U.S. LL.M. Admissions Series Information Session
目录导引
1. Why LL.M. 美国LL.M.优势
2. Why U.S. legal education 美国法学教育
3. How to apply 文书简历推荐信等
4. U.S. Bar 美国律考
5. Fee 学费

I. The reason why you should consider U.S. LL.M.

一、美国LL.M.项目的优势

Justin Swinsick - Director of graduate programs at The University of Chicago
Justin Swinsick,芝加哥大学研究生项目主任

1.Unique and developedstyle of legal education

1.独特、先进的法律教育体系。

The style of legal education in the U.S. is very much about skills-based, imparting students how to think and how to analyze. Being able to come here, where this style of education originated, will really help with your practical ability. Skills you can learn here, such as how to use logic, how to analyze and how to reason, are universal and can be translated to any country, any jurisdiction and any practice around the globe.
美国法律教育的风格主要是以实务技能为导向,旨在培养学生思考能力及分析能力。美国本就是实务教育风格的发源地,故来到这里学习必然能够帮助你显著提高实务能力。从如何运用逻辑思考到分析与推理,你能够在这里学到的技能,在全球任何国家、任何法域的法律实务中,均是通用的。

2.Amazing opportunity to develop professional network.

2. 发展职业社交网络的绝佳机会

The U.S. LL.M. program is really a platform where many outstanding people are interested in legal field coalesce. Students can develop their professional network during nine months of school, meeting the best attorneys from Argentina, Belgium, Australia and Zimbabwe.This is a great opportunity for students to develop professional social networks that cannot be obtained by other means.
许多对法律领域感兴趣的杰出人士在美国LL.M.项目中汇聚一堂。在九个月的项目期间,学生们可以扩展他们的社交网络,接触到来自阿根廷、比利时、澳大利亚和津巴布韦等全球各地的杰出律师,而这种机会是其他途径难以获得的。

3.Plenty of freedom of academic development

3.极大的学术发展自由

In the U.S., you are given a lot of freedom in how you choose your specialty while in many countries around the world, there's a much more prescribed manner to how an academic year will be laid out. Most U.S. LL.M. programs will allow students to pick and choose the courses based on their willingness to shape experience. If you want to specialize, you absolutely have that opportunity to delve deeply into a particular material; if you want a more general broad approach, you can do that as well.
许多国家对于学生如何安排课程有着诸多的限制,而在美国,你在个人学习规划上享有极大的自由。大多数LL.M.项目会允许学生依据个人意愿来选择课程,塑造经历。如果你想专攻个别方向,你绝对有这个机会深入研究某一特定领域,如果你想广泛接触不同领域,也将获得同样的机会。

4.Environment conducive to enhancing legal English

4.助力法律英语水平提高的语言环境

You’re going to be developing your English skills in a legal contextnot only in a spoken context, but also in written which is even more important. U.S. law schools focus a lot on developing the writing skills of students that is truly valuable across the globe. Writing at a very high level in English about very sophisticated topics is a skill that mastered by all U.S. law school graduates.
你将全方面提升法律英语水平,不仅涉及口语沟通能力,还包括更为重要的书面写作能力。美国法学院非常注重培养学生的写作能力,这种能力在全球范围内都是非常宝贵的。用很高水平英语撰写非常复杂的主题,是所有美国法学院毕业生都掌握的技巧。

5.Guidance of passing U.S. bar

5.准备美国律师资格考试的专业指导

Many students come to the U.S. interested in sitting for a U.S. bar, and ah, in particular the New York bar.
很多来美国的学生对获得美国律师资格证感兴趣,尤其是纽约律师资格证。

II. Three touchdowns in U.S. legal education.

二、美国法学教育的三个关键词

Elise Kraemer - Executive director of graduate programs at The University of Pennsylvania Carrie school of law
Elise Kraemer,宾夕法尼亚大学法学院研究生项目执行主任

1.Socratic teaching method

1.苏格拉底式教育法

U.S. legal education focused on critical thinking to intense engagement by both students and faculty. U.S. law schools don't typically focus on learning specific laws and instead teach students how to think like U.S. lawyers, building critical thinking skills and an ability to analyze issues from multiple perspectives.One way to achieve this objective is that many classes are taught with the Socratic method as opposed to lecture where students might sit passively and take notes.In a Socratic class, learning is a very interactive endeavor. The professor will call on students randomly and ask difficult hypothetical questions based on the readings assigned.As a result, naturally students are motivated to closely read the cases assigned before class to be fully prepared. Classroom discussion tends to be very lively. And students learn not just from the professor, but from one another. Even in a smaller seminar class, students’ participation is expected and valued, and faculty facilitates students' discussion and inquiry.In all classes, learning goes far beyond road memorization and challenges students to think rigorously and creatively. The faculty also holds office hours, providing an opportunity for individual student attention. This is a chance for you to discuss the class materials further, or even explore topics that are of interest to you with that faculty member. Law school also organized many opportunities for faculty to interact with students outside the classroom.In fact, LL.M. students often build relationships with faculty in the U.S. that lasts well beyond graduation.
美国的法律教育注重批判性思维,以加强学生和教师的参与。美国法学院通常并不专注于学习具体的法律,而是教学生如何像美国律师那样思考,帮助学生培养批判性思维技能和从多个角度分析问题的能力。许多课程采用苏格拉底式教学法以实现该目标,而不是让学生被动地坐下来做笔记。在这种课堂上,学习是一个充满互动性的任务。教授会随机地要求学生,根据指定的阅读资料,提出较为困难的假设性问题。因此,学生自然有动力在课前仔细阅读指定的案例以做到准备充分。课堂上的讨论往往很活跃。学生不仅通过教授的讲授获取知识,而且也在讨论中向其他人学习。即使是在一个小型的研讨课上,学生的参与也是被期待和重视的,教师也促进、引导学生进行讨论和探究。在所有的课堂上,学习远不止于单纯的记忆,并考查学生的严谨性及创造性思维能力。在老师办公在校办公期间,学生亦有机会与老师进行单独交流,学生可以借此机会与老师进一步探讨课程材料,甚至与老师共同探索自己感兴趣的主题。法学院还组织了各种活动,提供学生许多与教师在课堂外互动的机会。事实上,LL.M.的学生经常与美国的教师保持良好互动,并在毕业之后仍然保持联系。

2.Interdisciplinary cultivation

2.跨学科培养

In addition, top U.S. law schools are increasingly approaching law as an interdisciplinary pursuit. Students often take classes outside the law school in fields such as business engineering. Almost every LL.M. student at our schools will take at least a few classes with the law faculties who have advanced degrees in fields such as philosophy or economics and whose scholarship draws on multiple disciplines.
此外,美国的顶尖法学院越来越多地在法学教育中,注重跨学科能力的培养。学生们经常接触到商业工程等法学院以外的课程。几乎我们学校的每一位LL.M.学生都会选修至少几门由同时拥有哲学或经济学等领域的高级学位的法律系教师讲授的跨专业课程,这些老师亦曾在不同学科领域获得过奖学金。

3.Network opportunities

3.建立社交网络的机会

The opportunities to network are limitless. You'll have the chance to get to know your fellow elements from around the world, many of whom will become lifelong LL.M. friends. In all likelihood, you'll be visiting them and going to each other's weddings for many years to come. You also have opportunities to build relationships with JD students in your class through clubs, activities and social events. You will build business contacts that'll be available to you throughout your entire career.
法学院的学生有着无限的发展社交网络的机会。你将有机会结识到来自世界各地的朋友,其中许多将成为你终生的终身伙伴。甚至很有可能,在未来的很多年后,你们仍会保持联系,互相拜访,参加彼此的婚礼。你也有机会通过社团、课堂及其他社交活动与班上的JD学生建立友谊。在你的整个职业生涯中,你有机会与他们建立商务联系。
U.S. universities and law schools also tend to be very student-focused and have tremendous resources available for students.The campuses are beautiful, equipped with athletic facilities, student housing, ample libraries and study spaces.All the schools represented here today have staff that is specifically dedicated to supporting LL.M. students, such as I’m career counselors. People will support you with your visa. Whatever issues you meet, we have people here to help you specifically. U.S. law schools have student run activities ranging from journals to athletic clubs to movie groups and practice areas. On any given day, you will have the opportunity to attend lectures in advance and often have the opportunity to meet the speakers who are leaders in their respective fields.
美国大学和法学院也倾向于以学生为中心,并为学生提供大量资源。优美的校园环境中,配备有体育设施、学生宿舍、宽敞的图书馆和学习空间。参与本次会谈的所有学校都配备有专门为LL.M.学生提供支持、帮助的工作人员,比如我担任学生的职业顾问。我们会在你获取签证的过程中提供支持。无论学生存在任何困难,都会有相应的工作人员提供专门的帮助。从学术期刊到体育俱乐部,从到电影同好到实践领域,美国法学院亦有许多学生主导开展的各类活动。在任何一天,你都有机会抢先参加讲座,并且经常有机会会见在各自领域处于领先地位的演讲者。

III. The application process.

三、申请流程

Mary Beth Busby - Director of graduate international program admissions at Northwestern Pittsburgh School of law
Aimee Houghton - Assistant dean for graduate legal studies at Cornell University
Jill M Casal - Executive director of graduate degree programs at Columbia Law School
Mary Beth Busby,西北大学法学院研究生国际项目招生主任
Aimee Houghton,康奈尔大学法学院研究生助理院长
Jill M Casal,哥伦比亚大学法学院研究生学位项目执行主任

1.Pluralistic orientation

1.多元化招生
There is no quota for law schools, which specifies the number of students enrolled in each country or region. We're all looking for really talented candidates. Diversity means so many things. It means what your professional background looks like, what your interests are and what level of education you've had beyond you know whether it's just your first degree or something else.
法学院没有配额或限制每个国家或地区的学生人数。我们青睐于任何真正有才华的候选人。不同的专业背景、兴趣爱好、教育程度及第一学位,我们十分看重涉及各个方面的多样性。

2.LSAC or the law school admissions council.

2.法学院录取委员会

The first step in this process is to go to the LSAC website and create an account. And with that account, you have access to all sorts of resources that will help guide you through the process information about the admissions process itself, as well as information about different law schools so that you can start doing research on specific schools and programs. In fact, LSAC organizes several law forums throughout the admissions cycle which are designed to connect prospective applicants with law school representatives. These forums are a great way that you can meet face to face with representatives to have some of your questions answered. Although there are a lot of similarities in the application process for our schools, there are also a lot of differences. You can talk to each school representative and get a little bit more information about their application process and what they're really looking for in applicants and just to put it on your radar.
在此过程中,你的第一步是访问LSAC网站并创建一个账户。该账户可以为你提供与录取过程有关的各种信息资源,帮助你了解相关流程与不同的法学院,为你开始研究具体的学校和项目提供支持。为了将未来的申请人与法学院代表联系起来,LSAC在整个招生过程中组织了数个法律论坛。这些论坛为学生提供了与各校代表面对面接触,咨询相关问题的宝贵机会。不同学校的申请过程有很多相似之处,亦存在着各种不同。通过每个学校的代表交流,你可以得到更多不同学校申请过程的有关信息,以及他们真正想从申请者身上得到什么,从而进一步完善你的申请材料。。
With your one login account and password, applicant can access all of our applications versus having to go to each individual school's website. They also provide a credential assembly service or document assembly service, and it basically means that you only need to acquire one copy of your transcripts, your recommenders need only submit one letter of recommendation. and your total score as well.
无需访问各个学校的网站,只需一个登录账号和密码,申请者就可以访问我们的所有请所需的应用程序。LSAC网站还提供了凭证组装服务及文档组装服务,这基本上意味着你只需要获取一份成绩单,而你的推荐人只需提交一封推荐信和对你的总评分。
Finally, there is a transcript authentication service and most schools do require that your transcripts to be translated., and LSAC provides this service. Certainly, there are other providers, such as World education services. Its important to make sure you read each school's application instructions carefully.
最后,还有一个成绩单认证服务,大多数学校要求你提交翻译后的成绩单,LSAC亦提供翻译服务。当然,也有其他的供应商可供选择,如世界教育服务就是其中之一。确保仔细阅读每所学校的申请说明是十分重要的。

Question: Now is not a good time to apply for an LL.M. program in the U.S.

问:现在不是申请美国LL.M.项目的好时机吗?

It’s the best time to apply is when you are ready and now is a great time to apply.Many factors should go into when is the right time for you to apply depending on your individual circumstances, as circumstances change in the world. We have found that a lot of students have found that this year is absolutely the right time. The world needs lawyers more than ever. If you know for a fact that you are applying this year and planning to request a deferral, it is not the right time you should apply in the year you plan to enroll.
你准备好的时候便是申请的最佳时期,现在仍是申请的好时间。随着世界环境的变化,根据你的个人情况,在选择合适的申请时间时,许多因素都应纳入考虑。我们发现很多学生都认为今年便是绝对的好时机。世界比以往更需要律师。如果你计划今年要申请,并计划申请延期,那你就不应该在本年度进行申请。

3.English proficiency requirement

3.英语能力要求

If you did not earn your first law degree in English or English is not your native language, again. reading the instructions carefully for each school and what their English language requirements are. We all require an English proficiency test of some sorts, in most cases, that is the TOEFL or the IELTS score.
如果你没有获得你的第一个英语法律学位或英语不是你的母语,请再次仔细阅读每所学校的说明及其对英语语言要求。我们均要求学生通过某种程度的英语水平测试,在大多数情况下,托福或雅思分数。

4.Resume or CV

4.个人简历

If you don’t have it in the U.S. format, that's okay. But if you do, please submitted in the U.S. format.
如果你没有美国版的,那也没关系。但如果有的话,请以美国的格式提交。

5.Personal statement

5.个人陈述

Its probably the most challenging piece that applicant will do. Some schools will have specific things that ask applicants to address in the personal statement.Others will have it be very open ended.We recognize that can be a challenging exercise, but tell us about the things that are important to you, why do you want to do an LL.M., why particularly school and make sure you personalize it for those schools, make sure you also proofread very carefully.We don't want to see a recipe for your CV or your resume. Try not to make it too much longer or try not to make it too short either. Make sure that when you upload it to the Columbia application, you're uploading the Columbia version.
这可能是申请者在申请过程中需要做的最具挑战性的一件事。有些学校会要求申请人在个人陈述中进行具体的描述,有些学校的要求则较为开放的。我们知道这可能充满挑战,但请向我们叙述对你来说最为重要的方面,例如你为什么想修读法学硕士、为什么选择该所学校,并确保你针对不同的学校进行了个性化的回答,并进行仔细校对。我们不想看到你的简历或简历的扩写,请尽量保证你的个人陈述不会过长或过短。请确保将针对不同学校的不同个人陈述,上传到各校的对应程序或界面。

6.Letters of recommendation

6.推荐信

It’s important to think about quality over quantity. It's the most important that we get people who know you really well and can write on your behalf, an example of that is somebody who has supervised your work directly or somebody who has taught you in a law school or an academic studying, who can speak to your ability to perform this level of academic work.This is somebody who has been in direct contact with you in a classroom setting. The managing partner of the law firm, if they haven’t directly supervised your work, is not helpful. Likewise, the dean of the law school is not helpful if that person has not worked with you or taught you directly.So, please make sure you select the people who write letters recommendation very carefully.
推荐信的质量比数量更为重要。我们重视的是通过一些真正了解你并能代表你写作的人,比如直接监督你工作的人,或者在法学院或学术研究机构教过你的人,来描述说出你完成相关学术工作的能力,如在课堂上与你有直接交流的老师。如果他们没有直接监督你的工作,律师事务所的执行合伙人的推荐信亦是没有帮助的。同样,如果法学院院长没有和你一起工作,或者没有直接教你,那么他的推荐也不会给你任何帮助。所以,请务必仔细挑选写推荐信的人。

7.Writing samples or any other supplemental materials

7.写作样本或其他补充材料

Most of us don't want these additional materials. What we ask for is sufficient, and if we do require something else. we will always reach out.
大多数学校对额外的材料均不作要求。现有材料要求已经足够,如果确实需要其他材料,我们将与你保持联系。

IV. U.S. Bar

四、美国律师资格

Timothy Stanne - the Assistant Dean for graduate admissions at NYU School of law
Timothy Stanne,纽约大学法学院研究生招生助理院长

1. LL.M. program enables students to be eligible to sit for the N.Y. bar

通过LL.M.项目,学生将有资格参与美国纽约律师资格考试

In this country, each state has its own rules that govern whether foreign trained lawyers can establish eligibility for their borrowings, and it's so whether the actual LL.M. is required.
在这个国家,每个州都有自己的规则来管理受过外国培训的律师是否能够获得律师职业资格,这也是LL.M.项目被需要的原因。
N.Y. bar has one of the largest enrollments of those who receive their first law degree outside of the U.S.. If you are actually interested in another state, I advise that you contact the board of law examiners in that state for more information about its own rules.
纽约州是面向在美国以外获得第一法律学位的群体授予出最多律师职业资格的州之一。如果你确实对另一个州感兴趣,我建议你与该州的法律考试委员会联系,获取更多有关该州规则的信息。

2.Four steps to admission in N.Y. bar

2.获得纽约州律师资格的四步

(1)You need to read the rules that govern establishing eligibility on the New York board of law examiners website,complete the online evaluation form and send your official education credentials to the board. This process will result in you receiving determination as to whether you are eligible to sit for the exam on the basis of your priority legal education, and if not, LL.M. with qualifying coursework will permit you to establish eligibility.
(1)你需要在纽约法律考试委员会的网站上阅读如何获取资格的有关规则,填写在线评估表,并将你的官方教育证书发送至委员会。该流程将根据你第一法律教育经历来决定你是否有资格参加考试,如果没有,LL.M.课程将赋予你该资格。
(2)If you need LL.M., then the next step is that you have to complete the twenty-four credits for the LL.M. degree. There are some required credits in particular areas of law.
(2)如果你需要LL.M.来获得资格,那么下一步就是你必须修完LL.M.学位所要求的24学分。LL.M.项目在一些特定的法律领域设有必修课程。
(3)Prepare for and set the bar exam. It is scheduled for New York twice annually, once in late July and again in February, most LL.M. students start studying for the exam in May after they graduate from the degree program and plan to sit for the exam in late July.There are private bar preparation courses for which many students, including our own American JD students, in order to prepare thoroughly for the exam in that period
(3)为律师资格考试作出准备。NY bar每年两次于纽约举行,一次在七月下旬,一次在二月。大多数LL.M.学生在五月毕业后开始准备,并计划参加七月下旬的考试。包括JD项目的学生在内,许多学生都参加了专门的培训课程以便为该考试作出充分准备。
(4) Assuming you pass the exam, the last step is to comply with the remaining requirements for admission to the bar. These include the fifty-hour pro bono requirement and the competency requirement. Law schools may offer opportunities for students to complete it in conjunction with the LL.M. However, students can also choose to complete it up to a year before starting LL.M.So, read up on the rules now in case you plan to complete that requirement abroad before you arrive.It is an investment of your time. Besides, there are additional costs such as the cost of living for the period between graduation and the exam. You may find yourself choosing between classes you want to take for your own intellectual or professional interest and classes that you need as a part of the required curriculum for the New York bar exam. Therefore, it is a good idea to evaluate whether you will plan to seek admission to New York by one of the best ways to do that is to obtain feedback and advice about the potential value of being admitted to practicing in New York as it relates to your future career.I encourage you to speak to your mentors to learn more about the value of bar admission relative to the timing, cost involved and choices that you will make for the album program itself. Career service officers at all of our schools can also be a resource to students admitted to our programs because they can offer advice about bar admissions as it pertains to your post degree job search.
(4)如果你通过了考试,最后一步就是完成录取律师的其余要求,包括五十小时的公益工作经历和能力要求。在LL.M.项目期间,法学院为学生提供相应机会来达到相关要求,但是学生也可以选择在参与LL.M.项目之前一年的就完成要求。所以,如果你计划在出国之前完成这个要求,现在就可以对相关规则进行深入了解,这是对你时间的一种投资。在此期间,你可能需要承担一些额外的费用,例如从毕业到考试期间的生活费。此外,你可能还会需要在基于专业兴趣而选修的课程和纽约律师考试必修课程中进行选择。因此,评估一下你是否打算申请进入纽约是一个好主意,最好的办法之一就是获得反馈和建议,了解获准在纽约实习的潜在价值,因为它关系到你未来的职业生涯。我鼓励你和你的导师谈谈,了解更多关于律师资格的价值,以做出针对时间,费用成本,即针对考试本身的选择与取舍。所有学校的职业服务官也可以成为学生的信息来源,他们可以提供有关律师职业资格考试的相关建议,这与你取得学位后的求职过程息息相关。

V. The financial commitment of pursuing U.S. legal studies.

五、费用

Aimee Houghton - Assistant dean for graduate legal studies at Cornell University
Aimee Houghton,康奈尔大学法学院研究生助理院长

1.Higher fees provide multiple resources.

1.高昂的费用意味着更多资源

It’s true the cost of attending our programs is typically over seventy thousand dollars a year, and we understand this is likely more than what you paid for prior university studies.Our fees provide resources that enhance the student experience from the classroom to extracurricular activities. You'll have more access and engagement with your professors. You can utilize a variety of campus facilities such as our outstanding research libraries that all have extensive collections and expert reference services.You can participate in many student organizations and student support programs.
的确,参加我们项目的费用一般都在每年7万美元以上,我们知道这可能高于你在原有大学学习的费用。收取的费用将用于提供相应的资源,以从课堂到课外活动增强学生的体验。你将会有更多的机会接触你的教授。你可以利用各种校园设施,如我们的优秀的研究型图书馆,拥有着广泛的藏书以及配备了专家咨询服务。你亦可以参加许多学生组织和学生支持计划。

2.Multiple sources of funds

2.多种资金获取方式。

Many students do self-fund, but some have employers’ or government sponsorship, while others receive external fellowships or grants. You can pull funding from a variety of sources and look to each of us for assistance as well. But there is no centralized process to apply for school financial aid. You should note that we all have different timelines for reviewing and granting scholarships to admit applicants. Also, funding is often limited and typically covers only a portion of yearly fees.
许多学生自费参与学习,但一些人有雇主或政府赞助,而另一些人则获得外部奖学金或助学金。你可以从不同的渠道获得资金,也可以向各个学校寻求帮助。申请学校资助并没有一个集中的程序。你应该注意到,我们都有不同的时间来审查和批准奖学金的申请。此外,资金往往是有限的,通常只覆盖部分年费。

参与方式:

线上咨询会将通过Zoom进行,但是想参加的小伙伴们需要提前预约报名。
点击下面的网址,选择你合适的时间,填写注册信息即可报名。
后续咨询会将于如下时间举办:
Wednesday October 20th at 8:00am ET
Wednesday October 27th at 5:00pm ET
Wednesday November 3rd at 2:00pm ET
附网址:
https://llm-guide.com/news/2021/09/the-university-of-chicago-columbia-law-school-nyu-and-other-us-schools-to-hold-virtual-llm-information-sessions
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