LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

LLM Admissions

• Hold a Juris Doctor (JD) from a US law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or a first degree in law from a foreign law school with equivalent standards. 
• Submit a completed application form along with supporting documents before the application deadline.
• International applicants must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement

More information about applying is available on the Office of Graduate Admissions website.

LLM Degree Requirements

• Students must successfully complete 24 credit hours from the designated list of classes with a grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better.
• In the first semester, non-common law trained students must successfully complete American Legal Institutions (LAW-580-001; 2 credits) and L.L.M. Legal Research and Writing (580-002; 2 credits).
• Graduation tracks:
  • Research Track: students are in this track by default. Students must successfully complete two research papers of at least 3,500 words each that demonstrate a high degree of skill in legal scholarship and writing. The legal memo written in the L.L.M. Legal Research and Writing class counts as one paper. 
  • Practical Skills Track: Students are in this track when they register for the International Legal Studies Externship course (LAW - 754). They must successfully complete an externship for credit, and complete one research paper of at least 3,500 words that demonstrates a high degree of skill in legal scholarship and writing. This legal memo written in the L.L.M. Legal Research and Writing class counts as one paper that meets the paper requirement. 
• The 24 credits needed for the LLM degree can be completed part-time, or full-time (two or three regular semesters). Students on an F-1 or J-1 visa must be enrolled in at least 8 credits during the fall and the spring, except for the last semester when students can take a reduced course load for 1-7 credits. To take a reduced course load, the Reduced Course Load Authorization Form must be filled out. NOTE: International students interested in taking the New York bar exam must complete the L.L.M. program within 24 months of matriculation. 
• Students may enroll in a maximum of 16 credits per semester (fall and spring), however, it is recommended that students take no more than 14 credits per semester. WCL allows up to 7 credits in the summer. NOTE: International students interested in taking the New York bar exam can only be enrolled in a maximun of 4 credits in the summer.
• LLM students may complete their degree requirements entirely by traditional classroom study or by classroom study combined with no more than six semester hours of approved externship and/or independent study credits.
• Absent extraordinary circumstances, students must complete the LLM degree within sixty months of matriculating in a given LLM program.

Required Courses

Complete a minimum of six credit hours from the following approved courses:

• LAW 626 Human Rights Law (3 hrs.)  
• LAW 620 International Humanitarian Law (3 hrs.)  
• LAW 660 International Law (3 hrs.)  
• LAW 739 Advanced Human Rights (3 hrs.)  
• LAW 850 International Criminal Law (3 hrs.)  
• LAW 725C Regional Approaches to Human Rights (3 hrs.)  

Remaining credits should be selected from specialized courses approved for the LLM in International Human Rights & Humanitarian Law.