LLM in the U.S. Workforce: Advancing Equal Opportunity
US legal education has developed immensely. One of its milestones is advanced postgraduate degree programs such as the Master of Laws or Legum Magister (LLM). LLM programs are mainly designed for professionals who want to specialize in a particular area of law. Degree requirements for LLM vary by school, and often differ for LLM students who previously earned a JD from an American law school and LLM students who previously earned a law degree from a non-American law school.
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As the LLM program mainly targets foreign-trained lawyers, the majority of LLM students are international students. I was one of them. I came to Seattle in 2017 as an international student and did my LLM program at the University of Washington School of Law. Before coming to Seattle, I worked for 4 years at a corporate law firm in Jakarta, Indonesia. Although I have 4-year experience as a practicing attorney in Indonesia, coming to the US as an international student, I always felt like an outlier. While many international students intend to go back to their home countries, that was not my case. With that being the case, I attended classes filled with American JD students. It was scary at first and intimidating on so many different levels. Michelle Obama said it best on her Becoming book “It requires effort, an extra level of confidence, to speak in those settings and own your presence in the room” which some law students may not have to endure.
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Compared to JD program, LLM is a nine-month program (as opposed to 3 years program for JD) where LLM students must complete a minimum of 40 credits. With significantly different amount of time and subjects to learn in law school, both JDs and LLMs still have to take the same bar exam to practice in the US. While studying for the bar exam was already a challenge with such a short stint spent in law school, the bigger challenge was to secure a job. Even though LLM degree has at least been offered in the US education system for the last three decades, not many employers are familiar with LLM graduates’ presence in the US workforce.
Based on WSBA’s database, only 46 out of total 430 Summer 2019 bar takers were LLM, and only 9 out of those 46 passed. Only 2% of the total bar takers. I was one of those 9 people. The passing rate for foreign trained lawyers went slightly higher in 2023. Out of 492 Summer 2023 bar takers 66 of them were LLM students. Out of 66 takers, 18 of them passed. 13% of total bar takers. I still cannot find solid data on LLM graduates who were able to secure jobs and eventually remain in Washington state.
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From an employer’s perspective, there could be various reasons for this unfamiliarity. First, there are not as many LLM job applicants as JD applicants. Many foreign-trained lawyers do LLM program to advance their already-existing career which leads them to eventually going back home. Second, an associate position typically lists down “JD degree from accredited law school” as one of its requirements and does not mention LLM degree. This could shy LLM graduates away from applying for the job. Third, the costs to hire and train first-year associates can be expensive. Employers bear the risk of losing their LLM associates after hiring and training them for couple years due to visa situation or their desire to return to their home country.
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Notwithstanding the lack of LLM graduates’ presence in the US workforce, the need for the legal profession to be more inclusive has always been there. Michelle Obama on her Becoming book portrays how draining it was to be the only black person in a lecture hall or one of a few non-white people trying out for a play or joining an intramural team back during her Princeton and Harvard Law years. This was back in 80s and there is still some truth to it today.
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As the legal practice and profession have come a long way, it is worth looking into giving LLM graduates more opportunities in the US workforce; not only do they bring diverse perspectives, LLM graduates also more likely already have a “ready to work” work ethic that they had acquired from legal education and practicing law in other countries prior to coming to the US.
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My primary practice is personal injury law and many clients I handle come from underserved communities. Some of them, although having severe injuries, refuse to undergo certain procedures or refuse to file a lawsuit even though the settlement offer is far from fair and reasonable. This is often due to unfamiliarity with US legal system, language barriers, or their status as undocumented immigrants. Coming to the US also as an immigrant, I empathize with them. I am used to feeling unfamiliar, “different”, and sometimes scared.
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I also had opportunity to represent victim families in Indonesia on wrongful death case involving Boeing on 737 Max 8 air crash happened in Indonesia. Working on the case from the beginning to end, I realized that the ability to bridge the gap between the western and eastern culture is crucial in this case, sometimes more than the legal aspect itself. Something I was able to do by having exposures to both Asian and American cultures.
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Although my primary practice in Indonesia was foreign investment, merger & acquisition, and employment law, I have been able to still apply some of my experiences into my personal injury law practice. For example, having done plenty of acquisition deals in the past, I am used to working under strict deadlines otherwise the sale & purchase transaction could fall through. My experience negotiating sale & purchase agreements with counterparts and/or government entities helped me a lot when I mediate my cases or when I negotiate with opposing counsel.
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Coming from Jakarta, Indonesia, which is still considered a developing country, by default I also have this “go-getter” mentality. When people here find opportunities, back home, we make the opportunity. We do not have as many privileges as people in a developed country. We make things happen out of what we have, and that mentality has contributed tremendously to my law career here.
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LLM graduates have certain level of grit and perseverance as they needed to juggle with cramped timeline between studying for the bar, securing a job, and eventually changing their visa status from international student to work visa. Despite all the above, I am also very aware that I cannot do this by myself. Many people have helped me to get to where I am right now. I personally am thankful for people that I met and helped me along the way; some turned into mentors and close friends I can always talk to about the legal profession. Advocating for LLM (our) presence holds a special place in my heart. Not only because I was able to finally pave my path in the US workforce but moving forward, I hope I get to help pave a path for my fellow LLM/international students who come to the US after me.
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January 2024 marks my fourth-year practicing law in the US and before anything else, I was able to do this because of one thing: an opportunity to be on the same playing field with other law graduates. Having said that, I do believe that it is imperative for employers to consider increasing inclusivity by giving LLM graduates more equal job opportunities. With the traits that LLM graduates bring to the US workforce, it will increase diverse understanding for legal problem solving and increase the level of productivity which eventually will help boost the US economy.
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Finally, I would love to connect with other fellow LLM graduates out there. Drop me an email to zaskia@zaskiaputri.com. Look forward to connecting with you!