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Previous Sessions
Oct. 2, 2007 (a.m.)
Oct. 2, 2007 (p.m.)
Previous Online Interactive Forums
Online Interactive Forum - October 2, 2007 (p.m.)
Portion of the Afternoon Online Information Session Transcript
Administrator: Welcome to today's On-Line Information Session. I will be monitoring this session and will give you advanced warning before the conclusion of this session. Be sure to click on the refresh button for the latest conversations.
Administrator: Welcome to the NYU School of Law Graduate Online Chat for Prospective Students! The chat is now open and we have administrators from various student services available to answer your questions. Due to the volume of questions, it may be that you receive information for an Admissions-related question from a different Student Services officer. Please feel free to post your questions. .
Jackson do Pandeiro: Good afternoon. From your past experience, what is the average age of the students accepted to the LL.M. Program?
Graduate Admissions1: Jackson, welcome to the chat. The average age of students in the LL.M. program is approximately 25.
niketaarora: I am a lawyer from India and have already appeared for my TOEFL. I believe that TOEFL is not a requirement if your previous law school education has been in India. Therefore, if you receive my TOEFL scores and they are less than the required scores, can my TOEFL requirement be waived off?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Niketaarora, all materials received by the Office of Graduate Admissions will be reviewed by the Committee.
Jan: Hello, my question is not really related to the admission procedure, but I would like to know how lodging for foreign students is organized? Not only for admission but also concerning the rental price.
Residence Services: Jan: Information about NYU School of Law housing is located on our Web site (www.law.nyu.edu/depts/housing). The application will be available online to all admitted students who have confirmed their intent to enroll on February 15th. Individual applicants who apply by May 15th are given priority in the assignment process and are virtually guaranteed housing. Family housing applicants are assigned based on the date of application, geographic location of the applicant at the time of application, and proportionately amongst the degree programs. The 2007-08 rates and options are currently posted on our Web site. The 2008-09 rates will be posted in late December.
lida_a: How can I know about my chance of being admitted to NYU?
Graduate Admissions1: Lida, it is not possible to predict your chances of being admitted. Admission is very competitive and you can read the general standards for admission on our website
mareike_a: Good Afternoon. Thank you very much for this opportunity. I am a student from Germany wondering if chances to get into the LL.M. program are better if I choose a specialization, i.e. Corporate Law, than if I choose the General LL.M.?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Mareike_a, all admissions standards are the same across all specializations and location of study.
AP: Are there any recommended international law "core" classes (for the LL.M. program)?
Graduate Affairs1: Dear AP, You can view the 2007-08 course requirements for the International Legal Studies program via http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateaffairs/ils.htm
mark poist: Do you have early admittance?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Mark: we do not have an early-decision program for LL.M. students. Thanks.
Emily jade spark: Hi, I was just wondering if someone could tell me if the LL.M. in Public Service Law is running this year and if not, if and when it is expected to run again.
Graduate Affairs1: Emily, The LL.M. in Public Service Law is no longer offered, and we do not expect to offer this program in the future
tessa: I am a Jamaican who has done an LL.B. and is interested in doing the LL.M. in corporation offered at the university but my GPA is 2.5 Could I get in or what courses could I do to increase my GPA to get in?
Graduate Admissions1: Tessa, the standards for admission are very high. See the link at http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateadmissions/eligibilitystandards.htm.
Shawn Peterman: Good, Afternoon. How integral is an applicant's TOEFL score when deciding on their admissions status? I assume that a poor score can eliminate you, but that a good one cannot significantly aid your candidacy...Can you please elaborate on this topic...Thanks...
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Shawn Peterman, a candidate must achieve the minimum TOEFL requirement. A total score of at least 600 with minimum scores of 60 in each of the three sections (listening comprehension, structure and written expression, vocabulary and reading comprehension) is required for consideration. Applicants who take the computer-based TOEFL must achieve a minimum total score of at least 250 and minimum scores of 25 on each of the subsections. Applicants taking the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) are required to achieve a minimum total score of at least 100, a minimum score of 26 on the reading and listening subsections, and a minimum score of 22 on the writing subsection. Because the speaking subsection is unique to the iBT, we do not set a minimum score for this subsection. However, the Committee on Graduate Admissions will look for scores of at least 22. The Test of Written English (TWE) portion of the TOEFL is also recommended.
mark poist: When is the earliest that you could be admitted?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Mark Poist: please refer to Graduate Admissions' website under Review of Applications. Specifically, see: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateadmissions/applicationreview.htm.
AP: Also, do you know how much tuition is for part-time LL.M. students for 2008?
Student Financial Services: Hello AP: The per credit tuition rate for Academic Year 2008-2009 will not be available until late-May 2008. The current per credit tuition rate is $1,704 per point. More information on these fees may be found at the following link: http://www.nyu.edu/bursar/tuition.fees/rates.07/springfall.pr.tuitionLw.html.
Len: I have recently graduated from a US law school and am currently working in specialty tax and transfer pricing here in New York. I would like to apply for part-time Taxation, and I was wondering if I have any realistic chance of admission or if it's too much of a long shot.
Graduate Admissions1: Len, you are most welcome to apply for the part time taxation program. Many of the students in the part time program are practicing attorneys in New York City and vicinity. Part-time students have up to five years to complete their LL.M. degrees in tax.
Jason Kristall: Good afternoon. Are all admissions decision done school-wide or does each program make its decisions?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Jason Kristall, the Committee on Graduate Admissions makes decisions regarding all programs regardless of degree specialization or location.
Priya: In general how much interaction is there between LL.M. and J.D. program participants? To be more specific is the interaction academic (e.g. do students from both programs take classes together), social (e.g. mutual networking events, student organizations, etc.) or both? Thank you very much for your time.
Graduate Affairs1: Dear Priya, Our J.D. and LL.M. students take many classes together and participate in social activities on campus.
Priya: Recently there was a front page article in the Wall Street Journal about the employment woes for law school graduates who earned poor class rankings. The article also seemingly alluded to a relatively tight legal job market in the United States. First, if you read the article, do you agree with the author’s sentiments/conclusions? Second, what is your opinion of how the US legal job market will evolve over the next few years? Do you think LL.M. graduates from NYU School of Law could face a similar fate as that of the individuals mentioned in the article or do you believe the strong reputation of your institution (and the quality of its graduates) will shelter program graduates from these issues? Perhaps in your discussion, you can also mention approximately how many LL.M. graduates tend to remain in the US upon completing the program. Thank you.
Career Services: Priya - Thanks for such a thorough question. The market for LL.M. students, especially foreign-trained LL.M. students seeking employment in the U.S. is very different than the market for J.D. students discussed in the Wall Street Journal article as employers look for different qualifications and skills from LL.M. students. Employment in the US is very competitive for international law students, but our students are in very high demand for positions around the world. We offer comprehensive career services, including one-on-one appointments, workshops, networking sessions, and formal job fairs to assist all LL.M. students in the job search.
Jorge Jraige: I really appreciate your time. A recommendation issued by a NYU alumni would have more importance than one issued by an alum of another American university?
Graduate Admissions1: Jorge, alumni recommendations can be helpful if you have direct experience with the individual as an employee or a student.
Sara: For tax program admission, do you have a minimum GPA cutoff?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Sara: We do not have a set minimum GPA cutoff. The Admissions Process is comparative by nature. Thanks.
AP: When you do expect that we should find out whether we have been accepted to the part-time spring semester LL.M. program?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear AP, decisions for part-time enrollment for the Spring semester will be made as soon as possible following completion of an applicant's file.
mark poist: Do you have on-campus housing?
Residence Services: Mark: Yes, we do offer on-campus housing. Information about our accommodations is located on our Web site (www.law.nyu.edu/depts/housing).
Raphael: Hi, when I took the TOEFL exam I was not yet registered for the LSAC service, so I filled in NYU's institution code. Now that I have opened an LSAC account, should I request the scores to be sent to them too, or would you join the TOEFL scores that were sent directly to NYU and the rest of my file, which you should receive from LSAC? Thanks for your help.
Graduate Admissions1: Raphael, you need not register with LSAC. We are able to receive your TOEFL score directly from ETS
Marko: A student with an overall score of 100 and the scores required for the listening, writing and reading sub-section, can be admitted for an LL.M., even if the speaking section is below 22?
Graduate Admissions1: Marko, yes. The score of 22 on the speaking section is a recommended, not required, score.
AP: Thank you for your time-- lastly, would it be possible to get in touch with a current International Law LL.M. student?
Graduate Affairs3: AP, admitted students will be notified of means by which they can contact current students, prior to enrollment. Thanks!
Len: Part-time students are ineligible for scholarships, correct? Also, what is the standard class load for a part-time Taxation student (1, 2 classes)?
Graduate Admissions1: Len, we do not offer grants to part time students. As a part-time student you may take up to six credits per semester.
Jason Kristall: Thank you. What kind of personal statements are you looking for in the application? Should they be similar to our law school applications or are they more tailored to the area or specialization we're seeking?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Jason Kristall, regarding the personal statement, you may describe your professional interests and goals, or since the Committee on Graduate Admission does not grant interviews, you may use the statement to describe aspects of yourself/and or your work that are not apparent from your other application materials. You should include your reasons and qualifications for applying for a particular program or specialization.
ida: Is moot court experience only reserved to student @NYC or does the NYU@NUS schedule would permits admitted student to compete even during off season competitions and if so would that be as an NUS student or an NYU student?
Graduate Affairs1: Dear Ida, NYU@NUS students are eligible to participate in all NYU activities. I would be in contact with the NYU@NUS Program Faculty Director for more information if you are accepted to the program. Please visit http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateaffairs/llmsing.htm for more information.
Jan: Is it ok, if only the examination results of two years of J.D. can be sent? Since the files need to be posted prior to publication of the tests in the last year.
Graduate Admissions1: Jan that is fine. You may apply for admission in the final degree of law study. At times, the Committee may request final results prior to making a final decision.
Sara: Does the Tax program provide an Int'l tax track? Thanks.
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Sara: yes, if you pursue the LL.M. in taxation, you're able to concentrate in International Tax. For more information, see: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateaffairs/tax.htm#llmtax.
Shawn Peterman: If an applicant's first language is not English, but that applicant has earned a LL.M. from an English medium program based outside the US, can the TOEFL requirement be waived? Thank you for your insight.
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Shawn Peterman, applicants whose first law degree was not taught in English, but who have completed an advanced degree taught in English in a country where English is the primary language are not required to take the TOEFL. These applicants must submit an official transcript of the advanced graded academic coursework with their application. Applicants who are currently enrolled in an advanced degree program that is taught in English must submit a TOEFL score.
ida: I have taken the July 2007 NY Bar examinations and noted it on my resume for my application, should I forward my results once obtained? And if so would a copy of the results be enough?
Graduate Admissions1: Ida, a copy of the results is fine.
lida_a: Is there any preference between having an IELTS score or TOEFL as a proof of English language proficiency?
Graduate Affairs1: Dear Ida, We will only accept the TOEFL exam results, not the IELTS. For more information, please visit: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateadmissions/completingllm.htm.
Jorge Jraige: After December's deadline, there is any possibility of being admitted?
Graduate Admissions1: Jorge, you must submit the application no later than December 1.
Jason Kristall: Is there a recommended length for the personal statement?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Jason Kristall, the personal statement should be 500 words.
Raphael: Thanks for your prompt reply. However, as an international student I wish to register with LSAC for as clear as possible process with my LL.B. grades. Please let me know if that changes your reply in any way. Thanks.
Graduate Admissions1: Raphael, if you do register with LSAC, the TOEFL scores should be reported there. We will receive the TOEFL score with the LSAC report
Jorge Jraige: There is any problem if you receive my TOEFL score before the application form is submitted?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Jorge, it is not a problem if we receive your TOEFL before your application.
mark poist: Regarding firms that interview students for jobs, are they mainly NY city firms or from other cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, or D.C.?
Career Services: Mark Poist - For international LL.M. students the most common U.S. employers are in New York City, though there are some (limited) opportunities in other cities including Washington, D.C., Chicago, California, etc.
Career Services: Mark Poist- Following up on my prior answer, if you are a U.S.-trained J.D. student pursuing an LL.M. in Taxation, the majority of on-campus employers are from New York, but students in that program successfully find positions in every major market in the country.
Jane Tsou: Does NYU offer online classes?
Mike: I noted that in the Graduate Tax program, some courses are offered online. Could you please describe how those courses work? How is the content delivered? Are they a set time? Are they interactive? Thanks.
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Jane Tsou and Mike: At this time NYU does offer a number of online courses. Specifically, these courses are offered through the Graduate Tax Program. Candidates for an LL.M. in taxation are eligible to take 12 credits online at this time. Please note, the degree cannot be completed fully online at this time.
Jason Kristall: What is this December deadline? I thought I read that the deadline for tax, at least, was in April?
Graduate Admissions1: Jason, the deadline for international students is December 1. If you hold a law degree from a US school the deadline for full time study is April 1.
Mimi: I have bachelor of law degree from a law school outside US, which could not provide information about class ranking. I also have a master of taxation from US. How negative an impact would it be on my application without a class ranking from a law school? Is there a way I can make up by providing class ranking in master of taxation program or a recommendation from my professor from master of taxation?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Mimi, you simply need to provide a statement from your registrar that there is no class rank and that will be sufficient.
Anurag Goel: NYU offers two courses on Arbitration. One is International Arbitration taught by Prof. Donold Donovon and the other is International Commercial Arbitration taught by Richard Hulbert and Linda Silberman. Please advice me if there is any difference between the two or is this a case of separate titles being used for the same course taught by different individuals. Also, Would Prof. Donovon be teaching the course in the academic year 2008-09? Thanks!
Graduate Affairs3: Anurag: The courses are different, but cover similar topics. Dworkin's class is a lecture and Hulbert's class is in a seminar format (which is, in general, more interactive and hands-on). Please see the course descriptions for each class which illuminate the differences. Please note, that the classes while different are considered "mutually exclusive," which means students can only choose one. See http://its.law.nyu.edu/StudentCourseInfo.cfm. The 2008-09 course schedule is not available yet.
brad: Is there rolling admissions for the graduate tax program?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Brad, domestic decisions are released as they are made.
Tay: How "welcome" are applications for LL.M. in taxation by non American citizens?
Graduate Admissions1: Tay, international students may apply to the LL.M. in taxation although the vast majority of students in that program have J.D. degrees from U.S. law schools
Len: Perhaps this was asked before, but could you let me know what annual tuition is, assuming a hypothetical part-time student takes 2 classes a semester?
Student Financial Services: Len: The per credit tuition rates for 2008-2009 are not yet available but will be published in late-May 2008. The current per credit rates are available from the following link: http://www.nyu.edu/bursar/tuition.fees/rates.07/springfall.pr.tuitionLw.html.
Shawn Peterman: If all other components of your application are submitted by the deadline, is it acceptable to send the TOEFL score in later 2-3 weeks later?
Graduate Admissions1: Shawn, the TOEFL score should arrive by the deadline. If it arrives later your application will likely be considered, but it may disadvantage your application.
Massimiliano Calabro: I'm applying for the LL.M. and I was wondering whether an application for the General Studies Program will allow me to attend courses of the Corporation Law Program. Furthermore, if I will be admitted under the General Studies Program, can I change it with the Corporation Law Program?
Graduate Affairs1: Dear Massimiliano, The LL.M. in General Studies allows students to design their own program of study. Unlike students in the specialized LL.M. programs, candidates for the General Studies degree are not limited in their course selection. The curriculum provides over 200 rich and diverse courses from which General Studies students can choose in order to develop a coherent and intellectually stimulating program. You are prohibited from registering for Corporations (L03.2010) for either 4 or 5 credits in the fall semester. Other corporate courses will be open to you. There is no guarantee you would be allowed to change programs, and would want to be in touch with the Graduate Admissions Office if admitted to ask about this possibility.
brad: For the full-time tax program, are the classes held mostly during the day or is the schedule scattered including night classes?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Brad: the schedule includes both evening and day classes. Full-time students can take both types of courses. Thanks.
mareike_a: If I apply to NYU before I actually have my German Law degree, will the NYU make a conditional offer and can you say something about the conditions set for international students in such a case?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Marieke_a, in most cases the Committee on Graduate Admissions will usually require the First State Exam to review your application. Please note that we do not make conditional offers on admission.
Jorge Jraige: On average, how many students are admitted to the International Tax LL.M.?
Graduate Admissions1: Jorge, the International taxation program usually enrolls about twenty-five students. Admission is very competitive and we admit about one in five or six applicants.
niketaarora: If I have written any articles for the law firm I worked with earlier do I need to submit a copy of them or is it enough to simply mention the articles in my SOP?
Graduate Affairs3: Niketaarura: You do not need to submit articles, you can just reference them.
Tay: My references were from my first LL.M. lecturers. Both took me on courses in Taxation but not as a lawyer.
Graduate Affairs1: Dear Tay, This is fine, thank you.
brad: Do any of the students have recommendations about housing options in addition to living in on campus housing? I have spoken with people from NYC and they suggested Brooklyn? Any comments?
Residence Services: Brad: We do offer information on obtaining off campus housing on our Web site (www.law.nyu.edu/depts/housing). Admitted students also have access to the listings in the NYU Off Campus Housing Office. Many of our students live in Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, etc.
Mimi: I am interested in applying for a scholarship for the LL.M. in taxation. What is the top factor the committee would evaluate when awarding the scholarship? The academic background or tax related experiences?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Mimi: taxation scholarships are determined by merit, as described in the application materials. Thanks.
Anurag Goel: I understand that we have to supply the e-mail address of our recommender while filling the online application and then the recommender would receive the instructions from NYU on submitting the letter of recommendation electronically. However, my recommender would not be in a position to submit the letter electronically and would rather prefer to hand me the letter in a sealed and signed envelope. Given this situation, am I still required to submit the e-mail address of my recommender while filling out the online applications? Thanks!
Graduate Admissions1: Anurag, you may send the recommendation for this recommender directly without listing it on the online application
clila: Hello, is it possible to send more than 2 recommendation letters when applying to the LL.M. program?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Clila, you may submit one additional letter of recommendation if you so choose.
Jane Tsou: Does NYU have night classes?
Graduate Affairs3: Dear Jane: NYU does offer night courses; however, please note that it is not possible to complete a degree with night courses alone. Many required courses are only offered during the day.
Jason Kristall: Career Services, I also have heard of a joint job fair program that the tax LL.M. program does with Georgetown. Can you describe that?
Career Services: Jason Kristall - There are a variety of interview programs for Tax LL.M. students including Fall and Spring On-Campus Interviews (OCI) at NYU and the Taxation Interview Program (TIP), which is a consortium interview program held jointly with Georgetown in February of each year. We have employers from around the country who participate in both NYU's OCI and Georgetown's TIP. Students in the Tax LL.M. program receive detailed information about these programs in the summer before you arrive at NYU.
Len: For the part-time Taxation program, about how many students are enrolled? And approximately how many applications do you receive? Are these part-time candidates considered in a vacuum, that is, apart from the full-time Taxation candidates and other LL.M. program applicants? Thank you again.
Graduate Admissions1: Len, the standards for admission to the part time program are the same as for the full time program. We admit about one in five applicants to our programs.
Tay: What are the career opportunities for LL.M's who already hold an LL.M in for instance, Petroleum Tax.
Career Services: Tay - That really depends on what type of position you are looking for, your geographic area of interest, your prior work experience, and your prior academic experiences. Employers may find an LL.M. in petroleum tax of interest if they have a large number of clients in that industry.
Jane Tsou: On average, how many students are admitted to the Tax LL.M.?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Jane Tsou: the number of applications varies from year to year. We seek to enroll 100-125 students.
Prashant: Hello. Could you please give me an idea of how many students specifically applied for the NYU@NUS Program last year and how many were finally given admission? Thank You
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Prashant, we do not have a specific number of students who applied for NYU@NUS given that we have preferencing on our applications. This past year we had 42 students enroll at NYU@NUS and this year we expect to have 70-100.
mareike_a: Just to be sure about what you just told me: I will have my First State Examination in June 2008. Does this definitely mean I cannot apply now for the LL.M. program starting in Fall 2008 but would have to wait one year?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Marieka_a, yes, this is the case.
Antonio: Hi. If one of my former employees is a NYU LL.M. alumnus, would it be advisable to prefer him over other possible recommenders?
Graduate Affairs3: Antonio: We carefully consider all recommendations received; please select people who you think will support your application.
Gilles: If you have 5 candidates who are plus minus equal. What is the most important criterion you use in that case: grades, letters of reference, ... I am inclined to say personal statement but 500 words is really short to get a clear picture of whom somebody really is.
Graduate Admissions1: Gilles, we consider all factors in the admission decision. The statement is in addition to the academic records, recommendation and resume. We receive a great deal of information about your ability to succeed from these materials
Jane Tsou: Does NYU offer weekend classes?
Graduate Affairs1: Dear Jane, there are a small number of weekend courses in the Tax program available, but it would not be possible to complete a degree with weekend classes.
Jane Tsou: For a part time student, how long does one have to complete the LL.M. program?
Graduate Affairs3: Jane: Candidates for an LL.M. have 5 years within which to complete all degree requirements.
Jane Tsou: Will NYU Law accept credits from George Washington University School of Law LL.M. program?
Graduate Affairs1: Dear Jane, at the discretion of the Vice Dean, a candidate for the LL.M. degree may be allowed to transfer credit for courses taken at another institution if: (1) the courses were taken as graduate courses at a law school accredited by the Section of Legal Education of the American Bar Association or an equivalent non-U.S. school; (2) the courses were taken after the candidate received his or her first degree in law; (3) the courses were completed with a grade point average of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale); and (4) the candidate received no credit for these courses toward any other degree. Grades from courses taken at another institution or other divisions of NYU are not used in computing grade point averages. University regulations require every candidate to complete 16 credit hours in residence at the NYU School of Law in order to qualify for the LL.M. degree. In addition, Law School regulations require a student to successfully complete the minimum number of in-field credits required for such student's degree program.
Priya: About how many students are admitted to the LL.M in General Studies-program? Thank you.
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Priya, we admit about one in five.
Émilie: How do you consider applications from law students that made theirs studies in the province of Quebec with a partially different legal system, a different language and a different gradation system?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Emilie, if the transcript is in French, we will need a certified translation. The Committee on Graduate Admissions is comprised of members who are aware of foreign legal education and will be able to evaluate your credentials.
mark poist: If you’re admitted, can you defer for one year?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Mark Poist, more information about the possibility of deferring is made available to admitted students.
Gilles: I'll have to try to post this again: In the case that you have 5 equal applicants, what is the most important criterion? Grades, letters of reference or personal statement, although you can't get a clear picture of who somebody is from 500 words...
Graduate Admissions1: Gilles, the academic record is the first important criteria. We balance the decision based on many factors and there is no particular weight assigned to any one factor.
Gilles Teerlinck: Thank you for the quick reply. Do you have any limits on students you allow from one specific country, e.g. Belgium, or do you just take the best students, and is nationality irrelevant?
Graduate Affairs3: Gilles: There are no quotas.
Mike: The latest on-campus recruiting and resume collection statistics that I could find date back to 2002. Any more current numbers you can share with us?
Career Services: Mike - We do not publish statistics for LL.M. employment because there are a number of factors that go into employer decisions to recruit LL.M. students including: country of first law degree, prior academic record, prior work experience, geographic preference, practice area preference, and LL.M. specialization, among others. Employer demand for LL.M. students has been increasing slowly over the past few years due to the busy legal market and we anticipate it will continue to do well. However, the market for LL.M. students remains competitive. You can email our office at law.ocs.LL.M.@nyu.edu if you have specific questions.
Jorge Jraige: In order to send the documents an envelope duly stamped by the translator would suffice or, both envelopes are required (one issued by the relevant university and other by the translator).
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Jorge: please visit the Graduate Admissions website for specifics. Specifically, see: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateadmissions/completingllm.htm.
Mimi: How many international students do you have right now in general taxation program? I know you said the majority is American students with J.D. degree. Thanks.
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Mimi: the Graduate Tax Program has only a handful of foreign-educated students. Thanks.
Antonio: If I will finish law school on December 2007 and obtain my law degree on February 2008, could I submit my application by the December deadline and then submit my law degree transcript in February?
Graduate Admissions1: Antonio, you should apply by the deadline and submit your transcript by then. You may send the final transcript when it is available in February
Brittany: How can we apply for both the part-time and full-time programs online?
Graduate Affairs1: Brittany, You can only submit one application per year, so you must choose between part and full-time study.
mark poist: What percentage of the tax LL.M. students are from the U.S.?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Mark Poist: the majority of students are from the United States. We are in the process of compiling statistics and do not yet have an exact percentage available.
Prashant: Q1. I have only applied for the NYU@NUS Program in Singapore. In case admission is not granted for NYU@NUS, would my application be considered for the NYU LL.M. Program at New York? Q2. I have not applied to any other law college as yet and will only be applying to other colleges in case a negative decision is received from NYU@NUS. Since decisions are made on a rolling basis, could you please confirm whether a final decision (negative or positive) could be conveyed to me by November as some of the other law colleges have application deadlines of December?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Prashant, because admissions standards are the same, if you are not admitted to NYU@NUS which you have preferenced, we cannot admit you to New York City. Provided that we receive all your materials by the deadline of December 1, you will receive notification that your application is complete. You will receive a decision from us once the Committee has reviewed your application. Please note that you may not wish to hold back on applications to other law schools that you are interested in.
Gilles Teerlinck: If you follow the LL.M. in corporation law and take classes at the Stern Business School, do you receive a certificate that mentions that you followed courses there?
Graduate Admissions1: Gilles, here is the link with information about the Advanced Certificate in business law: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateadmissions/masteroflaws/addtlopportunities.htm.
Gilles Teerlinck: I am in my final year, my graduation is in the beginning of July. It is possible that NYU accepts you to begin one month later in August, but only if you graduate with this certain grade / GPA? Or does NYU only consider the grades that are available at the time of the selection process?
Graduate Admissions1: Gilles, you are eligible to apply if you are in your final year. If admitted you will be required to submit your final results prior to enrollment in August.
Prashant: This question is a continuation of Gilles question. Suppose you have 2 candidates, one with higher grades but lesser work experience and the other with lower grades but substantially more work experience, which candidate would stand a better chance of admission and a scholarship for NYU@NUS? Thank You.
Émilie: What kind of professional and extracurricular activities can be relevant for the admission?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Prashant and Emilie, admission to the Graduate Division for all LL.M. programs is highly selective and is based primarily upon prior legal studies. Standards of admission are equal across all specializations and for study in New York City and in Singapore. For the Fall 2007 semester, the Law School received more than 2,000 applications for full-time programs for a New York City class of about 425 students, and a Singapore class of approximately 40 students. Though there are no inflexible rules about class rankings or grade point averages, those admitted have excellent law school records and strong academic and/or professional recommendations. Evidence of significant professional accomplishment is also taken into consideration.
Mike: How do we receive admission decisions? (i.e., once we apply, should we start obsessively checking our email or our mailbox?) Thanks!
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Mike, all decisions will be mailed. Please also see the following link regarding the review of applications: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateadmissions/applicationreview.htm.
Mimi: Are there any loan opportunities to international students on a part-time basis? Thanks.
Student Financial Services: Mimi - Currently part-time LL.M. students are eligible to apply for a number of different private loan programs. Some loan programs do require a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as a cosigner.
ida: Would you know if there are any foreign student with U.S. legal education (i.e. U.S. J.D.)?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Ida: Yes, foreign students who have earned their J.D.s in the United States may apply.
Jane Tsou: If one is accept for LL.M. admission for spring 2008 and the LL.M./MBA program is available in the fall 2008, can one switch the program?
Graduate Admissions1: Jane, we only admit part time students in the spring. If the possibility of a joint degree program is important to you, you may wish to wait and see if it becomes available.
mark poist: Is the LL.M. in corporate law mainly for foreign students? I'm having trouble deciding what would be better for a U.S. student, tax or corporate law?
Career Services: Mark Poist - As the LL.M. is first and foremost and academic program, you should choose your program based on your intellectual interests. If you have specific questions about career services provided to US trained students in various specialties, Please email our office at law.ocs.LL.M.@nyu.edu and we would be happy to talk to you.
Jorge Jraige: If I do not receive a certified copy of my grades or transcripts, an original issued several years ago duly translated would suffice?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Jorge, the original needs to be issued in a sealed envelope before it is given to a translator, the translator must return the translation and transcript in a sealed envelope that is signed across the seal.
Prashant: In answer to your response, I have already submitted my application and all documents. I have received a confirmation email from NYU that my application is complete. Does the Committee on Graduate Affairs wait till a certain number of applications have been received or does it decide as and when the applications come in? In which I case I assume that those who have applied earlier would get a decision faster. Am I correct in assuming this? Thank You.
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Prashant, decisions are released on a rolling basis for NYU@NUS and decisions for New York City are released in early to mid-March.
suzie hylton: I completed my LL.B. in the Caribbean and am a U.S. resident. Should I apply for the Graduate Taxation Program or The International Taxation program. I would be able to achieve my career objective in either program.
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Suzie: you may apply to either. Thanks.
Mimi: Does the recommendation letter have to be from a law school professor?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Mimi, we prefer academic recommendations but professional recommendations are fine too.
Prashant: Hi, sorry to post this question again but the answer provided unfortunately did not clear my doubts. Suppose you have 2 candidates, one with higher grades but lesser work experience and the other with lower grades but substantially more work experience, which candidate would stand a better chance of admission and a scholarship for NYU@NUS?
Graduate Admissions1: Prashant, it is not possible to draw a conclusion on admission based on a hypothetical with very limited specific information.
Jane Tsou: Does the admission ratio of approx. 1 out of 5 also apply to the Spring 2008 application process?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Jane, as admissions standards are the same, yes.
Jane Tsou: For Spring 2008 admission, the application is due on or before 11/1/07 for Graduate Tax Program. When will the decisions be release?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Jane, we will release decisions as they are made through mid-December.
Tay: If not admitted for a program, e.g Intl Taxation can one be offered a place in Graduate taxation. Is it an advantage to be a foreigner interested in the graduate tax program?
Graduate Admissions1: Tay, no, one cannot be considered for another program after being denied. All programs are equally competitive
Antonio: I have already obtained my transcripts from my university, then I had them translated by the Fulbright Commission, and then I will take these translations and the originals back to my university so that they submit these documents directly to LSAC. Is this the correct procedure?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Antonio, please consult with LSAC where the transcript should be mailed.
mark poist: What type of disadvantage are tier 3/4 school applicants at a disadvantage compared to tier 1/2 school applicants?
Graduate Admissions1: Mark, we don't rely on law school rankings to evaluate applicants to our graduate programs.
Massimiliano Calabro: For which LL.M. program do you usually receive the major number of applications? Thanks.
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Massimiliano, this varies from year to year.
Massimiliano Calabro: Ok...For example last year?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Massimiliano, the largest application pools are for General Studies, Corporate Law, and International Legal Studies.
Mimi: I was told that if I don't have to go through LSAC and I can ask my foreign law school to send the transcript over directly to NYU? Is that correct? Thanks.
Graduate Admissions1: Mimi, you are not required to use the LSAC service if you want to have your materials sent directly from your law school to NYU.
danielals: If I complete my application by the end of November, will I be at a disadvantage from the ones that applied earlier?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Danielas, NYU@NUS is on a rolling basis so you are encouraged to apply early, for New York City you must apply by the deadline.
Eric: Good afternoon. If accepted into your program, could I obtain married housing on campus from July 1, 2008- July 1, 2009?
Residence Services: Eric: To start, the demand for our family housing accommodations exceeds our supply. Should you wish to live with us this summer, please see the Summer Living in New York information (www.law.nyu.edu/depts/housing/summerliving). The Summer Living in New York application will be available on our Web site in early January of 2008. As for academic year housing, the application will be available on our Web site on February 15, 2008 and all admitted students who have confirmed their intent to enroll may apply. Family housing assignments are processed based on the date of application, geographic location of the applicant at the time of application, and proportionately amongst the degree programs. Should we not be able to accommodate you in family housing accommodations, we do offer off-campus housing assistance. As for housing for next summer, should you attend NYU Law you may submit a summer housing application in February if 2009 requesting to stay until July 2009.
Shawn Peterman: Does an applicant gain an advantage by becoming a LSAC member or will a non LSAC member be given equal consideration? Thanks.
Graduate Admissions1: Shawn, you need not use the LSAC transcript service to apply. We do not have a preference.
Antonio: Regarding my previous question, if I do not use the LSAC, would the described procedure be OK provided that my university submits transcripts (and translations) directly to NYU?
Graduate Admissions1: Antonio, provided that your transcripts arrive in a sealed envelope from your law school registrar, that is fine.
Tay: Plaease, from experience is it an advantage or otherwise (in terms of employment) to have two LL.M.'S one building on the other i.e. both tax related? The NYU tax program will give a U.S. perspective, while the former gave principally a U.K. perspective.
Career Services: Tay - This is a very individual question. Please email us at law.ocs.LL.M.@nyu.edu to discuss your specific situation as there is no general answer to this question.
Anurag Goel: I am a student from India and my education has been in English at all levels. I understand that I am not required to take the TOEFL. However, I have already taken the TOEFL and have received my scores. Is it ok if I submit my scores to NYU or is it rather better for me to avoid sending the scores in order to avoid a potential confusion?
Graduate Admissions1: Anurag, you are welcome to submit the scores but this is not requirement for you.
Émilie: Within the academic formation, except for grades, are there elements that are more likely to weight in the balance than others, for instance specific classes, researches or pleading competitions ?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Emilie, the Committee on Graduate Admissions pays close attention to the entirety of the contents of the transcript.
Eric: Thank you for your answer and I have a follow up question if you don't mind. If I was fortunate enough to obtain family housing for the summer of 2008 and through next school year, would there be any guarantee I could continue to live there until July 1, 2009. In other words, is there a chance I would have to find another place to live for the month and a half after the school year? Thanks.
Residence Services: Eric: I see no reason why we would not be able to accommodate you in family housing for the summer of 2009 if you submit the application by the priority deadline.
Shawn: For a full time student interested in the LL.M. in tax at NYU, is it better to begin study in the spring or fall semesters? I.e., are there class scheduling issues that prevent some students from taking certain courses in the Spring, etc?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Shawn, full-time students must begin in the Fall.
mark poist: If you’re accepted and graduate with a J.D. in May 08, do you recommend taking the bar in July of 08 or in July 09 after the LL.M.?
Career Services: Mark - Most students do take the bar exam in the summer between the J.D. and LL.M. year. It is certainly not required, but employers will look for you to sit for the bar before beginning a job in Summer/Fall 2009.
Mimi: I hope this is not a stupid question: why does the general taxation program not have many international students, is because not many international applicants, or J.D. degree holders are preferred? Thanks.
Graduate Admissions1: Mimi, the vast majority of applicants to the tax program are graduates of U.S. schools because they have experience in basic taxation coursework and plan to work for US firms specializing in taxation. Many have post J.D. experience working at US firms.
max: Since I have to leave this chat soon, I wanted to ask if the information given will be accessible the next days.
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Max, yes the transcripts from the online chats will be posted online.
jane: In continuation to Max's question, would you be posting all the answers or you would shortlist them?
mark poist: When we are done, are you going to post a transcript of the chat?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Jane and Mark, because of the length of the chat transcript, all of the same information will be present, however questions repeated multiple times will not reappear.
Prashant: Thank you so much for your answers to my queries. Would all admitted students for NYU@NUS be eligible to apply for the housing at the Evans Lodge, which is close to the NYU@NUS campus? What other alternate accommodation is available for NYU@NUS graduates? I also understand that housing is available at the Graduate Students Apartments at Prince George's Park residence. Is this far from the NYU@NUS campus?
Graduate Admissions1: Prashant, options on housing in Singapore will be sent to admitted students and may vary with those that were available in the inaugural year.
Jason Kristall: When it comes to admission to Graduate Tax, are students who go straight through from law school at a disadvantage vs. practicing attorneys?
Career Services: Jason Kristall - Employers take a number of factors into consideration, and are typically looking for a strong interest in and enthusiasm for tax law. Many do not require prior work experience but they will consider your academic record from both your J.D. and your LL.M. before making hiring decisions.
Shawn: I apologize ahead of time if this is answered on the website (I've been looking at several schools), but is there a concentration or sub-concentration within the tax LL.M.? For instance, if a student wishes to concentrate in estate planning or corporate taxation, are there particular courses of study?
Director, Graduate Tax Program: Shawn: more information on concentrations within the Tax LL.M. is available at: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateaffairs/tax.htm.
Antonio: Will Professor Epstein be teaching his course in the fall 2008 semester ?
Graduate Affairs1: Dear Antonio, The course schedule will be made available in early Spring. Professor Epstein is a visiting professor, but we do not yet know if he will be teaching next year.
Shawn: Are there any scholarships available to LL.M. students at NYU (such as the Tax Scholars at Florida)?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear Shawn, please view the information available on our website about scholarships: http://www.nyulawglobal.org/graduateadmissions/scholarship/index.htm.
suzie hylton: Will I be at a disadvantage as a foreign trained lawyer applying for the graduate tax program
Graduate Admissions1: Suzie, foreign trained lawyers are welcome to apply to the LL.M. in Taxation. However the vast majority of applicants and enrolled students are U.S. J.D. degree holders.
Jason Kristall: Thank you Career Services, but that was actually a question for Admissions. In an answer to a previous question, they noted that many of the Graduate Tax students have worked for firms practicing tax law. Is this experience something NYU is looking for, and will not having it disadvantage me as far as admissions goes?
Graduate Admissions1: Jason, previous experience working for a U.S. firm in the area of tax is not a requirement and not necessary to be a competitive applicant.
German: The earlier I send all my documents, the better chances I have to be admitted?
Graduate Admissions2: Dear German, NYU@NUS is rolling admissions and those decisions will be released as they are made. New York City's deadline is Dec. 1 for applicants with foreign education credentials. Please note that all applications will be reviewed as they are completed. It is a comparative process. Please feel free to send in your completed application before the deadline but this will not necessarily improve your chances of admission depending on your preferred location of study.
Administrator: Thank you very much for participating in this afternoon's online chat! A transcript of this chat will be made available on the Office of Graduate Admissions Web site shortly.
