The Master of Laws Program
LL.M. Degree Requirements
Program Length
The program is full-time and must be completed in residence within one calendar year. The two primary academic semesters are in the fall (from late August to mid-December) and in the spring (from mid-January to mid-May). There are limited course offerings during the summer semester (early June to mid-August). All students begin their studies in the fall semester with a mandatory orientation in mid-August. Most students complete the degree in the spring semester, although occasionally students complete the degree in the summer semester. A student may request an extension of time in which to complete the degree only under exceptional circumstances.
Credits and Grades
Students must complete at least twenty-four (24) semester hours of credit with a grade point average of at least 1.90. Candidates must maintain a grade point average of at least 1.80 to continue in the program. Students who fail one class will be placed on scholastic probation. A student who fails two classes in a single semester will be dropped from the program, regardless of the student's grade point average.
Required Courses for All Students
- Each student with a foreign law degree must successfully complete "Introduction to U.S. Law", a two-credit course designed and offered only to LL.M. students. Students with a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school are automatically exempt from this requirement. Students with a foreign law degree and a background of common law study may request a waiver of this requirement.
- Every student must complete a substantial research paper under faculty guidance. Most students satisfy this requirement by completing a writing seminar. Alternatively, students may complete a directed research project for at least two credits that includes a thirty page paper involving legal research and analysis. Students enrolled in a specialized track of study must write on a topic related to their area of specialization. The rules for writing seminars and directed research may be found on the Student Affairs Office website.
Required Courses for Different Concentrations
Each student is admitted to a particular track of study, all of which lead to the LL.M. degree. Students in a specialized concentration must complete specified courses to earn a certificate of specialization along with the degree.
- Business
- Global Energy, International Arbitration, and Environmental Law
- Intellectual Property
- Latin America and International Law
- U.S. Law for Foreign Lawyers (general program)
Eligibility for Different Concentrations
Enrollment for each concentration is limited. Students with a foreign law degree are eligible for all five concentrations. Students with a J.D. are eligible for: (1) Global Energy, International Arbitration, and Environmental Law, and (2) Latin American and International Law. The Business and Intellectual Property specializations are designed for students with a foreign law degree. The Law School will consider, on an ad hoc basis, an application to one of those concentrations from a student with a J.D. and little background in the area.
Access to Courses and Courses Outside the Law School
Students may satisfy part of the 24-credit degree requirement by completing graduate-level courses in other departments at the University. Non-law courses must be approved in advance by the director of the LL.M. program and the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Enrollment in most courses within and outside the Law School is limited, and not all courses are available.
Writing Course for Foreign Students
Students with a foreign law degree may wish to consider a new course offered in the fall semester exclusively to LL.M. students: Legal Research and Writing for Foreign Lawyers. This course will introduce foreign lawyers to the case-law method, the basic tools for conducting legal research, and the basic conventions and expectations for creating professional legal work product.
Approval for Plans of Study
Each student's course schedule must be approved in advance by the director of the LL.M. program or his/her delegate.