National Jurist - October 2008 - (Page 38) WHITTIER LAW SCHOOL In service of justice and enterprise SM Law graduates from foreign law schools may earn a Masters (LL.M.) in U.S. Legal Studies. Masters students work with the program director to custom-design a course of study. A successful candidate must complete 24 credit hours of study, and there are only two required courses: Topics in American Law (3 Units) and American Legal Writing (2 Units). Students can earn a certificate with a specialization in international and comparative law or intellectual property law, or a concentration in business or criminal law. It usually takes longer than two semesters to complete a specialized course of study for the LL.M. degree. For additional information please contact be a good way to continue my education, and the company supported it,” she said. After graduation, Volkert decided to return to private practice and is now a partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Wisler, LLP in Teaneck, New Jersey. She found health law to be an extremely broad area that involves many different disciplines, from medical malpractice to labor and employment. Volkert sought a better understanding and knowledge of all the issues that impacted her field. “The area is expanding and growing at an extraordinarily rapid pace both in terms of law, regulation and enforcement,” she said. The LL.M. program taught her how to keep up-to-date in the ever-changing field. Because the LL.M. program was brand new, classes were small, and Volkert said most of her classmates balanced outside responsibilities such as work and families. For her, the challenge was having the discipline to sit down and read case law every single day. “I had held an executive position for eight years at that time,” Volkert said, and while she analyzed cases on the job, she certainly wasn’t reading and briefing them anymore. Plus, it had been a while since she had to read cases for school. She had received her JD in 1972 from the University of Toledo College of Law. Still, she found that even though it had been that many years, going back to school was like riding a bike. An LL.M. can open up doors at many different employers. Volkert said her classmates all ended up at various types of jobs after graduation, from private practice to in-house work. Volkert said she most enjoyed writing her thesis on a topic of her choice. She stressed that those interested in an LL.M. program should understand and identify their own expectations. “If you don’t have a clear vision of where you’re going, you can end up being disappointed.” “My expectations were continuing my education,” she said. “If your expectations are getting a job, do your homework and make sure it will be valued by an employer.” Though it’s great to keep your options open at first, people should keep in mind what the end result is that they’re looking for, Volkert said. “If you don’t have a clear vision of where you’re going, you can end up being disappointed.” ■ TEMPLE UNIVERSITY JAMES E. BEASLEY SCHOOL OF LAW An innovator in graduate and international legal education • • LL.M. in Taxation Estate Planning Certificate Program Employee Benefits Certificate Program LL.M. in Trial Advocacy LL.M. in Legal Education LL.M. in Transnational Law Unique opportunites to study law abroad • Calvin D. Peeler Associate Professor of Law and Director of International and LL.M. Programs OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AND GRADUATE LEGAL STUDIES 1719 N. Broad Street, Room 710 Philadelphia, PA 19122 215.204.1448 phone 215.204.2282 fax intllaw@temple.edu http://www.law.temple.edu • • • • cpeeler@law.whittier.edu 714.444.4141 ext. 228 38 THE NATIONAL JURIST October 2008 http://www.law.temple.edu http://www.law.temple.edu
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