作者/科法所 2006級 碩班 陸大瑜
My decision to pursue an LL.M. degree in the United States is the outcome of my desire to foster understanding of the Latin American legal system in Taiwan. Despite the increasing importance of Latin America in the international arena, there is a lack of knowledge about the Latin American legal system in Taiwan. I was born and raised in El Salvador, where I received twelve years of German School education. However, I always identified myself with my Taiwanese roots and decided to attend university in Taiwan. I majored in Mathematics at NTU and am now a graduate student at the Institute of Technology Law at NCTU. This rich cultural and educational background has provided me with a broader perspective and a high sensitivity toward different societies. Thus, I wish to make good use of my background by researching Latin American Law in general as well as by exploring specific topics in depth to complement Taiwan’s research in this area. Even though it was hard to decide between pursuing an LL.M. degree in Heidelberg, Germany, or in the US, in the end I chose the US as the first step in my legal studies abroad because it is the ideal place for my area of interest: almost one fourth of the American population is of Latin American descent, and also due to the economical and political interest that the US has in Latin America, the US has invested in the study of Latin America more than any other country. Moreover, by pursuing advanced legal studies in a law school in the US I will be able to complement my legal education, which cannot be deemed whole without a thorough understanding of American Law.
Application requirements for LL.M. programs in the US law schools are largely identical. Applicants must provide an application form, a resume, transcripts of all postsecondary education, two recommendation letters, a TOEFL score report and a personal statement. Although the admissions committee looks at the entire application, the most decisive factors in my opinion are a strong academic record and a high TOEFL score. I believe that my score of 115 was decisive in my application. Mastery of the English language is essential to succeed in law school, and most top-ranked law schools require a score of at least 100 on the TOEFL iBT, while a few even require a score of 104 or 105. My personal experience is that using English on a regular basis and getting acquainted with the TOEFL’s question types shortly before the test is enough preparation, and is definitely more helpful than cramming for the exam a few weeks in advance. Reading novels and watching movies of my choice in English, without necessarily checking up every unknown word, is important to build deduction and analytical skills that are now tested in the TOEFL. I also built my speaking skills by talking to friends in English.
Most schools have a small LL.M. class. Therefore, another important factor in the application process is whether the applicant’s background and interests fit with a school in particular. In the personal statement applicants can freely write about their reasons for wanting to pursue an LL.M. degree at that school, their areas of interest and future professional plans. Applicants should also highlight their strengths, accomplishments, personality and the reasons why he thinks he will be a valuable contribution to that school’s LL.M. class. A good personal statement can make the difference: it gives you the chance to stand out and to show that you are passionate about the law, so you should edit your personal statement again and again until it is near perfection. As a matter of fact, of all the application materials, the personal statement was the part that took me the longest time to prepare.
Applying to LL.M. programs is a time-consuming process, so start early. The deadline for LL.M. applications is usually between November and February. However, it is best to apply as early as possible after applications are available, since many schools review applications on a rolling basis. Moreover, attending law school in the US is very expensive and scholarships are unusual, so you should also seek other funding sources, for example the Studying Abroad Scholarship of the Ministry of Education.
During the whole application process I was blessed with many people who believed in me and who encouraged me to aim high, especially my dad and my thesis advisor, Prof. Min-Chiuan Wang. For those of you who are also interested in pursuing an LL.M. degree in the USA, believe in yourself, too. I wish you success in your applications!
