Graduates who complete a masters degree in law can expect to find themselves in demand with employers, according to law firm Baker and McKenzie.
Specific practice groups, such as tax, often seek out graduates with LLMs as they have specialised knowledge on a certain area of the law.
Vicki Kelley, global director of talent management at Baker & McKenzie, told the Financial Times LLM qualifications are important in both recruitment and retention, although the firm has no quota or policy for the number of postgraduates it employs.
"We very much value LLM programmes," she said. "They provide significant value, help us to attract and retain high calibre talent and deliver against our strategy and client needs."
Ms Kelley said support for degrees is so strong at Baker & McKenzie that many of its offices around the world would offer financial support or time off to associates wishing to study part-time.
Those wishing to complete an LLM in a year can apply for a firm scholarship to study at designated schools and universities, often with time in an overseas office included to widen individual experience, she told the FT. The firm has about 1,300 partners worldwide, of which 40% have an LLM.
