Master of Laws (LLM)
The Northeastern LLM program is a post-graduate law program designed for U.S. or internationally trained lawyers looking for individualized professional growth. As an LLM student, you'll tackle real-world legal issues while acquiring the foundational knowledge and practical skills you need to become a real-world practitioner with impact.
The general LLM's dynamic co-op program provides the most flexibility for students to take the courses they want in pursuit of their professional interests and personal aspirations. Many LLM students also choose the general program to qualify for a bar examination in one of the United States jurisdictions (Massachusetts or New York, for example) that admit lawyers trained outside the U.S. Whether you are a U.S. or internationally trained lawyer looking for individualized professional growth or to become a candidate for a U.S. bar exam, Northeastern’s general program offers what you need to do what you want: to advance your professional goals and to make a difference in the world.
The Northeastern LLM program features five optional concentrations:
- A concentration in Health Policy and Law to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills you need for one of today’s hottest practice areas
- A concentration in Human Rights to prepare you to take on the global challenge of rights abuses
- A concentration in International Business Law to aid you to practice in the complex and constantly evolving world of business across national borders
- A concentration in Law and Economic Development to position yourself as a lawyer working in support of economic development
- A concentration in Intellectual Property and Innovation
More Details
Unique Features
- Program offers a full-time co-op experience
- Students may complete an optional independent research project
- Students may opt for the general LLM or specialize in one of four available concentrations
- Graduates qualify for the bar examination in jurisdictions that admit lawyers trained outside the U.S.
- Boston location offers access to one of the most sophisticated legal markets in the United States
- NU School of Law ranked #1 for practical training
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Program Costs
Requirements
- Personal statement, resume, and official transcripts in sealed envelopes
- One letter of recommendation
- Score report for the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT®) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for applicants whose native language is not English
Admissions Dates
Fall 2021
General Requirements
The LLM program offers a rigorous curriculum that will provide you with a comprehensive foundation in legal theory and practice as well as the freedom to explore and refine your career interests. LLM students may choose the general program, which offers maximum flexibility to let you take the courses you want and need — to qualify for a US bar exam or to do whatever you choose as a lawyer who wants to make a difference — or one of our concentrations, which provide a competitive advantage in specific fields of interest.
Concentration Options
This LLM program offers several concentrations:
- Health Policy and Law
- Human Rights
- Intellectual Property and Innovation
- International Business Law
- Law and Economic Development
Note: Students may choose a concentration area, but are not required to complete a concentration.
Foundational Courses
These foundational courses are required for any student who obtained their first law degree outside the United States:
Electives
Students must take at least 27 credits of LAW electives if they took the foundational courses; they must take at least 33 credits of LAW electives if not required to take foundational courses. Courses taken to fulfill concentration requirements count toward the elective requirement.
Concentration Options
Students may choose to pursue a concentration by completing the listed requirements. Courses taken to fulfill concentration requirements count toward the elective requirement for the LLM degree.
Concentrations
Choose one from the following:
Core Course
Complete the following course:
Relevant Elective Courses
Choose at least 2 courses from the following list:
Students must also complete a health policy and law-related research paper.
Core Courses
Complete the following 2 courses:
Relevant Elective Courses
Choose at least 2 courses from the following list:
Students must also complete a human rights-related research paper.
Core Courses
Choose 2 courses from the following list:
Relevant Elective Courses
Choose at least 2 additional courses from the core course list or the following list:
Students must also complete an intellectual property and innovation-related research paper.
Core Courses
Choose 2 courses from the following list:
Relevant Elective Courses
Choose at least 2 additional courses from the core course list or the following list:
Students must also complete an international business law-related clinic or research paper.
Core Courses
Complete the following 2 courses:
Relevant Elective Courses
Choose at least 2 courses from the following list:
Students must also complete a law and economic development-related research paper.
Please note: This curriculum is for marketing purposes only and is subject to change. Official curriculum can be found within the course catalog.
All qualified students have the unparalleled opportunity to complete a full-time legal practice experience as an integral part of the LLM curriculum. Placement opportunities may include law firms, companies, clinics, courts, government agencies, community organizations, or advocacy groups. Guided by the LLM professional development advisor, you'll define your professional objectives and identify a co-op opportunity that meets your unique goals.
Our Faculty
Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.
By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 275,000 alumni and 3,350+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global nongovernmental organizations. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional locations further foster a lifelong, global community of learning and mentoring.
Below is a look at where our Law & Criminology alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.
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Where They Work
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- City of Boston
- Deloitte
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Department of Justice
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What They Do
- Legal
- Business Development
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Community and Social Services
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What They're Skilled At
- Legal Research
- Litigation
- Legal Writing
- Public Speaking
- Research
Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.