LLM in Law and Government

The LLM in Law and Government offers concentrations including (1) administrative law and regulatory practice (with further specializations in communications law and policy, environmental law and policy, health law and policy, immigration law and policy, labor and employment law and policy, and national security law and policy); (2) business and financial regulation (with further specializations in intellectual property law and information policy and securities law and policy); and (3) civil and constitutional rights (with further specializations in criminal law, gender and law, and politics and legislation). A limited number of students may pursue an individualized course of study. The program has been tailored to take advantage of the law school’s location in the nation’s capital.

Concentrations and Specializations

Students who are interested in a specific field of law may specialize in one of the twelve areas of study listed below by doing an in-depth study of a particular area of law. Students who complete a specialization will receive a certificate from the Program on Law and Government; the specialization does not appear on transcripts.

There are three concentrations and eleven specializations available to LLM in Law and Government students. Each specialization falls under one of the three concentrations. If a student completes the requirements for a specialization, then he/she will also receive the concentration.
To earn a concentration or specialization, a student must complete 12 credits approved for that specialization or concentration and complete either a 20-25 page research paper in his/her area of concentration or specialization or a an externship in his/her area of concentration or specialization.
Students may complete more than one specialization if they meet the requirements.
Areas of Concentration and Specialization Include:

Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice

Energy Law & Policy
Environmental Law & Policy
Health Law & Policy
Immigration Law & Policy
Labor and Employment Law & Policy
National Security Law & Policy

Civil & Constitutional Rights

Criminal Law
Disability Rights
Gender & the Law
Law, Politics and Legislation

Business & Financial Regulation

Securities Law & Policy

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 completed American Legal Institutions (LAW-580-001; 2 credits) and Legal Research and Writing (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 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.
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 7 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.