Professional Development Services and Resources

As a BU Law student, you will have access to a wide array of services that are specifically tailored to LLM students, including personal advising appointments, LLM-specific career guides and “how to” workshops and networking sessions. We take pride in offering each LLM student career advice tailored to his or her background and in offering equal access to professional development resources. Below is a list of just some of the resources and services available to LLM students at BU Law.

Advising Appointments

These one-on-one meetings are designed to offer students detailed guidance on any professional development topic, from job search strategies and professional etiquette to networking campaigns. These meetings allow us to get to know you, and help you identify the unique skills you should highlight in order to move forward in your legal career. Appointments are available throughout the academic year and summer and can be easily made online via Calendly.

Alumni Network Access

Our LLM students have access to BU Law’s broad network of accomplished alumni in the U.S. and abroad through the alumni groups on LinkedIn, including one specifically for LLM alumni, and through the law school’s alumni database and the BU Alumni app. Students also have the opportunity to hear from alumni during formal and informal alumni visits to campus. This access helps our LLMs build and strengthen their professional network, which extends throughout their legal careers.

US Bar Exam Advising

Many foreign LLM students enroll in BU Law’s programs in order to meet the qualifications needed to sit for a U.S. bar exam. At BU Law, the Professional Development staff is available to advise you on the bar exam eligibility process and to walk you step-by-step through the ever-changing requirements that foreign students must meet in order to sit for a bar exam. We provide our students with detailed guides to the New York, Massachusetts and California bar exams, and we also run workshops on eligibility for these bar exams during the academic year.  For most of our LLM graduates who decide to sit for a US bar exam, New York is the jurisdiction of choice. LLMs who are interested in sitting for the New York bar exam should familiarize themselves with the New York Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) rules  and pay particular attention to foreign legal education requirements.  BOLE recommends that foreign-trained applicants request a determination of their eligibility and send all required documentation at least one year prior to their exam date.

Professional Opportunities

The LLM Professional Development Office regularly updates students with information about internships, pro bono work and jobs, as well as career-related events on- and off-campus. As an LLM student, you will have extensive support leading up to the International Student Interview Program, an important job fair for LLM recruiting, and access to the opportunities and services made available through the BU Law Pro Bono Office. In addition, we provide guidance on searching for opportunities in the US and are available to meet with students to develop career strategies.

Cover Letter and Resume Reviews and Mock Interviews

In addition to providing step-by-step advice on how to draft US resumes and cover letters, the LLM Professional Development Office is available to review these documents in person or via email. We also provide detailed guidance on how to interview, and we are available to help students with mock interviews throughout the year, with special mock interview sessions prior to important LLM recruiting events.

Networking Counseling

Networking is an essential skill for any legal professional, and is a key way for our LLMs to get jobs and strengthen their professional contacts. At BU Law, we counsel our LLMs on how to network, both in the U.S. and abroad, and provide guidance on networking throughout the year.

Professional Development Events and Workshops

During the law school’s orientation in August, we will provide you with an overview of the career programs planned for the year, which will include resume, cover letter and interview workshops, and targeted career panels and networking events with BU Law alumni and other legal practitioners. If available, you will also be invited to off-campus networking events at local bar associations, law firms, and courthouses.

Professional Development Handbooks

The Professional Development Office regularly updates our detailed career-related guidebooks, which cover all aspects of professional development – from bar eligibility to providing writing samples as part of a job application. If you have a career-related issue, we have the answer!