Academic Programs

Master of Laws in International Law

The DePaul Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law provides an intensive one-year course of full-time study* that emphasizes the theoretical background and practical skills lawyers need to excel in international law practice.

Contact
Amanda Noascono
Law Graduate Admissions Coordinator
lawllm@depaul.edu
312.362.6485

With concentrations in five key areas of global practice:

International Aviation Law & Policy
International Business, Commercial & Trade Law
International Cultural Heritage Law
International Governance & Rule of Law
International Human Rights Law & Policy and Criminal Justice

The DePaul international law program is designed for both experienced attorneys and recent law school graduates from the United States and abroad who wish to:

Earn an advanced law degree to assist in the pursuit of a career with law firms, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and academic institutions worldwide
Obtain practical and theoretical knowledge of international law and its interaction with the laws of the United States and other countries
Learn the research, analytical and communication skills required to succeed in international law practice
Represent clients engaged in international transactions and relationships
Establish a network of professional international contacts and clients
Work with faculty experts in international and U.S. law
Interact with students from diverse legal cultures

Additionally, foreign lawyers and graduates will:

Improve English language skills and gain an understanding of the U.S. legal system
Earn an advanced law degree from an ABA-accredited U.S. law school, which may allow them to take the bar examination in several U.S. jurisdictions.**

* Graduates of ABA-approved U.S. law schools may complete the program on a part-time basis.

** Lawyers with a foreign law degree who wish to take a U.S. bar examination after graduating from the DePaul program should familiarize themselves with the eligibility and general requirements of the particular bar exam they wish to take.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The Master of Laws program begins with an orientation that introduces graduate students to DePaul's faculty, staff, library, and computer and research facilities. Students who received legal training outside the United States also will participate in a special course introducing them to the Socratic teaching method, the differences between civil and common law, and other differences that may be encountered as a student at a U.S. law school.

The LL.M. in International Law is a rigorous, two-semester program* requiring satisfactory completion of 24 credit hours of coursework.** Students must successfully complete nine (9) credit hours of required core coursework and an additional 15 credit hours in one of the following areas of concentration:

International Aviation Law & Policy
International Business, Commercial & Trade Law
International Cultural Heritage Law
International Governance & Rule of Law
International Human Rights Law & Policy and Criminal Justice

All graduate students must take 24 credit hours at DePaul in order to fulfill the degree requirements. At the discretion of the program director, students may receive credit for courses previously taken during the JD program or foreign equivalent. Additionally, in certain programs, with a faculty director's approval, a supervised master's thesis may be accepted in lieu of additional coursework.

To be awarded the LL.M. in International Law, students must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

* ABA-approved U.S. law school graduates may complete the program on a part-time basis.

International Law Required Courses

All International Law LL.M. students must successfully complete the following core courses worth a total of nine (9) credit hours:

International Business Transactions
International Trade Law
Public International Law

Areas of Concentration