Academics

Master of Laws (JD/LLM) Requirements

JD/LLM students must earn 104 credits to graduate: 84 JD credits + 20 LLM credits.

Students must meet all of the academic obligations for JD students, and are also responsible for:

  1. Summer Start

    Candidates for the combined JD/LLM degree shall enter the Law School for the summer session preceding the normal fall entry date.

  2. International Law Writing Requirement

    Completion of a writing project (four credits) on an international, comparative, or foreign law subject.

  3. Demonstrated competency in a Foreign Language

    This requirement may be met by completing coursework in a foreign language, testing, or certification of language proficiency. See Rules and Policies for the LLM degree for detailed information.

  4. 4 Weeks of Summer Study at One of the Following:

The 20 hours of study for the LLM (ICL) degree shall include the following Law School courses: International Law (public); Comparative Law: Western Legal Traditions; and Research Methods in International, Foreign, and Comparative Law.

It should be noted that the model curricula below are only recommended courses of study. These curricula have been compiled based on course descriptions and student experience. They are merely designed to give you some guidance, should you need it, when selecting your courses. You are more than welcome to tweak the curricula according to your needs or even devise your own plan of study.

Required and Recommended Courses

Required JD Courses
CivPro(4.5)
Constitutional(4.5)
Contracts(4.5)
Criminal(4.5)
LARW (3)
Property(4.5)
Torts(4.5)
Ethics(2)
Total Credit Hours: 32
Required LLM Courses
Public International Law (3)
Comparative Law (3)
Research Methods in International, Comparative and Foreign Law (1)
Summer Institute (6)
Total Credits: 13
Strongly Recommended LLM Course
International Trade Law (3)
COURSES RECOMMENDED FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW
JD Courses
Evidence(4)
Administrative Law (3)
Negotiation & Mediation (3)
Total Credit Hours: 10
LLM Courses
Conflict of Laws (3)
Globalization of Jurisdiction (2)
Current Issues in International Comparitive Law (1)
Total Credit Hours: 6
 
ADDITIONAL COURSES RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW
Human Rights Track
International Human Rights (2)
CL/Special Court for Sierra Leone (4)
Comparative Public Law & Policy – Ethnic Group Relations (3)
Immigration(2)
Total Credit Hours: 11
International Trade Track
EU Law(3)
Dispute Settlement in the WTO (2)
International Law & Development (3)
Trade & Antitrust (2)
Total CH: 10
Other Advanced Specialty Options
Use of Force(3)
National Security (3)
Comparative Constititutional Design/Law (3/2)
International Environmental Law (2)
International IP (3)
(Language) for Legal Studies (2)
Non-Law Classes
ADDITIONAL COURSES RECOMMENDED FOR PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW
Transactional
Structuring Commercial / Financial Transactions (3)
Global Capital Markets (3)
International Law on Foreign Investment (2)
(Language) for Legal Studies (2)
Advanced Specialty:
- Bankruptcy(2/3)
- Tax(3/4)
- Corporate Finance, Reorganization(2/3)
Total Credit Hours: At least 12 (5 JD, 7 LLM)
Intellectual Property
IP (4)
International IP (3)
Advanced Specialty:
- Copyright(3)
- UFC/TM(2)
- Patent(3)
- Etc.
Total CH: At least 9 (6 JD, 3 LLM)
 
ADDITIONAL COURSES RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLIC /PRIVATE COMBO
JD Courses
Business Associations (4)
IP (4)
National Security (3)
Advanced Specialty Courses (Varies)
Total Credit Hours: At least 11
LLM Courses
EU Law(3)
International Human Rights (2)
International Law & Development (3)
International Business Transactions (2)
Transnational Dispute Resolution (3)
(Language) for Legal Studies (2)
At least one non-law course (3)
Total CH: 18