The Master of Laws in U.S. Legal Studies is designed for students who received a first degree in law outside the United States and who wish to pursue advanced study in American law. International lawyers will improve English language skills and gain a deep and sophisticated understanding of the U.S. legal system.
The degree is flexible, allowing students to select a combination of core courses that give a strong foundation in American law. Students complete a minimum of 24 credits and a maximum of 32 credits to earn the degree, with six credits of required foundational coursework.
The degree is designed to give foreign-trained lawyers the opportunity to meet the course requirements to sit for the bar exam in a select group of states. Successful completion of a bar exam is one of the requirements to receive a license to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction.
| Program Requirements | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 9 |
| Elective Requirements | 15 |
| Total hours required | 24 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Identify structures of the U.S. legal system and government institutions.
- Demonstrate understanding of how a common law system operates in a constitutional democracy.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the legal rules and policies in the U.S. legal system.
- Identify and apply relevant legal authority.
- Communicate clearly in speech and writing.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Laws in U.S. Legal Studies is designed for students who received a first degree in law outside the United States. It begins with an orientation that introduces graduate students to DePaul's faculty, staff, library, computer and research facilities. Students also will participate in special courses introducing them to the differences between civil and common law systems, the foundations of the U.S. legal system, the methods of legal reasoning and analysis, and the basics of legal writing in the U.S. legal system.
The LLM in U.S. Legal Studies provides students with the opportunity to meet the course requirements to sit for the bar exam in a select group of states. Students must review requirements of the particular state carefully and discuss individual course selection with their academic advisor. Completion of this program does not guarantee eligibility for bar admission.
To earn the LLM in U.S. Legal Studies, a student must complete between 24 and 32 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including 15-17 credit hours of required coursework. A summer term is counted as a semester for this purpose. Students who complete 32 credit hours with a GPA below the 2.0 GPA required to earn the degree will not be permitted to continue taking classes to improve their GPA. A student is automatically dismissed if he or she has a cumulative GPA below 2.0 for any three consecutive semesters.
The LLM program may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis but it must be completed within five years. Credits earned as part of the JD program do not count toward the LLM degree. In addition, no credit is given for law courses taken before a student is admitted to and enrolled in the LLM program. Students may be eligible to apply credits earned in the LLM program or in their first law degree toward a JD degree at the College of Law.
Course Requirements
Courses must be selected from the list below to meet the total requirement of between 24 and 32 credit hours. Students seeking to substitute a course that is not on this list must speak with their academic advisor.
Required Courses
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 322 | INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW AND LEGAL SYSTEMS | 3 |
| LAW 556 | INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL WRITING AND RESEARCH | 3 |
| LAW 481 | LEGAL PROFESSION | 3 |
| In addition to the above classes, students must take at least 2 of the following: | ||
| LAW 105 | CONTRACTS | 4 |
| LAW 120 | CIVIL PROCEDURE | 4 |
| LAW 140 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW | 4 |
| LAW 160 | PROPERTY | 4 |
| LAW 170 | TORT LAW | 4 |
| LAW 410 | EVIDENCE | 3 |
| LAW 506 | CRIMINAL LAW | 3 |
| LAW 518 | CRIMINAL PROCEDURE I: INVESTIGATION | 3 |
Elective Courses
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| CONTRACTS | ||
| CIVIL PROCEDURE | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL LAW | ||
| PROPERTY | ||
| TORT LAW | ||
| FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION | ||
| WILLS AND TRUSTS | ||
| CONFLICT OF LAWS | ||
| EVIDENCE | ||
| LABOR LAW | ||
| REMEDIES | ||
| INSURANCE LAW | ||
| CRIMINAL LAW | ||
| ADMINISTRATIVE LAW | ||
| FAMILY LAW | ||
| CRIMINAL PROCEDURE I: INVESTIGATION | ||
| LEGISLATION AND STATUTORY INTERPRETATION |