LLM in International Arbitration & Business Law

The LLM in International Arbitration and Business Law is focused on commercial cross-border transactions and dispute settlement through arbitration.

The core courses of this LLM degree cover the fundamentals of international arbitration and business law, and include commercial and investment arbitration, alternative dispute resolution, international business transactions, international contracts and sales, and international investment law. The key electives complement the core courses and cover certain focus areas, such as choice-of-law issues in international arbitration, ICC arbitration, the calculation of damages in arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and international contract drafting.

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 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.

Required Courses

Complete a minimum of twelve credit hours of specialized courses approved for the LLM in International Arbitration and Business Law.

Core Course (minimum 6 hrs.)

Key Electives (minimum 6 hrs.)

Students are also required to take at least six credits from among the following key electives:

Arbitration

Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Business