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    Apr 20, 2024  
2022-2023 Law School Student Handbook 
    
2022-2023 Law School Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

United States Legal Studies, LLM


Students may earn an LLM in United States Legal Studies by completing 24 units. To do so, the student must complete the required courses and the remaining units may be fulfilled by electives.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the LLM in United States Legal Studies program will demonstrate:

  • Knowledge of the legal rules, principles and theories in the relevant fields of substantive and procedural law.
  • The ability to apply the legal rules, principles, and theories in the relevant fields of substantive and procedural law in order to identify legal doctrine and resolve legal problems.
  • The ability to clearly and effectively communicate in a professional legal setting within the relevant fields of law.
  • The ability to succeed in the relevant fields of law.
  • Expertise in specific fields of substantive and procedural law within relevant LLM program of study that include: Students will learn the foundations of U.S. law, know the basics of several specific areas of U.S. law, gain strong legal analysis skills, perform effective legal research, apply legal authority to facts, and write documents in acceptable U.S. format with correct citations. They will be prepared to take the state bar examination and work in an American law office or similar setting as an intern/extern.

General LLM (Master of Laws) Requirements:


  1. Successful completion of 24 or more units;
  2. A cumulative GPA of 2.50 on a scale of 4.0;
  3. Successful completion of the courses required for the degree program;
  4. Completion of the program requirements within the number of years below:
    1. Environmental Law, 4 years
    2. Intellectual Property Law, 4 years
    3. International Legal Studies, 4 years
    4. Taxation, 5 years
    5. Estate Planning, 5 years
    6. Dual LLM in Taxation and Estate Planning, 5 years
    7. US Legal Studies, 4 years

Note: Program Directors may exercise the right to administratively withdraw any student who withdraws from two (2) or more courses without demonstrating special circumstances.

Required for Foreign Educated Students


Required for All Students


Complete one of the following:

Elective Courses


Students must complete the remaining units from the Law School’s course offerings. Alternatively, students may choose to concentrate in one of the following areas of law: Corporate & Commercial Law, Immigration Law, Employment Law, Litigation and Lawyering Skills, US Legal Practice, Property Development/Real Estate Law. Note that not all courses are offered every year.

US Legal Studies Concentrations


Students may elect to concentrate in a particular field of law and obtain an “LLM with a concentration.” Students should submit the application form to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline specified on the form. Students electing to earn a concentration must complete 16 units in a concentration, which will also count toward the 24 units needed for the LLM degree. Each concentration requires completion of 16 units of required and recommended courses, with the approval of the program director.

Academic Research Paper

Students may complete a substantial academic research paper in the concentration area, either in connection with certain courses or through a faculty-supervised directed study project.

Curricular Practical Training or Clinic

Students may complete 1-4 units of Curricular Practical Training  or clinic as part of the units required to complete a given concentration.

Corporate & Commercial Law Concentration


Immigration Law Concentration


Required:


Additional 13 Units


Students must complete an additional 13 units from among the following courses, for a total of 16 units:

Labor & Employment Law Concentration


Required:


Additional 10 units


Students must complete an additional 10 units from among the following courses, for a total of 16 units:

Litigation & Lawyering Skills Concentration


Property Development/Real Estate Law Concentration


Required:


  • 4 unit(s) (Will be waived if student has completed course at a US law school.)

Additional 12 units


Students must complete 12 additional units (16 if the Property requirement is waived) from the following courses, for a total of 16 units:

US Legal Practice Concentration