Felipe Viali Barbosa, a current LL.M. student at the University of Miami School of Law, recently started an internship at Shutts & Bowen LLP. He was able to do this thanks to Curricular Practical Training (CPT), a program designed for F-1 students to obtain practical experience during their studies.
Barbosa, a Brazilian attorney, is focusing his LL.M. studies on privacy, corporate, finance and securities law. And thanks to Miami Law’s LL.M. practicum program, he balances his academic pursuits with hands-on U.S. legal experience working for a well-known Florida law firm with approximately 280 attorneys across eight offices.
The LL.M. year can feel like it is too short. For students looking to maximize their LL.M. experience, gain legal exposure in a U.S. setting and build their professional networks, attending a school with a CPT path can be an important LL.M. enhancer, whether a prospective LL.M. student makes a law school choice based on CPT options or whether an LL.M. student chooses to pursue a CPT at their school.
Miami Law’s LL.M. practicum program
Barbosa shared that his decision to attend Miami was not specifically due to CPT opportunities. However, when he learned about CPT opportunities at orientation, he decided to pursue this option and ultimately secured a position with Shutts & Bowen LLP.
That is no coincidence. Miami Law’s LL.M. team places great emphasis on practical legal experiences.
Christiane Reis is Miami Law’s assistant director, international law programs. She works directly with Barbosa and his LL.M. colleagues who pursue CPT options.
According to Reis, “at Miami Law, we believe that hands-on, practical experience is a vital component of the LL.M. degree, so we offer several practical learning opportunities for students to engage in during their studies.”
Because CPT generally requires the completion of two full academic semesters to unlock, F-1 J.D. students become quite familiar with CPT regulations at the end of their first academic year.
But for many LL.M. students, CPT is a bit of a mystery due to their shorter programs.
U.S. law schools can create specialized LL.M. programs that incorporate a requirement that unlocks CPT earlier.
Reis said Miami Law offers the LL.M. practicum program which affords students the opportunity to work for a law firm or company in the Miami area during their studies and gain academic credit toward their LL.M. degree.
CPT experiences through Miami and Columbia
Barbosa has been happy with his CPT experience. He specifically credits Shutts & Bowen LLP for the way they build the CPT experience.
“Most employers understand that school is our primary focus,” Barbosa said. “Given our limited time in the office, they tend to assign research and tasks that can be completed within those hours. If you finish early, it’s important to proactively ask for more work, as they generally try to avoid having you stay overtime.”
Juan Felipe Sáenz Dussán is a corporate and M&A attorney from Colombia pursuing his LL.M. at Columbia University. He is also the LL.M. representative for the Colombians at Columbia Student Association. He said that he is completing his CPT for the Three Cairns Group in New York City.
Like Barbosa, Sáenz Dussán did not specifically choose Columbia for the CPT path. But he has been happy with his experience at Three Cairns Group.
Sáenz Dussán said experience has been enriching.
“It has been amazing in terms of networking and getting to know what it’s like to be an in-house attorney for an investment fund, while working on a matter that is of great interest to me [impact investment],” he said.
Considerations for CPT paths for students & schools
Balancing CPT work demands with everything else happening in the LL.M. experience can be challenging. And to ensure that you can stand out in your CPT, that may require thinking through which courses to take.
Barbosa’s advice? “Not to overextend yourself. Taking on too many subjects can diminish the overall LL.M experience, even though it’s tempting to fill your schedule with interesting electives beyond the mandatory courses,” he said.
Barbosa has enjoyed working with the attorneys in the office. He takes a “no task is too small” approach. Whether it’s researching issues, drafting memos, or strategizing, he combines his Miami Law LL.M. education with a direct look at the practice of law in the United States. He particularly credits the Shutts & Bowen LLP team for welcoming him with open arms and making him feel like a valued member of the team.
Sáenz Dussán said the workload in the externship has been very manageable so far.
“Coming from a law firm, the work I have been assigned can be completed within the weekly working hours, and I still have time to prepare the assignments from the university,” he said.
Post-CPT goals
These opportunities help foreign LL.M. students whether they remain in the U.S. or return home after their LL.M. programs.
Reis said for international students looking to work in the U.S. after graduation, these practical learning opportunities help students become exposed to a different legal system and culture, which can help enhance their career prospects after graduation by developing familiar footing with the U.S. system during their studies.
CPT experiences can lead to other doors being opened.
Miami Law’s LL.M. team emphasizes that these opportunities improve students’ chances of finding rewarding post-LL.M. work in the U.S. and abroad through expanded networks.
Reis said practicum supervisors can serve as mentors and recommenders for future positions and having a work experience in the U.S. during the LL.M. program gives foreign students a leg up in their post-graduation job search.
In some cases, a CPT experience may even lead a firm to decide to retain that LL.M. upon graduation for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) position.
Conclusion
CPT tracks require additional work and resources for LL.M. offices, one reason that not all schools may offer this path. It was not a surprise for me to hear about the positive experiences Barbosa and Sáenz Dussán are having.
Miami Law’s team shares that many other alumni have shared their positive experiences with the LL.M. practicum program.
“Hearing such positive feedback from students and alumni helps reiterate the importance of keeping such programs running for future students,” Reis said.
Sáenz Dussán would recommend a CPT path to prospective LL.M. students.
“If I had the opportunity to opt for the CPT again, I would definitely do it,” Sáenz Dussán said. “For me, education is better received in a practical way, and opting to do a CPT truly allows you to get a taste of working life in the United States.”
