Below are some basic responses to frequently asked questions posed by current and admitted students in the professional track.
Berkeley Law does not provide job placement services to LL.M. students. Rather, our professional development advisors in the Advanced Degree Programs Office create workshops and provide counseling designed to assist in our students’ professional development and career advancement internationally.
The Berkeley Law LL.M. program, and particularly the executive track, is not designed for international students who are solely looking for legal employment in the United States. Rather, it enables foreign-trained attorneys to temporarily leave their practices for shortened periods of intense study and then continue law practice in their home nation between semesters and after receiving their degrees. A number of factors, including the extremely competitive nature of the U.S. legal job market (particularly for foreign-trained attorneys), the unique structure of the executive track, and legal restrictions imposed under U.S. immigration law, make it highly unlikely that students in this track will be able to work in the U.S. on a permanent or even a temporary basis immediately after graduation. Our professional development advisors will work with you to make long-term plans for your career, including building your network to aid a future U.S. job search.
Most likely, no.
An F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa normally allows an international student to work in the U.S. for up to twelve months upon graduation. Executive track students do not qualify, because OPT is only available to F-1 international students who have been full-time students at on-campus programs for at least two consecutive semesters.
A “non-immigrant work visa” is a second option, and requires a U.S. legal employer’s sponsorship. This visa is extremely rare for LL.M. students.
The ability to legally enter and remain in the U.S. may not be based on having an international student visa. This option is not typical for LL.M. students.
Our attorney-advisors in the Advanced Degree Programs office offer workshops and provide advice designed to assist our students’ professional development and career advancement. Berkeley Law does not provide job placement services.
Our services include:
- Workshops designed to help our students acquire and maintain substantive and management skills for personal development and career advancement. Past workshops include (may or may not be offered in future semesters):
- U.S. Business Etiquette & Networking
- How to Become Eligible to take the California Bar Exam
- LinkedIn for LL.M.s
- Speed Networking
- Cybersecurity with the Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology
- Practice-specific panels and updates on developing practice areas
- Individual advising and coaching appointments with attorney-advisors to explore international options for career advancement.
- Resume review services to promote networking in the United States and abroad.
Yes! Executive track LL.M. students with a first degree in law may qualify to sit for the California Bar examination. Many of our students in the executive track are seeking to take the California bar exam after graduation, and our attorney-advisors provide programming and individual advising to guide students through the registration and preparation process. We can also advise you on course selection, as necessary, to meet the state’s requirements and prepare you for the examination.