Curriculum
International students at Georgetown generally enroll in the General Studies LL.M. or the International Legal Studies LL.M. International students also may apply to the specialized Taxation or Securities & Financial Regulation LL.M. degrees if they have particularly strong backgrounds in these areas. International students admitted to these programs will be expected to complete introductory courses in U.S. law as well as the required hours of specialized course work for either degree.
Curriculum Guide for International LL.M. Students (PDF)
Candidates for all Master of Laws degrees (with the exception of the Master of Laws in Advocacy) must:
- Complete the required number of academic credits for the degree, including any minimum number of hours in a specialization and/or required courses;
- Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00;
- Complete all requirements for the degree within the prescribed period of study. Full-time students are expected to complete the degree in one academic year, and part-time students may take up to three years.
- All foreign-educated attorneys on student visas are required to enroll as full-time students. A student's visa cannot be extended to provide additional time for the student to complete a paper or coursework except for compelling academic or medical reasons consistent with U.S. visa regulations. Other foreign-educated students may enroll as part-time students if they are U.S. citizens, permanent residents of the U.S. or if they are on a visa permitting part-time study.
The General Studies LL.M. and International Legal Studies LL.M. degree programs combine a core of American Law requirements with elective courses tailored to the student's own area of interest.
General Studies LL.M.
Requires, in addition to the general requirements above:
- 20 academic credits in a program of study approved by an international student advisor from the Office of Graduate Programs;
- Completion of the one-credit required course for international students, U.S. Legal Discourse I. [The summer Foundations of American Law program may fulfill this this requirement for students who matriculated prior to the 2013-2014 academic year.]
International Legal Studies LL.M.
Requires, in addition to the general requirements above:
- 20 academic credits in a program of study approved by an international student advisor from the Office of Graduate Programs, including a minimum of 12 academic credits in courses listed under International and Comparative Legal Studies course cluster in the online curriculum guide;
- Completion of the one-credit required course for international students, U.S. Legal Discourse I. [The summer Foundations of American Law program may fulfill this this requirement for students who matriculated prior to the 2013-2014 academic year.]
The election to receive the International Legal Studies degree rather than the General Studies degree may be made after the students have made their final course choices in order to allow students maximum flexibility in pursuing their own academic interests.
Students applying for the General Studies LL.M. or the International Legal Studies LL.M. may also apply to receive a certificate in International Human Rights Law, International Taxation, International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, Refugees & Humanitarian Emergencies, or IIEL WTO Studies in combination with the LL.M. degree. Applicants with relevant interests and backgrounds for any particular certificate program should include a discussion of them in their personal statement for Admissions.
International students choose their elective courses in consultation with the International Student Advisor who may approve more than 20 total hours of study for the degree program where appropriate. However, please keep in mind that all LL.M. students are limited to 13 credit hours per semester. Waivers to exceed the 13 credit-hour limit are only granted in extraordinary circumstances.
International students enroll in a full-time course of study that is completed in one academic year (August through May of the next year). Georgetown's LL.M. programs are not designed to assist foreign trained attorneys to remain in the U.S. for their legal careers, and students are expected to return home after they study here. Under current visa regulations, however, it is possible for international LL.M. graduates to see limited "practical training" in law after completion of their studies, and a number of our graduates do sit for a bar exam soon after completing the degree. Georgetown Law, through the Graduate Career and Professional Development staff, assists international students in their search for post-degree employment.
