LL.M. in Advocacy

LL.M Admissions

• Hold a JD from a U.S. law school accredited by the 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.

LL.M. In Advocacy Degree Requirements

• Students must successfully complete 24 credit hours from the designated list of classes with a GPA 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 Legal Research and Writing (LAW-580-002; 2 credits).
• Before the end of the first semester of study, students must select one of the following graduation tracks:
  • Research Track: 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.
  • Practical Skills Track: students must successfully complete an externship for credit, and one research paper that demonstrates a high degree of skill in legal scholarship and writing.
• The 24 credits needed for the LL.M. in Advocacy 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 eight credits during the fall and the spring, except for the last semester when students can take a reduced course load for one to seven credits. To take a reduced course load, the Reduced Course Load Authorization Form must be completed and submitted to the Office of International Studen and Scholar Services at isss@american.edu
• Students may enroll in a maximum of 15 credits per semester (fall and spring), however, it is recommended that students take no more than 13 credits per semester. WCL allows up to seven credits in the summer.
• LL.M. in Advocacy students may complete their degree requirements entirely by traditional classroom study or by classroom study combined with no more than eight semester hours of approved externship, independent study, and/or teaching assistant credits.
• Absent extraordinary circumstances, students must complete the LL.M. in Advocacy degree within 60 months of matriculating in a given LL.M. program.

Required Courses

• Students should have completed or will need to complete the following courses or the equivalent. Equivalency will be determined by the LLM in Advocacy Program Director
  • LAW 695 Civil Trial Advocacy (2-3 hrs.)  
  • LAW 694 Criminal Trial Advocacy (3 hrs.)  
  • LAW 633 Evidence (4 hrs.)  
  • LAW 508 Criminal Procedure I (3 hrs.)  
• In addition, students must take either
  • ​LAW 915 Legal Ethics for Trial Lawyers (2-3 hrs.)   or 
  • LAW 992 Criminal Justice Ethics (2-3 hrs.)  
• And at least one of the following:
  • LAW 708B Plea Bargaining (3 hrs.)  
  • LAW 784 Securities Field Component (3 hrs.)  
  • LAW 913 Trial Advocacy: Litigating in the High-Tech Courtroom (2 hrs.)  
  • LAW 968 Trial Advocacy: Evidentiary Foundations and Objections (3 hrs.)  
  • LAW 984A Advanced Trial Advocacy: Challenges and Obligations of the Prosecutor (2 hrs)  
  • LAW 994 Litigating in the Digital Age: e-Discovery (2 hrs.)  
  • LAW 878 Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony (3 hrs.)