Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law (LLM)

Program Overview

The Master of Laws program offers a wide range of courses designed to provide students with the intellectual and analytical tools to intervene critically and effectively in the global policy debates confronting their societies, as policymakers, practicing lawyers, judges, academics, activists, or international civil servants. These courses are incorporated into flexible curricula, allowing students to pursue advanced studies in specialized areas based on their own academic and professional interests, including international human rights law and justice, Islamic law and Middle Eastern legal systems, gender studies, law and development, international economic law and business regulation. The curricula are also flexible in that they allow alternative admission options to accommodate students’ preferences and constraints. Accordingly, students interested in pursuing graduate studies in law may choose among the options below, corresponding to different levels of commitment in time and money.

The Master of Laws (LLM) Degree in International and Comparative Law offers a wide range of courses designed to provide students with the intellectual tools to promote and critically assess economic, social, and legal developments. The curriculum is flexible and allows students to pursue advanced studies in specialized areas (e.g., business regulation, Islamic law and Middle Eastern legal systems, gender studies, and international human rights law and justice). LLM students have an invaluable opportunity to benefit from the multidisciplinary offerings of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP).

The current curriculum for the LLM in International and Comparative Law matches the “generalist” orientation of the degree. It is designed to provide students with as much flexibility as possible to take courses in their areas of interest. Fulfilling the requirements of the LL.M. degree normally calls for two years of study.