Outline and Boxes on a Blue Blackground

LL.M. Roadmap

  1. Community Life
  2. Student Life
  3. Roadmaps
  4. LL.M. Roadmap

A month-by-month snapshot of many of the key things to know and do during your time at Columbia Law School.

 The LL.M. Year at a Glance

 Academics

  • Prior to the start of the fall term, you will take Introduction to American Law (IAL) & Legal Research & Writing (LRW).
  • Make an appointment with your academic adviser in the Office of Graduate Programs (OGP). 

Careers and Professional Development

  • If you plan to sit for the New York Bar Exam in July, request Advance Evaluation of Eligibility, if necessary, as soon as possible. Refer to Rule 520.6 of the Board of Law Examiners if you have questions.
  • If you plan to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), make note of the registration deadlines.
  • Attend introductory programs offered by the Office of Private Sector Careers (OPSC), the Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (PI/PS Office), the public interest, government, and international human rights careers office; and the Office of Judicial Careers (OJC), the office that assists with clerkships and other court-employment positions.
  • If interested in the private sector, watch the OPSC Presenting Yourself in Writing Program, review materials from OPSC on preparing resumes and application materials, and submit a draft of your US-style resume for review by a counselor through the OPSC Resume Review Portal.

Student Life

Academics

  • As you work to finalize your schedule, take advantage of the Add/Drop period to visit classes you may be interested in taking.
  • Tale the IAL exam.

Careers and Professional Development

  • Use resources in Symplicity to research potential employers and practice areas.
  • Develop your narrative and enhance your networking skills. Attend the Introduction to Networking Program (OPSC) if interested in the private sector.
  • If you are pursuing human rights, public international law or domestic public interest opportunities after graduation, make an appointment to meet with the appropriate PI/PS Office adviser. 

Student Life

  • Explore student organizations and attend programs and events and lunchtime lectures

  • Consider Pro Bono.

  • Vote to elect your LLM Student Senate Representatives (or run for a seat yourself!).

  • Celebrate completing your first exam at CLS!

Academics

  • Register your LL.M. Writing Project if you are fulfilling this requirement in the fall term.

  • Attend the Experiential Learning Application Overview to learn about clinics, externships and other experiential learning opportunities for the spring term

  • Begin outlining and preparing for exams and consider joining a study group and/or attending workshops on study methods.

Careers and Professional Development

  • If interested in the private sector, attend OPSC’s Overseas-Trained LLM Interview Program Orientation to learn about the virtual LL.M. Interview Program (taking place Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024) and the resources and timeline to prepare your applications.
  • Attend LL.M. Networking Night to meet and mingle with LL.M. alumni, and learn about their career paths.
  • Attend the LL.M. Alumni Panel (OPSC)
  • If you are pursuing human rights, public international law or domestic public interest opportunities after graduation, make an appointment to meet with the appropriate PI/PS Office adviser.

Student Life

Academics

  • Pre-register for the spring term. 
  • Contact professors to explore opportunities for serving as a Research Assistant (RA) or pursuing supervised research during the spring semester.
  • Submit your degree application by the deadline. (All students graduating in May must officially apply to graduate.)

Careers and Professional Development

  • If you are seeking a position in public interest after the LL.M., register for the Public Interest Legal Career (PILC) Fair in the spring. 
  • Work with career advisors in OPSC and the PI/PS Office to prepare your applications and hone your interviewing and networking skills.
  • After submitting your applications for the virtual Overseas-Trained LLM Interview Program in early November, continue to work with OPSC on your interview preparation. 
  • Attend the Presenting Yourself in an Interview Workshop (OPSC).
  • If you plan to apply for a postgraduate fellowship, begin researching and reaching out to host organizations if you haven’t already. Meet with the appropriate PI/PS Office adviser to discuss fellowship hosts and funding. 

Academics

Careers and Professional Development

  • After exams, students participating in the virtual Overseas-Trained LL.M. Interview Program will learn the results of their applications for interviews being held during the Jan. 27th program.
  • If you plan to apply for a postgraduate fellowship, begin reaching out to host organizations if you haven’t already. Meet with the appropriate PI/PS Office adviser to discuss fellowship hosts and funding. 

Student Life

  • Enjoy winter break! 

Academics

  • Take a J-Term course, if interested.

  • Add/drop to finalize your spring schedule.

  • Register for Research Assistant, Supervised Research or Independent Externship, if interested.

  • Register for the LL.M. Writing Project if you are fulfilling this requirement in the spring semester. 

  • If you would like feedback on your fall term exam performance, make appointments to meet with your professors.

Careers and Professional Development

  • If you are pursuing public interest opportunities after graduation, continue reaching out to potential host organizations and drafting fellowship applications, utilizing the PI/PS Office's public interest career advising services as needed.
  • Students previously selected will participate in the virtual Overseas-Trained LLM Interview Program in January.
  • If you are interested in domestic clerkships, please contact the Office of Judicial Careers and learn about whether a federal or state opportunity would be available to you. For international clerkships, please contact the Office of International Programs.
  • If you are interested in a career in academia, attend the weekly Careers in Law Teaching workshop offered throughout the term.
  • If you plan to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), make note of the registration deadlines.

Academics

Careers and Professional Development

Academics

  • Begin outlining and preparing for exams.

Careers and Professional Development

  • Continue your networking and job application efforts, and take advantage of career advising services offered by OPSC (private sector), the PI/PS Office (public interest, government, and human rights), and OJC (judicial careers).

Student Life

  • Enjoy your Spring Break, and consider participating in a Spring Break Caravan (a pro bono project).

Academics

  • Continue outlining and preparing for exams, and consider joining a study group and/or attending workshops on study methods.

Careers and Professional Development

  • If you plan to take the New York Bar Exam in July, be sure to apply by the deadline (April 30).

Academics

Careers and Professional Development

  • Continue to take advantage of career advising services offered by OPSC, the PI/PS Office, and OJC, which are still available after you graduate. 

Student Life

  • Stay in touch with OGP and CLS - you are always part of the CLS community!

  • Congratulations!