Extended LLM
The Duke Law LLM program offers the option of extending the period of study for one or two additional semesters.
Students may extend the Duke Law LLM program for one or even two additional semesters. This “extended LLM” option allows students to take maximum advantage of Duke Law’s extensive curriculum, complete both basic and skills courses required by the NY State bar, and enroll in more courses in Duke’s other graduate and professional schools. And having a summer between academic years offers exciting student employment and internship opportunities in the U.S.
Students may enroll in the extended LLM during the initial application process, or inform the International Studies Office that they wish to extend their program during their academic year. The latest that the request to extend the LLM can be submitted is 30 days prior to graduation.
Extending my LLM studies at Duke Law has been an incredibly rewarding and valuable decision. It allowed me to deepen my understanding of various areas of law while gaining broader academic and practical exposure. During this period, I was also fortunate to work as a Research Assistant at the Duke Law Library. This experience gave me the opportunity to contribute to several legal research projects, which significantly strengthened my research, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Overall, the extended LLM experience has not only expanded my legal knowledge but has also equipped me with skills that will be essential in my professional career.
Choosing the extended LLM program was one of the most strategic and valuable decisions in my life. I chose that program because I thought one year would not be enough to take full advantage of the academic and professional opportunities available at Duke Law. The second year gave me the time to explore law more deliberately and to engage more closely with the Duke Law community. What made the extended LL.M. especially meaningful was the opportunity to understand the system better, approach my studies with more confidence, and create the space to reflect on the direction of my career. In many ways, one-year extra time turned Duke Law into a deeply formative chapter of my life.
Nihat earned certificates in Business Law and International Law, joined the Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law as a staff editor, worked with the UN Special Rapporteur through the Human Rights Pro Bono Program, served as Vice President of the Global Law Student Association.
The LLM program flexibility is one of the best advantages of choosing Duke. Designing your curriculum with the courses you want or need offers the perfect degree for international students with previous experience in a particular field. But with so many great courses and professors, sometimes two semesters are not enough. I was fortunate to participate in the extended LLM program, one of the best experiences of my life.
Apart from expanding your resume, being a returning student creates a unique experience in the second year. You are already friends with the faculty, staff, and fellow JD students. Clinics, research positions, and journals are all on the table to enhance your degree, and you get to meet a second LLM class.
I am going to work as assistant legal counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands. What helped me to pursue a career in ADR is participating in the ISIP program and communicating with my professor, who helped me with my course selection. Networking helped me to have a clearer vision of where I am going, and alumni especially gave me ideas on how I can fully take advantage of the LLM program.
Extending the LLM program for one semester allowed me to work as a teaching assistant during summer, as well as extern at DUMAC after having clinical experience during the spring semester. Having done an externship and a clinic will enhance my ability to apply what I have learning in the LLM courses to real-life situations. The LLM program experience has also been one of the best years of my life.