School of Law

Master of Laws (LLM)

Master's: Boston
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Professional Doctorate : Boston
Master's : Online
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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.

Boston
Location
Full-Time
Commitment
1 Year
Duration of Program
Yes *
Meets F1 Visa Requirements
Overview

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:

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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Admissions

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-50 university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

$54.8K *
Tuition

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

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

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Admissions Details Learn more about the School of Law admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Fall 2021

Curriculum

General Requirements

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:

LAW 6301 - Intensive Introduction to American Law and Legal Institutions 
2.00 
LAW 6302 - Intensive Introduction to Legal Research and Writing for LLM Students 
2.00 

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:

Concentration in Health Policy and Law

Core Course

Complete the following course:

LAW 7335 - Health Law 
3.00 

Relevant Elective Courses

Choose at least 2 courses from the following list:

LAW 7494 - Bioethics and the Law 
3.00 
LAW 7600 - Current Issues in Health Law and Policy 
3.00 
LAW 7606 - Drug Law and Policy 
3.00 
LAW 7619 - Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Law 
3.00 
LAW 7512 - Problems in Public Health Law 
3.00 
LAW 7527 - Public Health Legal Clinic 
4.00 
 

Students must also complete a health policy and law-related research paper.

Concentration in Human Rights

Core Courses

Complete the following 2 courses:

LAW 7491 - International Human Rights and the Global Economy 
3.00 
LAW 7338 - International Law 
3.00 

Relevant Elective Courses

Choose at least 2 courses from the following list:

LAW 7597 - Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Clinic 
6.00 
LAW 7549 - Comparative Law: Law, Markets and Democracy in East Asia 
3.00 
LAW 7469 - Disability Law 
3.00 
LAW 7541 - Global AIDS Policy Seminar 
3.00 
LAW 7676 - Energy Justice: Theory, Law, and Policy for a Just Clean Energy Transition 
3.00 
LAW 7651 - Human Rights in the United States 
3.00 
LAW 7666 - Human Rights, the Environment, Development and Community Resilience 
3.00 
LAW 7336 - Immigration Law 
3.00 
LAW 7675 - Information Privacy Law 
3.00 
LAW 7569 - International and Foreign Legal Research 
2.00 
LAW 7538 - International Environmental Law 
3.00 
LAW 7525 - Law and Economic Development 
3.00 
LAW 7664 - Law and Inequality 
3.00 
LAW 7362 - Poverty Law and Practice Clinic 
6.00 
LAW 7351 - Prisoners' Rights Clinic 
6.00 
LAW 7561 - Private Litigation in the Public Interest 
3.00 
LAW 7512 - Problems in Public Health Law 
3.00 
LAW 7550 - Refugee and Asylum Law 
3.00 
LAW 7588 - Reproductive and Sexual Rights and Health 
3.00 
LAW 7581 - Rights of Noncitizens 
3.00 
LAW 7358 - Social Welfare Law 
3.00 

Students must also complete a human rights-related research paper.

Concentration in Intellectual Property and Innovation

Core Courses

Choose 2 courses from the following list:

LAW 7590 - Copyright Law 
3.00 
LAW 7369 - Intellectual Property 
3.00 
LAW 7501 - Patent Law 
3.00 
LAW 7638 - Trademark Law 
3.00 

Relevant Elective Courses

Choose at least 2 additional courses from the core course list or the following list:

LAW 7303 - Antitrust 
3.00 
LAW 7602 - Bioproperty 
3.00 
LAW 7521 - Branding Law and Practice 
4.00 
LAW 7643 - Creative and Innovative Economies: IP, Commercial Development, and Sustainable Business Practice 
3.00 
LAW 7417 - Entertainment Law 
3.00 
LAW 7541 - Global AIDS Policy Seminar 
3.00 
LAW 7640 - Information Security Law 
3.00 
LAW 7565 - Intellectual Property Transactions Practice 
3.00 
LAW 7639 - Internet Law 
3.00 
LAW 7633 - IP CO-LAB Clinic 
6.00 

Students must also complete an intellectual property and innovation-related research paper.

Concentration in International Business Law

Core Courses

Choose 2 courses from the following list:

LAW 7323 - Corporations 
4.00 
LAW 7603 - International Business Transactions 
3.00 
LAW 7559 - International Trade 
3.00 
LAW 7525 - Law and Economic Development 
3.00 

Relevant Elective Courses

Choose at least 2 additional courses from the core course list or the following list:

LAW 7549 - Comparative Law: Law, Markets and Democracy in East Asia 
3.00 
LAW 7400 - Corporate Taxation 
4.00 
LAW 7643 - Creative and Innovative Economies: IP, Commercial Development, and Sustainable Business Practice 
3.00 
LAW 7541 - Global AIDS Policy Seminar 
3.00 
LAW 7676 - Energy Justice: Theory, Law, and Policy for a Just Clean Energy Transition 
3.00 
LAW 7336 - Immigration Law 
3.00 
LAW 7565 - Intellectual Property Transactions Practice 
3.00 
LAW 7569 - International and Foreign Legal Research 
2.00 
LAW 7491 - International Human Rights and the Global Economy 
3.00 
LAW 7554 - International Investment Arbitration and Litigation Practice 
2.00 
LAW 7338 - International Law 
3.00 
LAW 7350 - Negotiation 
3.00 
LAW 7561 - Private Litigation in the Public Interest 
3.00 
LAW 7006 - Secured Transactions 
3.00 
LAW 7572 - Transactional Drafting Seminar 
3.00 
LAW 7622 - Whistleblower Law 
2.00 

Students must also complete an international business law-related clinic or research paper.

Concentration in Law and Economic Development

Core Courses

Complete the following 2 courses:

LAW 7580 - Community Economic Development 
3.00 
LAW 7525 - Law and Economic Development 
3.00 

Relevant Elective Courses

Choose at least 2 courses from the following list:

LAW 7300 - Administrative Law 
3.00 
LAW 7479 - Basic Income Taxation 
4.00 
LAW 7610 - Community Business Law Clinic 
6.00 
LAW 7549 - Comparative Law: Law, Markets and Democracy in East Asia 
3.00 
LAW 7607 - Consumer Law 
3.00 
LAW 7400 - Corporate Taxation 
4.00 
LAW 7323 - Corporations 
4.00 
LAW 7530 - Education Law 
3.00 
LAW 7329 - Environmental Law 
3.00 
LAW 7541 - Global AIDS Policy Seminar 
3.00 
LAW 7335 - Health Law 
3.00 
LAW 7619 - Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Law 
3.00 
LAW 7666 - Human Rights, the Environment, Development and Community Resilience 
3.00 
LAW 7369 - Intellectual Property 
3.00 
LAW 7603 - International Business Transactions 
3.00 
LAW 7538 - International Environmental Law 
3.00 
LAW 7491 - International Human Rights and the Global Economy 
3.00 
LAW 7559 - International Trade 
3.00 
LAW 7424 - Labor Law 1 
4.00 
LAW 7394 - Land Use 
3.00 
LAW 7664 - Law and Inequality 
3.00 
LAW 7546 - Law of Financial Institutions 
3.00 
LAW 7669 - Law and Technology 
3.00 
LAW 7514 - Natural Resources Law 
3.00 
LAW 7362 - Poverty Law and Practice Clinic 
6.00 
LAW 7561 - Private Litigation in the Public Interest 
3.00 
LAW 7447 - Quantitative Methods 
3.00 
LAW 7588 - Reproductive and Sexual Rights and Health 
3.00 
LAW 7324 - Securities Regulation 
3.00 
LAW 7358 - Social Welfare Law 
3.00 
LAW 7428 - State & Local Government 
3.00 
LAW 7423 - State & Local Taxation 
3.00 

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.



Experiential Learning

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.

Faculty

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.

Sonia Elise Rolland

Sonia Elise Rolland

Professor of Law and Faculty Director, LLM and International Programs
Students

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.

 

  • Where They Work

    • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
    • City of Boston
    • Deloitte
    • U.S. Army
    • U.S. Department of Justice

  • What They Do

    • Legal
    • Business Development
    • Education
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Community and Social Services

  • What They're Skilled At

    • Legal Research
    • Litigation
    • Legal Writing
    • Public Speaking
    • Research

 

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.

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