LL.M. in the American Legal System Academic Program
A Quality American Legal Education for Foreign Lawyers
For
many attorneys around the world, the successful practice of law
requires an understanding of the American legal system. Michigan
State University College of Law is pleased to offer a Master of
Laws (LL.M.) Program in the American Legal System for foreign lawyers
who want to advance their careers with knowledge of the laws and
regulations of the United States. In addition to receiving an in-depth
understanding of the U.S. legal system, students in the program
may focus their work in one of three areas:
- Business & Commercial Law
- Public Law
- International & Comparative Law
A Degree Program that Offers Variety and Specialization
Candidates
for the Master of Laws (LL.M.) Program in the American Legal
System degree must successfully complete 24 credit hours:
- A two-credit required course in American Jurisprudence, which will familiarize the student with the structure of the American legal system and with the requisite research techniques to support continued study.
- A two-credit required course in Legal Research & Writing taught in the fall term. This course will provide a special focus on the research and writing needs of international scholars.
- 20 additional credit hours in regularly scheduled courses, seminars or independent study projects over the course of two academic terms. Of these 20 credit hours, two will be devoted to the two-credit writing requirement.
Areas of Specialty and Elective Courses
In
addition to receiving a thorough survey of the U.S. legal system,
program participants can select from a wide-range of elective
courses*. Students wishing to focus their course work in a particular
area may find the following groupings helpful.
Business & Commercial Law*
Accounting for Lawyers
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Antitrust Law
Arbitration
Bankruptcy
Business Enterprises
Business, Securities & Tax Planning
Commercial Transactions
Copyright Law
Corporate Finance
Corporate Income Tax
Corporate Law & Policy
Debtor-Creditor Relations
Deferred & Executive Compensation
Disability Law
E-Commerce
Employment Law
Employment Discrimination Law
European Business Law
Insurance Law
Intellectual Property Law
International Business Transactions
International Trade Regulation
Labor Law
Law and Economics
Law of Financial Institutions
Mergers and Acquisitions
Mortgage Banking
Partnership Taxation
Patent Law
Products Liability
Secured Transactions
Securities Regulation
White Collar Crime
Public Law*
Administrative Law
Advanced Criminal Proceedings
Advanced Topics in Indian Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Conflict of Laws
Constitutional Law I & II
Constitutional Law Topics
Disability Law
Education Law
Election Law
Employment Discrimination
Environmental Law
Equity
Federal Jurisdiction
Federal Law and Indian Tribes
Housing Discrimination Law
Jurisprudence
Labor Law
Legislation
Legislative Drafting
Local & State Government
Power, Leadership & Responsibility
Special Topics: Tribal Judiciaries and
Taxation of Indigenous Peoples
State Constitutional Law
State, Tribal and Local Taxation
International & Comparative Law*
Admiralty
Canadian Charter of Rights
Canadian Summer Externship
Comparative Law
Conflict of Laws
European Business Law
European Union Law
Immigration Law
International Business Transactions
International Criminal Law
International Environmental Law
International Human Rights
International Litigation & Arbitration
International Sale of Goods
International Taxation
International Trade Regulation
Public International Law
Tax Treaties
Transnational Legal Research
The Academic Calendar
Courses for LL.M. students begin with a one-week required
orientation program designed to familiarize participants with the
campus, the general outline of the academic program and the academic
resources available for your study.