value of US law degree outside the US

[kimpossible]

My husband is going back for his phD. I've decided that I'm going to return to full-time work for a while before applying for law school. His program is 5 years so I have some wiggle room to work.

Here's the question: after he gets his phD (5 years later) there's a good chance we'll move to Australia, New Zealand or Shanghai.

Is a law degree from the US pointless outside the US? I'm not 100% sure of my focus but I'm considering immigration and trade.

[kpih]

My husband is going back for his phD. I've decided that I'm going to return to full-time work for a while before applying for law school. His program is 5 years so I have some wiggle room to work.

Here's the question: after he gets his phD (5 years later) there's a good chance we'll move to Australia, New Zealand or Shanghai.

Is a law degree from the US pointless outside the US? I'm not 100% sure of my focus but I'm considering immigration and trade.

Try international law as a concentration.

[kimpossible]

Trade is covered by international law as far as I know. At least that's what one lawyer who specialized in trade told me.

Anyhow, I'd like some honest opinions about whether or not it's worth pursuing a law degree if I won't be living in the US.

edit: I'm at the point where I'm questioning what I'd do with it if I'm not in the US. Consult on trade? I can do that without a law degree. I'd be better off getting a broker's license. Technically, it's no good outside the US but it's a good credential to have.

Maybe I'd be better off with an MBA or secondary bachelor's like textiles.

[yoMAMA]

IMO a U.S law degree is still very valuable, regardless of the location.

I myself plan to do the same thing, get a JD from an American law school and work in Asia [preferably China] in the future, and not necessarily in the legal field.

MBA is a more commonly traveled road but i think since there are so many MBA programs right now....the value of that degree is somewhat diluted IMO [unless it's from one of those "top" b schools.]

But if you want to work in China as an American lawyer there seems to be many opportunities there, since China attracts so much foreign investment now days, lot's of law firms are setting up shop there and making deals...etc.

[mrazntre]

I'm sure the only reason for having a law degree is in order for you to be able to intake and analyze information within the framework of law. I think that the basis is just for the student to be able to think critically in whatever situation is presented. If that's the case, then you're just doing the exact same thing within different parameters because you're going to have to be certified wherever you go (domestically, you have 50 states with their own requirements). As a recruiter told me, law school doesn't necessarily emphasize on that state's laws. It just might be harder to get used to and learn a different country's laws that you haven't lived in all your life, but that's true from state to state. Most are similar, but some are different.

This is just my assumption.

[lethal]

Honestly, I think it depends on the "name" value of the school more than anything else, even moreso than the type of degree. The value of a degree from a lesser known school dilutes the further you move away from that school, unless it is one of the top 10 or so law schools. This is even more true internationally. FOr example, if you look at the foreign branches of US law firms, check the bios of the attorneys there and see where they went to school.

As far as the skills learned in law school, every school teaches you the same skills, more or less. You learn how to take a situation, research the rules, analyze your options, and come to a conclusion. Its most useful if you actually become a lawyer, but you can apply the research, writing, and analysis skills to most any jobs.

Good luck.