Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law
New York , United States
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Tuition Fee
USD 89,942
Per course
Start Date
2027-02-20
Medium of studying
Blended
Duration
7 months
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Details
Program Details
Degree
Masters
Major
Business Law | Commercial Law | International Law
Area of study
Business and Administration | Law
Education type
Blended
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
Tuition Fee
Average International Tuition Fee
USD 89,942
Intakes
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2027-02-20 | - |
| 2027-05-22 | - |
| 2027-08-21 | - |
About Program
Program Overview
Executive LL.M. Program and Curriculum
The Executive LL.M. program at Columbia Law School is designed for mid-career lawyers with approximately five years of professional experience. The program provides students with a strong foundation in U.S. business law, as well as the opportunity to study specialized aspects of international business transactions that closely relate to business law practice.
Program Design
The Executive LL.M. has both online and in-residence components, requiring a total of 24 credits. The program is divided into three parts:
- Online Spring Semester: February 20 - May 18
- Introduction to American Law and/or Two Elective Courses (Regulation of the Digital Economy | AI and Law)
- Classes generally meet on Zoom 1 time each week for 2-3 hours in the morning New York Time
- On-Campus Summer Residency: May 22 – August 14
- Take five (5) on campus classes: 4 electives and the required Colloquium
- Typically, courses are taught in blocks with each block lasting six weeks
- Online Fall Semester: August 21 – October 1
- Professional Responsibility in Global Business
- Classes generally meet on Zoom 2 times each week for 2 hours in the morning New York Time
One Degree, Two Pathways
Columbia Law School offers both a full academic year LL.M. and an Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law. The key differences between the two programs are:
| Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law | LL.M. Program (full academic year) | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Earned | Master of Laws | Master of Laws |
| Total Credits | 24 credits | 24 credits |
| Program Length | Seven months (four months online, three months on campus) | 10 months on campus |
| Program Calendar | Take two or three online courses in February and April, followed by a 12-week on-campus Summer Residency (May through August). Complete your study with one additional online course in September. | Complete the entire program in residence on campus (August through May). |
| Weekly Schedule | Online courses : Blend of live lectures and self-directed work. Summer Residency : Two five-week blocks, each followed by one week of study and assessment. In each block, students attend classes Monday through Friday. | Full-time enrollment over two semesters, with fall term start; follows the August-May academic calendar and schedule. |
| Academic Focus | The program’s courses, programming, and training all reflect a focus on global business law. | General program of study. You can take a wide range of courses in both the private and public spheres, with the option to focus on a particular area of law. |
| Required Courses | * Introduction to American Law (3 credits) OR Two Law Elective Course for U.S. Law Degree Holders (6 credits) * Colloquium (4 credits) | * Introduction to American Law (2 credits) * Legal Research and Writing (2 credits) |
| Elective Courses | 18 credits: Choose from a number of elective courses, such as Business Organizations, International Commercial Arbitration and Mergers and Acquisitions. | 20 credits: Choose from hundreds of courses, from corporate to human rights and public international law, as well as many experiential offerings, including externships, clinics, workshops, and simulation labs. |
| Career Services | Dedicated Career Management Team, Access to Columbia Law School job database, Residency events that connect you to CLS alumni, Several career-focused events throughout the Summer Residency | Regular access to career counselors and programs through the Office of Career Services, Social Justice Initiatives, and Careers in Law Teaching Program, Participation in LL.M. Interview Program, Access to Columbia Law School job database |
| Bar Exam Eligibility | The Executive LL.M. does not qualify graduates to sit for the NY State Bar Exam, but students may be eligible to take other state bar exams. | Successful graduates of the LL.M. Program may be eligible to take the NY State Bar Exam, as well as other state bar exams. |
| Entering Class Size | Approximately 25-40 students | Approximately 300 students |
| Employment During Program | You may maintain full-time employment during the online portions of the program. The Summer Residency requires full-time attendance. | You may not maintain full-time employment during the program, but may work part-time on campus. |
| Student Life | Take classes only with your cohort. Participate in social events, receptions, and speaker engagements tailored specifically for the Executive LL.M. cohort during the Summer Residency period. | Take classes with both LL.M. and J.D. students. Participate in journals and student organizations, clinics, externships, supervised research, pro bono projects, and other experiential learning opportunities. |
| Housing and Meals | There are a number of housing options for students during the summer residency, including campus housing sublets, off-campus sublets, and short-term corporate rentals. | On-campus housing is available for LL.M. students in apartment shares, studios, one-bedroom apartments, and dormitory-style housing. |
| Professional Qualifications/ Admissions Criteria | Designed for mid-career lawyers with approximately five years of professional experience. | Designed for students with at least one year of professional experience after earning their first law degree. |
| TOEFL Score Requirement | TOEFL iBT (Test Center / Home Edition): 105 Overall Score — IELTS (Test Center / Online): 8 Overall Score | TOEFL iBT (Test Center / Home Edition): 105 Overall Score — IELTS (Test Center / Online): 8 Overall Score |
| Tuition* and Financial Aid | $89,942 (Tuition only, additional mandatory fees apply) Financial assistance is available from Columbia Law School. | $93,757 (Tuition only, additional mandatory fees apply) Financial assistance is available in the form of scholarships and institutional loans. |
| Living Costs* | $9,624 (Individual budgets may vary) | $30,304 (Individual budgets may vary) |
Curriculum
The Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law provides students with a strong foundation in U.S. business law, which plays a key role in cross-border transactions, as well as the opportunity to study specialized aspects of international business transactions that closely relate to business law practice.
Required Courses
The program’s required courses explore the fundamentals of U.S. law with a focus on those subjects frequently encountered in business practice.
- Required for students without a U.S. degree in law (JD or LL.M.)
- Introduction to American Law (Professors David Schizer and Christina Ponsa-Kraus)
- Required for students with a U.S. degree in law (JD or LL.M.)
- Regulation of the Digital Economy (Professor Anu Bradford)
- AI and Law (Professor Hillel Parness)
- Required for all ELLM students
- Colloquium in Global Business Law (Professor David Schizer)
Elective Courses
The elective courses allow students to tailor their studies to a particular aspect of international business law.
- Business Organizations
- Deals
- A Hands-On Approach to Mergers and Acquisitions
- International Commercial Arbitration
- Behavioral Perspectives on Law and Public Policy
- Global Regulation of International Business
- Professional Responsibility in Global Business
Degree Requirements
To earn the Executive LL.M. degree in Global Business Law, you must:
- Earn 24 points of academic credit. Academic point credit is earned through satisfactory completion of a course with a grade of C or better.
- Satisfactorily complete the following required courses:
- Introduction to American Law (online; 3 credits) or Two Law Elective Courses (online; 6 credits)
- Colloquium in Global Business Law (4 credits)
- Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 2.67 (B-) or better, or a preponderance of B-or-better grades. If you fail more than one course, your candidacy will be terminated automatically and you will not earn the degree. Executive LL.M. students are eligible for academic honors.
Executive LL.M. candidates are expected to complete their degree coursework during the February-October program period.
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