LLM in Individualized Legal Studies - for American Students

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Drake Law School's Master of Law (LL.M.) program, open to American students on a full-time or part-time basis, allows each student to pursue an individualized course of study. Any applicant who holds a J.D. (Juris Doctorate) from an ABA-accredited law school is eligible for the LL.M.

Curriculum (24 credits)

LL.M. students combine required courses and electives to create an individual academic program designed to meet their academic and professional goals. The LL.M. is a 24 credit program. Required courses include:

Practical Skills and Writing Requirement:

• LL.M. students will write a paper under the supervision of a full-time member of the Drake law faculty.
• Students will meet the experiential training requirement by participating in one of our internship programs or through an independent internship designed for them.

The skills and writing requirement may be waived by the Director based on an assessment of student abilities and interests

Additional Course Work:

The remaining credits can be devoted to a specialized area of study of the student’s choice, or the student may pursue one of several pre-set areas of concentration, such as:

• Business Law
• Human Rights and Global Citizenship
• Sustainable Development

For more information on the LL.M program, click here

Benefits of an LL.M.

An LL.M. degree is ideal for American students who seek an advanced curriculum that facilitates their transition to practice, or for practitioners who seek to expand their practices into new areas. It is an opportunity to gain a specialized knowledge in the student’s area of interest, and to produce publishable quality writing.

Accelerated J.D. and LL.M.

With the approval of the Program Director, candidates who have taken relevant courses at Drake Law School as part of their J.D. program (including students earning a J.D. from another ABA-accredited law school who visited Drake Law School for two semesters or participated in the summer programs sponsored by Drake Law School) may be permitted to apply up to nine (9) semester hours for credit toward the LL.M. degree. This accelerated option makes it possible for students to earn both the J.D. and LL.M. degrees with substantial savings in time and money.