Program Overview

Overview of the Master of Laws (LLM) in U.S. Law for Foreign Lawyers

The Master of Laws (LLM) in U.S. Law for Foreign Lawyers at Washington University in St. Louis is designed for law students interested in increasing their knowledge of U.S. or international law to more effectively practice in today's global legal environment. LLM students join a student body drawn from diverse legal cultures and learn from faculty who are experts in both U.S. and international law.

Degree Requirements

To earn the U.S. Law LLM degree, a student must successfully complete 24 credits, including:

• Introduction to U.S. Laws & Methods I & II (4 credits)
• Fundamentals of U.S. Law (1 credit) Students are able to select electives for the remaining 19 credits.

Program Objectives

This LLM program is an ideal environment for experienced attorneys and recent law graduates alike to pursue significant professional and academic goals, such as:

• Gaining practical and theoretical knowledge of U.S. and international law
• Developing expertise in a specialized field of law
• Strengthening one's ability to represent clients who have business dealings in the United States or with U.S. companies and firms
• Improving one's representation of American clients who conduct business abroad
• Building an international network of professional contacts
• Refining one's English skills and understanding of American culture

Admission Criteria

U.S. Law LLM candidates must have earned their first law degree from their home jurisdiction. Non-native applicants must show proof of sufficient language proficiency.

Program Structure

LLM students design their own curriculum to suit their academic and career goals. They may concentrate in specialized fields such as corporate or environmental law, or they may select a general course of study to increase their breadth of U.S. and international legal knowledge. Earning the LLM in U.S. Law may permit WashU Law graduates to sit for several states' bar examinations if students choose to pursue appropriate course work. This includes the New York State bar exam, which is the most popular bar among foreign lawyers.