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Overview of the LL.M. Program The LL.M. in United States Law is a one-year program of study open to a small, highly selective group of
foreign-trained lawyers and other graduates of non-U.S. law schools.
LL.M. Curriculum
The LL.M. in United States Law requires successful completion of two semesters of
study in residence, during which the student must earn 24 credit hours of course work.
There are two required courses - the first is the 2-credit Introduction to United States
Law (as described below); the second is a 6-credit course that combines intensive training
and practice in legal research and writing with the study of a core substantive area of United
States law (as described below). In all other respects the course work for the LL.M.
program is elective, allowing students to study those areas of law of greatest relevance and
interest to them. The Washington and Lee curriculum offers a wealth of beginning and
advanced courses in all major areas of study, including, for example, business and commercial
law, taxation, public and private international law, environmental law, and criminal and civil
litigation. Except in the case of Introduction to American Law, the LL.M. students take the
same classes as those offered to those enrolled in the J.D. program, and they are subject to
same grading procedures and standards. Grades for most courses are determined by
reference to the student’s performance on a final examination or on a substantial research
paper. A grade point average of C+ or better is required to complete the LL.M. program
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Introduction to U.S. Law All LL.M. students must enroll in Introduction to United States Law, a 2-credit course
commencing one week before the regular start of the fall semester and continuing through
the fall semester. The course is offered exclusively to LL.M. students and is taught by full-time
members of the law faculty. The course introduces students to the United States legal
systems.
Small Section Research and Writing Course
All LL.M. students must enroll in a fall semester 6-credit course that combines intensive
training and practice in legal research and writing with the study of a core substantive area
of United States law. These combined research and writing and substantive courses are
taught by full-time members of the faculty in small sections of approximately 20 students,
thus affording each student significant individualized instruction and close, regular contact
with the instructor. The LL.M. students enroll in the same small-section courses taken by
(and thus receive the same rigorous training as) the first-year students in our J.D. program. |
