LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law

Coursework

With over 70 courses to choose from to fulfill specialization credit requirements in international business and economic law, students can create their own plan of study suited to their passions and career goals. Curricular offerings include courses related corporate law, securities law, trade law, commercial law, and dispute resolution. Students desiring a more focused approach are free to concentrate their coursework in one or more specialty areas. Elective credits may be selected from the entire Georgetown Law graduate curriculum.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of individualized academic advising for course planning. Course planning will vary depending on each student’s academic and professional objectives, including whether the student intends to complete a certificate of specialization, participate in an externship and/or sit for the New York Bar (if a foreign-trained student). Individual consultations are available to assist with degree requirements, course selection, and the alignment of academic choices with these goals.

Students take Corporations, an introductory course in business corporations, as part of required coursework. The course serves to introduce students to basic concepts in accounting, investment, business, law and economics. U.S.-trained students may waive this course requirement if a comparable course was taken as part of their J.D. studies.

Students are also required to take International Law I, a broad introductory course to public international law. The course covers topics such as fundamentals of treaty law, statehood, recognition of states and governments, jurisdiction and immunity, state responsibility, international human rights law, international environmental law, and international commercial disputes. Both U.S.-trained and foreign-trained students may waive this course if International Law I or a comparable course in public international law was taken as part of a prior law degree.

Students have the ability to pursue a Certificate of Specialization in combination with the LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law program. With careful planning and course selection, some certificate coursework may count towards both certificate requirements and LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law specialization credits.

Refer to the Georgetown Law Curriculum Guide and select International Business & Economic Law LL.M. for a current list of curricular offerings in international business and economic law. To view course descriptions of current and previous course offerings in the LL.M. in International Business & Economic Law program, visit the International Business & Economic Law Curriculum Essay.

Foreign-trained students who wish to fulfill course requirements for New York Bar eligibility have the ability to do so while pursuing the LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law. However, this requires careful planning and course selection. Students should speak with the LL.M. Program Director for further guidance.

Regardless of the academic pathway selected, foreign-trained students are strongly encouraged to take Introduction to U.S. Legal Systems, or similar introductory U.S. law courses such as Foundations of American Law and Introduction to U.S. Constitutional Law, as well as U.S. Legal Research, Analysis and Writing to establish a solid foundation in the American legal system and the research and communication methods of U.S. lawyers.

Faculty

Georgetown’s graduate law courses are taught by a diverse group of full-time and adjunct faculty who have expertise in various disciplines related to business and economics, such as corporate law, securities law, trade law, commercial law, and dispute resolution.

Our professors are academics, subject matter experts, and practitioners from academia, government, corporations, international organizations, private practice, and dispute resolution firms.

Visit the Georgetown Law Faculty Directory to view our full-time professors. To find faculty focused on international business and economic law, filter the faculty directory by area of expertise (ie: banking and finance, contracts, dispute resolution, international business and investment, international finance, international trade, etc.).

Alternatively, to view the professor bio of a particular course, select a course from the Curriculum Guide and scroll to the Professors section of the course information page.

Campus Life

Georgetown Law offers a rich array of student organizations and activities that allow students to find their own path at law school. With over 85+ registered student organizations, available programming and activities span across a broad range of legal disciplines, provide support and activities for ethnic, religious and other identity groups, promote social justice causes and host social gatherings. The diverse selection of student groups provides an abundance of opportunities to hone leadership and lawyering skills, make new friends, expand professional opportunities, and make a difference in Washington, DC and the world.

Some student organizations that are either internationally focused or business related include Business and Human Rights at Georgetown, Corporate & Financial Law Organization, Georgetown Corporate Crime and Anti-Corruption Law Student Association, Georgetown International Law Society, Georgetown International Arbitration Society, and International Economic Law Society.

To learn more about how to get more involved in Georgetown Law student life, visit the Activities & Organizations page.

Georgetown Law is home to 20+ centers and institutes, each having their own hub of expertise, from public health and international economics, to human rights and technology. Each center and institute has opportunities and programming to to take advantage of, such as symposia and events, career and professional development programs, and networking receptions. Students can engage with professors outside of the classroom, and collaborate with center and institute staff who are leaders in their respective fields.

Some centers and institutes that are focused on international business, trade and economics include the Center on Inclusive Trade and Development, Center on Transnational Business and the Law, Harrison Institute for Public Law, and Institute of International Economic Law.

To learn more about the research initiatives of each center and institute, visit the Georgetown Law Centers & Institutes website.

Experiential Learning

Georgetown Law students have a variety of experiential learning opportunities to choose from, which includes externships, practicums, pro bono, and community service.

There are many opportunities for students to consider off-campus externships and practicums in Washington, DC, from private firms and companies to government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. Externships give students the opportunity to undertake real-world projects under the supervision of a practicing attorney.

Practicum courses, both project-based and fieldwork-based, provide an opportunity for students to become substantive experts on a particular topic, cultivate a range of legal skills, and develop their professional identity. On-campus practicum projects are supervised by the course professor, while off-campus fieldwork assignments are supervised by an attorney from the placement organization.

For more information regarding externships and practicums, please visit the LL.M. Externships and Practicums pages.

Students have numerous opportunities to engage in pro bono and community service during their studies and after graduation to provide assistance to those in need.

Career Resources

The Office of Graduate Careers is among the few law school career centers in the United States catered to LL.M. students, both during school and after graduation, to help students be proactive, organized and diligent in their employment search. Our deeply knowledgeable career advisors and extensive network of alumni and faculty open doors to a plethora of opportunities.

One popular recruitment program that foreign-trained LL.M. students take advantage of during their studies is the International Student Interview Program (ISIP). ISIP is an annual consortium event sponsored by 30+ law schools, including Georgetown Law, and hosted by New York University School of Law to facilitate the hiring of highly qualified foreign-trained students enrolled in LL.M. programs at each school. ISIP attracts more than 140 of the leading legal employers from around the world, who review student resumes based on their hiring needs and country of practice.

Another program students may be interested in is the LL.M. Post-Graduate Fellowship Program, designed to provide opportunities and offer support to Georgetown Law LL.M. students who are interested in gaining experience post-graduation with a public service, public interest, or international organization.

To find more information and resources on professional development, career advancement, recruitment programs, and job search opportunities, visit the Office of Graduate Careers and Practice Areas section of the Career Exploration & Professional Development page.

Related Programs

Georgetown J.D. candidates can obtain the LL.M. degree by completing 12 additional credit hours, through a joint J.D./LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law.

Students often choose to pursue a Certificate of Specialization in combination with the LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law program. Common certificate pairings with the LL.M. program include the Certificate in International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution, Certificate in International Trade Law, and Certificate in Securities & Financial Law.

Foreign-trained students have the opportunity to get a head start to their studies at Georgetown Law and experience in Washington, DC by attending the LL.M. Summer Experience. The LL.M. Summer Experience is a 6 week pre-program that allows students to earn up to 4 additional credit hours before the start of their degree studies that can be used towards LL.M. program requirements and New York Bar eligibility. All courses in Session I and Session II are approved by the New York Bar and allow more flexibility in course selection during the fall and spring semesters.

Scholarships, Fellowships and Financial Aid

Georgetown Law awards a small number of partial merit based scholarships to LL.M. degree applicants. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of their LL.M. degree application on a rolling basis.

The Institute of International Economic Law (IIEL) offers the IIEL Fellowship Program, an opportunity for Georgetown Law J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. students to contribute substantive research to IIEL’s efforts and engage with scholars, policy-makers, and practitioners to discuss policy developments in the field of international economic law. Fellows are selected each year based on academic merit and experience in issues related to IIEL’s ongoing research. IIEL Fellows are honorary and receive no funding from IIEL. However, each year, one outstanding IIEL Fellow is named a John H. Jackson Memorial Scholar, and receives a financial award toward second semester tuition.

The John H. Jackson Moot Scholarship, in honor of former Georgetown Law professor John H. Jackson for his contributions to international trade law, is a half tuition scholarship awarded to up to two candidates applying to any full-time in-person specialized LL.M. degree program who were previously a student or coach of a university team participating in the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition (previously known as the ELSA WTO Moot Court Competition) and advanced to the final rounds in Geneva, Switzerland.

Each year, a small number of admitted LL.M. students are selected as International Arbitration Scholars based on their academic background, professional experience and demonstrated interest in the arbitration subject area. Designation as an International Arbitration Scholar signals a student’s strong potential in the field. International Arbitration Scholars receive partial to full tuition scholarships for their LL.M. degree studies.

The Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa Fellowship Program is an intensive and rigorous fellowship offered to women’s human rights lawyers from Africa applying to a Georgetown LL.M. degree program and are committed to returning home to their countries in order to advance the status of women and girls in their own countries throughout their careers. The fellowship covers the full cost of tuition, health insurance, textbooks. Visit the Women’s Law & Public Policy Program website for further program information and application details.

Applicants who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents may apply for financial aid in the form of loans. For more information please visit the Georgetown Law Financial Aid website.