Our Graduate and International Programs careers team helps Master of Laws (LLM) students develop their individual job search strategies. Dedicated career advisors offer personalized career guidance, professional development support strategies, as well as assistance with resume, cover letter and job application review.
Learn the basics of the job search process in the U.S. Attend career panels with alumni and industry leaders so you can learn more about possible career pathways. While we do not recommend that you search for jobs during the first year of the Two-Year Extended Master of Laws (LLM), you may attend any of our workshops, which cover career development topics such as networking and interview etiquette.
Students are invited to participate in job fairs hosted by the central USC Career Center. Those with a first degree in law may be eligible to participate in LLM-exclusive job fairs in New York and Los Angeles. These career fairs provide foreign-trained students from top law schools with the opportunity to interview with prospective employers from the U.S. and abroad.
You also will be able to attend USC Gould Continuing Legal Education conferences, at which you can make valuable connections with law professionals, USC Gould alumni and peers.
While most students choose to return to their home countries after graduation, some seek to expand their experiences in the U.S. with short-term "practical training" positions in a law firm or other legal setting. Please note: The market for foreign-trained attorneys in the U.S. is very limited, and only a very small percentage of foreign-trained graduates from all U.S. law schools find work here. Students' citizenship or residency status can be an additional barrier to employment. Additionally, because the legal market can be very competitive, the students who are successful in obtaining employment in the U.S. typically have earned excellent grades in their graduate studies and have also passed a U.S. bar exam.
To assist you, we offer academic support resources throughout the year, bar exam preparation and help with applications, and we work with the Office of International Services to address issues regarding Optional Practical Training. For current rules on OPT - the authorization required for eligibility for such work experiences - visit the USC Office of International Students website.
Please note that students who previously completed OPT after earning a U.S. master’s or doctorate degree are not eligible to reapply for OPT.
As a Two-Year Extended LLM student, you may apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during the first semester of your second year, through which you can receive compensation for work off-campus. Please note that students are not eligible for CPT during the summer between the first and second year.
Students enrolled in the 2-Year LLM degree may be eligible to apply to the LLM-JD Transfer Program at USC Gould at the end of their second year.
Career advisors are available to meet with and support students after graduation. Additionally, the USC Gould Alumni Association offers ongoing events, programming and networking opportunities.
Sarah received her JD from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Swarthmore College. She holds a California bar license and previously practiced in the Securities Litigation practice area at O’Melveny and Myers for several years, until she joined the Graduate & International Programs office. At Gould, Sarah oversees the career and bar advising for residential G&IP students, and supports recruitment and admissions.
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Amanda received her JD from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and International Studies from California State University Long Beach. She holds a California bar license and previously practiced at the Children’s Law Center of California and Family Legal Assistance at CHOC Children’s until she joined the Graduate & International Programs office. She also served as a mediator and restorative justice facilitator in the Inland Empire, focusing on children in the justice system. At Gould, Amanda works directly with students on their career development and bar preparedness.
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