA	4344
66		Atlanta's John Marshall Law School	GA	4200
67		University of Baltimore - School of Law	MD	4186
68	-	Pepperdine University School of Law	CA	4099
69	-	University of San Francisco School of Law (USF Law)	CA	4063
70		Widener University School of Law	DE	3811
71		St. John 's University	NY	3797
72	-	Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) School of Law	MO	3761
73		Brooklyn Law School	NY	3631
74	-	Loyola Law School Los Angeles	CA	3559
75	-	Santa Clara University School of Law	CA	3465
76	-	Suffolk University Law School	MA	3451
77	-	Arizona State University (ASU)	AZ	3415
78	-	John Marshall Law School	IL	3386
79	-	Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago-Kent College of Law	IL	3350
80	-	Pace University - Pace Law School	NY	3271
81	-	University of New Hampshire - School of Law	NH	3256
82	-	Northwestern University - The Legal English Summer Institute	IL	3235
83	-	Florida State University	FL	3213
84	-	University of Pittsburgh School of Law	PA	3112
85	-	George Mason University	VA	3026
86	-	Thomas M. Cooley Law School	MI	2961
87	-	Northwestern University / IE Business School (Instituto de Empresa)	IL	2946
88	-	Loyola University Chicago	IL	2918
89	-	Wake Forest University (WFU) School of Law	NC	2882
90	-	Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law Center	FL	2867
91	-	Vermont Law School	VT	2867
92	-	University of Virginia - Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School	VA	2831
93	-	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Law School	IN	2802
94	-	University of Connecticut School of Law - Insurance Law Center	CT	2802
95	-	St. Mary's University	TX	2802
96	-	California Western School of Law	CA	2781
97	-	University of Wisconsin - UW Law School	WI	2781
98	-	Seton Hall University	NJ	2752
99	-	Saint Thomas University	FL	2738
100	-	DePaul University	IL	2687