It is observed that only a handful of the LLM graduates from the country’s’ leading three national law schools have managed to get into major law firms in the country. Out of the total 118 graduates majority of them opted for academic jobs as the law firms did not want to recruit post graduates from leading institutions from India.

Law firms in India reluctant to hire LLMs from Indian law schools

The data obtained from the placement coordination bodies of the institutions has indicated that about 40 per cent of the 118 LLM graduates in the 2010-2011 batch have gone for academic or teaching careers. Out of the total 118 graduates only 5 managed to secure jobs in law firms; while majority of the LLB graduates secured jobs in law firms.

Not attractive for those who joined law firms

LLM participants from the leading institutions said that those who joined law firms did not find the most attractive jobs. Most of them landed on jobs in tier two or tier three law firms. They say that even if they call up top tier law firms, the response was that they are done with the recruitment for the period or they are not interested in recruiting LLM graduates.

What the recruiters say?

The recruiters from leading law firms say that they do not hire LLM graduates from law schools with in the country. They allow employees who work for them to pursue LLM overseas and to rejoin the organization once the course is completed.

Study on opportunities of foreign LLM graduates

A recent study has observed that majority of the respondents believe that it would be easy to secure jobs with leading law firms in the country once LLM course is completed from a foreign university. 68 per cent of the respondents were of the view that they pursued LLM for the exposure, live in an environment of diverse culture and connect with different people from across the globe.

LLM graduation from a foreign university will give the participants a stage to mix up things and come back to India a little wiser. It is often joked that getting an LLM graduation from foreign universities will enhance the marital prospects.

It is about experience and entertainment

Higher education in foreign universities is definitely going to give some experience in life and a fair amount of entertainment. This will bring about changes and personal growth in addition to higher education a field of interest.

What experts say on foreign LLM programmes?

Professor Madhava Menon, founder director of National Law School of India, University Bangalore, says that most of the law graduates from the national law schools go for post graduation in foreign universities and not India. He added that the student go for LLM masters for two reasons- firstly to live in a completely different culture and secondly to secure an opportunity to work with international law firms.

In National Law Schools, 26 out of 50 subjects that are taught are mandatory and 24 of them are optional.  This will help the students to select the subject of interest in criminal law, corporate law or public law. After completing the graduate course with focus on the area of interest one becomes a specialist or will develop an interest towards a subject which can be further improved by pursuing LLM in a foreign university.

Mr. Menon noted that the present day offers more opportunity to start off as a specialist than the past.

LLM programmes offered by Universities in the US

The LLM programmes offered by American Universities extend to a period of one year and it is obviously a rigorous one. It gives the graduates the opportunity to become a member of the American Bar Association. In India there is no course which is same as that offered by American universities. The short duration is the main factor that makes the American LLM programme so popular.

LLM programmes offered by Universities in the UK

The LLM programme offered by Universities in the UK too extends for a period of one year. But the opportunities are limited as far as a LLM graduate is concerned and so it makes it less attractive for foreign students. More over the immigration laws in UK are strict which encourages Indian law students to move towards US when it comes to LLM education.

The quality factor

The quality of LLM education offered in the United States is much more than that is offered in India. The universities in the US follow a method where the students are supposed to read and understand the content in advance. These students are supposed to answer the questions asked by the faculty including questions regarding the application of the theory.

Similar methods are followed in UK along with seminars, assignments.

Why students go for foreign LLM programmes?

The main attraction of foreign LLM programmes is the short duration and the students are able to enhance their skills experience and knowledge. The foreign LLM programmes help the post graduates to secure a job in international law firms operating in India. Even though foreign law firms cannot practice in Indian courts, most of them have established liaison offices in India. They then employ Indian lawyers to serve international clients who are looking for collaborations with Indian firms.

The economic crisis and opportunities

As a result of the ongoing economic crisis, the employment opportunities in the west have reduced dramatically. In the case of international law students, the chances is even low as most of the companies are not ready to offer H1B (work) visa as it will increase cost for the company.

Recently the trend is to pursue LLM course abroad, upgrade their skills, improve their knowledge and enhance the chances of securing a suitable job in India.

There are heated discussions going on in India about the foreign LLM programmes and the opportunities for Indian LLM graduates in law firms in India. But with the present law education system, foreign law graduates will enjoy more opportunities in India.