For legal professionals, an LLM degree can represent a strategic next step on a career path. For JD holders in the United States, it offers advanced specialization and a competitive edge in niche practice areas. For international law graduates, an LLM can present a pathway to bar eligibility in the U.S. along with deeper insight into American legal systems. 

The following sections examine the LLM, who it benefits most (plus, who it doesn't) and why. 

What Is an LLM Law Degree?

A Master of Laws (LLM) is a postgraduate law degree designed to provide advanced, focused legal training beyond the Juris Doctor (JD) or beyond a first law degree earned outside of the United States. An LLM allows law graduates and legal professionals to deepen their expertise in specialized areas, gain exposure to new legal systems or, in the case of an LLM for international students, prepare for U.S. bar eligibility. 

Who Is Eligible for an LLM?

LLM eligibility usually requires the completion of a first law degree (such as a JD in the U.S. or an equivalent degree earned abroad). Programs typically welcome recent graduates and experienced legal professionals who are seeking advanced training. In addition to working lawyers, some programs also consider applicants with substantial alternative professional experience in legal or regulatory positions. 

Defining the Purpose: LLM Goals Must Be Singular

As is any degree program in the field of law, pursuing an LLM is a significant undertaking. Identifying and focusing on a specific objective (based on one's career goals) for an LLM creates clarity, increases motivation and enhances the student's educational experience, ensuring the degree requirements are fulfilled to satisfy the individual's goals. 

These are among the most common reasons for pursuing an LLM degree and important considerations for each: 

Bar Eligibility

An LLM for international students can be used to satisfy educational requirements for bar eligibility in many U.S. states. Pursuing an LLM degree for this purpose requires a focused plan. The most successful candidates treat the LLM as a bar-oriented program — choosing qualified courses focused on American legal practice, managing timelines and building the doctrinal foundation needed to transition smoothly into preparation for the U.S. bar exam and licensure. 

Hyper-Specialization

Some lawyers pursue an LLM to gain deep expertise in a niche field, such as: 

• Data privacy
• Tax
• Financial regulation
• Intellectual property
• Human rights
• Environmental law
• Healthcare

Specialization is ideal for those who already know their target practice area and want advanced training that strengthens their credibility. A specialized LLM should revolve around curated coursework, faculty access and experiential learning that deepens niche expertise and sharpens skills for competitive legal markets. 

Career Advancement Abroad

For lawyers planning to build careers outside the U.S., an LLM can provide global credibility and expand opportunities abroad. The degree signals advanced legal training, familiarity with U.S. legal concepts and readiness for multinational practice. When international career growth is the student's goal, the LLM program should emphasize comparative law and global regulatory issues as well as support professional networking for long-term mobility and leadership roles across borders.

Why Get an LLM If You Have a JD?

While a JD provides broad foundational training, an LLM offers academic precision and depth. For attorneys in the U.S., an LLM serves as a targeted strategy for deepening expertise, pivoting areas of practice or gaining credibility in highly technical fields. Understanding how the two degrees differ can help you determine when pursuing additional specialization makes strategic sense for your career.

The JD vs. LLM Divide

A JD prepares students for general legal practice, emphasizing core subjects to help them pass the bar exam and obtain licensure. By contrast, an LLM is an optional, advanced degree designed for specialization that enables recent JD graduates or practicing lawyers to focus on a narrow field, access expert faculty and develop high-level competency in a specific field, exceeding what standard JD curricula cover (especially concerning highly technical or global fields). 

The Baseline Rule

For JD holders, the baseline rule indicates that an LLM should only be pursued when it will clearly support the advancement of a specific professional goal — such as strengthening academic credentials to prepare for a transition into an advanced, specialized area of practice. The degree can deliver significant value and accelerate long-term career growth when it aligns with concrete career objectives, rather than serving as a general resume booster. 

When the LLM Is Necessary or Highly Valuable (The Exceptions)

An LLM is optional for most lawyers, but certain scenarios render the degree essential and uniquely advantageous. For instance, international graduates seeking U.S. bar eligibility, practitioners aiming for extreme specialization and those pursuing academic careers often rely on the LLM to meet formal requirements, gain expertise for specialized positions or to set themselves apart from the competition. In these situations, an LLM degree can be strategically vital. 

Foreign-Trained Lawyers Seeking U.S. Bar Eligibility (Most Common Use)

For international law graduates, an LLM presents a clear path to qualifying for the U.S. bar. To sit for the exam, several states require foreign-trained lawyers to complete approved coursework, and an LLM provides a structured schedule of classes. By strategically selecting bar-approved classes to build U.S. legal fluency, the LLM becomes a gateway to licensure and practice in the U.S. 

Extreme Specialization for Practicing U.S. Attorneys

Attorneys in the United States often only pursue an LLM when they plan to enter fields requiring a high level of technical expertise. Niche areas for specialization include advanced intellectual property law, international arbitration, health care, pharmaceutical compliance, cyber law and data privacy.

H4: The Tax LLM Exception

An LLM in tax law is not a strict requirement for tax attorneys, as possessing a JD and passing the bar exam are sufficient. However, it does provide professionals with a competitive advantage, and although not required, it tends to be necessary — especially to successfully compete for high-level positions in tax law. So, while a tax LLM is not technically required for these positions, it is essentially considered necessary because employers highly prefer it. 

Academic/Teaching Track

When the goal is legal academia, aspiring professors can pursue an LLM as an opportunity to strengthen their scholarly credentials, produce publishable research and better position themselves for competitive academic hiring. In research-intensive academic roles, a doctoral degree (e.g., SJD or PhD) may be preferable. However, an LLM can function as a respectable bridge into academia, particularly for lawyers to transition from practicing to teaching or for international law scholars who want to enter U.S. academics. 

When the LLM May Be a Poor Investment

Without a clear strategic path, an LLM is not always the right option. Consider the following situations when an LLM could prove a poor investment. 

Poor Substitute for a JD

An LLM cannot replace the comprehensive training, bar preparation or employer recognition included with a U.S. JD. Students seeking full practice rights in the U.S. often require a foundational degree. While an LLM is advanced, it is still a supplemental credential.

Advanced Standing JD Alternatives

Some foreign-trained lawyers may gain more benefit from an advanced-standing JD, which offers broader career access, stronger employer recognition and bar eligibility without relying on the more focused coursework of an LLM. 

Programs such as the Global Access JD at Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law allow internationally educated attorneys to build on prior legal training while earning a U.S. Juris Doctor in a streamlined format.

The Core Criticism: Opportunity Cost and Cost of Entry

The LLM faces scrutiny because it calls for a significant investment of time, effort and tuition. Without a clear purpose, students could risk limiting their opportunities, delaying more meaningful career moves or not seeing an adequate return. 

Cost vs. Career Ceiling

If an LLM does not open doors to higher-level roles, then an LLM's costs could outweigh its benefits. Prospective students should evaluate opportunities and long-term earning potential before committing. 

‘Ego’ vs. Practicality

The deep, advanced knowledge that an LLM represents garners respect and prestige. However, when the LLM is not strategically necessary for one's career, the degree may serve one's ego more than their professional future. 

ROI of Your Degree

Prospective students should thoroughly assess potential job outcomes, salary growth and market demand to measure the potential return on investment (ROI). An LLM will ideally lead to tangible professional gains. If it doesn't, then the degree will likely cost more than it is worth. 

Explore a Specialized Future in Law With Our LLM Degree Program

Whether you are an international student seeking U.S. bar eligibility or a U.S.-based JD preparing for a specialized law practice, the LLM programs available through the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University are designed to support a diverse range of legal career goals. With specializations in American Legal Practice, Cyber Law & Data Privacy, Financial Regulation and Health Care and Pharmaceutical Compliance, our programs offer a variety of legal specializations to deepen your knowledge and advance your career. 

To learn more about our LLM programs, peruse our LLM specialties and learn more about our admissions process today. 

Sources

• Drexel Kline LLM Programs
• Drexel Kline LLM Admission Requirements
• How to Choose the Right Law School Specialization for Your Career Goals in Law
• U.S. Bar Exam Guide for Foreign Students and Lawyers