Eager to do well in your Masters of Law, but apprehensive about returning to study, or striking the right balance with full time work? Here are some tips from LLM graduates who felt much the same starting out - and what factored into their decision to pursue an LLM.
Select study that’s practical
An LLM will either advance your career as a lawyer, or direct you towards academia. For the majority of lawyers, a practical LLM which provides skills directly relevant to their current area of law, or building knowledge in new or adjacent areas of law, is ideal.
“Consider enrolling in an LLM through The College of Law,” advised Dr Deborah Waxman. “The breadth of experience and topics taught are directly relevant to practice and will set you up to be that much more confident in your practice.”
“The College of Law LLM programme is just great,” he said. “It helps you expand your practice area. Its online delivery - from assessments, reading materials, to lectures - makes it a very convenient option for lawyers working full time.”
“Personally, I never felt I was studying a postgraduate course; due to the practical nature and flexibility of study, it just felt like another piece of my daily work life.”
Cut the commute and go online
For many lawyers, going on campus is no longer practical, due to distance or commitments to work and family.
This was certainly true for Nicola Rowe, a generalist lawyer with DK Legal Limited.
“Being based in Hastings, the practicalities of working full time and not being in the vicinity of the various LLM providers was difficult,” acknowledged Nicola. “I had completed my Profs with the College of Law and received an email about the new LLM (Applied Law) programme they were offering. Upon looking into this, it was what I was after – practical, remote learning.”
“The LLM course offered by the College of Law is a very practical course taught by current practitioners from around the country. When I say taught, it certainly wasn’t the traditional ‘sit there, listen and write notes’ – it was far more interactive and more collegial, with reflection upon what you are currently doing in practice. It was certainly beneficial to hear the approaches of other colleagues throughout the country.”
Similarly, Dr Kai-Cheung Leung found the LLM integrated well with his work life.
“The College of Law LLM caused me zero disturbance as I did not have to do the running around in the course; everything was presented to me directly on my laptop. In my previous LLM degree, in Criminal Law, I had to attend classes, hold discussions with my lecturers and professors and be physically present with them. I even had to travel to the Uni Library for my research. As part of the College of Law LLM, we were provided with access to LexisNexis software which was very helpful. I’ll be using it in my work through the new year.”
Join associations, seek work experience, and network
To make the most of the LLM experience, it’s imperative to get involved on the ground.
“You should build up your networks by joining relevant associations, and offer to junior with barristers,” advised Dr Kai-Cheung Leung. “We should all aim at getting our hands dirty.”
“Students majoring in criminal law who have yet to secure work should observe court trials, and sign up to the Duty Lawyer training course in New Zealand. Not only will this provide some experience, but this may also help the students to network with other lawyers. For the same reasons, the students should join associations in their intended area of practice, such as the Criminal Bar Association, and explore activities to further build up their networks.”
Hone your legal soft skills
Undergraduate legal study can often focus on black letter law; the soft skills essential to day to day practice are rarely emphasised. A good LLM programme will help develop this aspect of your practice.
“The LLM programme helped me develop a technical understanding of how the law operates in practice, and how a lawyer can be a valuable asset to a business, possessing sound commercial expertise that may go beyond legal knowledge,” observed Renee Moorjani.
Indeed, Renee felt that studying her LLM helped her develop much-needed soft skills which many LLB graduates may not possess.
“It helped me understand why a client may approach a legal matter in a certain way, as well as our role to steer them according to our Code of Conduct and ethics.” explained Renee.
Just go for it
In the end, there is only so much research you can do; you just have to take the plunge.
“I would just advise you to go for it,” said Vinil Sharma. “You can learn a great deal. While it can get a bit challenging, at the end of the day, it’s very rewarding. In my experience, it greatly enhances your Family Law and Wills, Estates and Trusts litigation skills.”