Over 300 students from over 63 nationalities study on the LLM programme in the Department of Law each academic year. LSE Careers works closely with colleagues and the law academic staff to provide support to all post graduate students and alumni during and up to 5 years after completion of the programme.
Graduates from the LLM pursue a variety of careers in many countries. These include legal and non-legal roles which range from global commercial law firms, national governments, regional or international institutions and NGOs, to private sector organisations such as finance and consulting firms. Some graduates continue in higher education to fulfil career ambitions in teaching and research. The LLM is a route into the legal professions, but it is by no means only that.
Whether you have a clear idea of what you want to do after your LLM or haven't started thinking about it yet, LSE Careers can help, providing a range of careers services and events, information and advice, online and one-to-one appointments, and a job board with UK and international, full time, part time, internship, vacation scheme, training contract and volunteering opportunities. 20 minute one-to-one Law postgraduate careers appointments and practice interview sessions are available every Wednesday afternoon within the Law department with your departmental careers consultant. These can be booked via CareerHub which is your gateway to Law and other careers events (including seminars, fairs, employer presentations and alumni sessions).
The Careers Information for LLM Students booklet provides a wealth of information about gaining work experience, qualification within the UK, lateral hire opportunities and alumni career paths.
Qualification in the England and Wales
If you are a LLM student who is a qualified lawyer in your own common law or civil law jurisdiction, you will need to check your status with The Law Society through the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
The current route to qualification as a solicitor is due to change in September 2021 with the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC), being replaced by a new framework of rules called the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). The route to qualify as a barrister is also undergoing change and you can check progress via the Bar Standard Board.
For some students, and prior to September 2021 the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) might be an option to consider - this allows those already qualified lawyers in other jurisdictions to qualify as a solicitor of England and Wales without having to complete the full education and training requirements defined in the QLTS Regulations 2011.
You can apply directly to law firms for positions as a qualified lawyer, for a training contract or for a short term contract role as a way of gaining some international experience; look at their websites for vacancies or go through a recruitment agency. LSE Careers schedules an introductory careers seminar each year for LLMs at the beginning of term; you will be notified by the LLM Course Administrator.
Events for LLM students
Alongside the various events we run focussing on law and legal services, LSE Careers runs a specific series of events for LLM students throughout the academic year encompassing seminars, skills workshops and advertising a number of off-campus events specifically for students undertaking the programme, so keep an eye on LSE CareerHub for these events.
Specialist Recruitment Agencies
- Totally Legal, Taylor Root, Chase Portland, Abacus Legal, SSQ, Badenoch & Clark, Dawn Ellmore - Legal and IP recruitment specialists
- Legal Futures - One of the largest specialist legal recruiters in Asia. It offers focused legal recruiting services in Japan and Hong Kong and across the Asia Pacific Region
- Hays Recruitment - Leading global specialist recruitment group, and the market leader in the UK and Australia, placing professional candidates into permanent, temporary and interim jobs.
- Hudson - Recruitment agency specialising in accounting and finance, banking and financial services, energy, HR, IT, legal and marketing.
- The PSD Group - Recruitment Agency - Recruitment agency worked in Technology, IT, Marketing, Sales, Property, Law, Finance and Accountancy. Work across Europe and Asia.
Job Boards
Legal 500, The Lawyer, Legal Week Jobs, LawCareers.Net Jobs
Other resources and FAQs
- LawCareers.Net - This site has details of practice areas by specialisation and vacancies/deadlines for training contracts, pupillages and paralegal positions. LCN Focus features specific firms and there are interviews with trainees. Copies of firms' brochures are also on this site.
- The Lawyer - Within this site you will find various reports on law firms for example: The Lawyer Career Report designed to give lawyers a clear picture of partnership prospects at the 100 largest UK firms and the top 30 international firms in London.
- Chambers Student - This site has information to help you research law firms and barristers chambers as well as information about qualification routes, law schools and becoming a lawyer.
- The Law Society - Our complex legal system offers a wide variety of career options and the legal profession has seen a steady rise in diverse job opportunities. If you choose to qualify as a solicitor, you become a member of the Law Society and you will be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Find out more about legal careers here.
- First Counsel - Legal Support for Startups, SMEs and Entrepreneurs
- AllAboutLLMs - Search for LLM courses, browse law schools, get your daily hit of LLM news and consume a lifetime's supply of LLM-related advice.
- AllAboutLaw - Search for courses, opportunities and discover a career in the legal sector.