Global Perspective, American Law.

The Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees are a one-year, full-time program, designed to give graduates of foreign law schools an opportunity to study the United States legal system and international law and trade, and to become truly capable lawyers in the 21st century's global economy.

Our LL.M. students have full access to our 170 Juris Doctor (J.D.) courses, as well as courses specifically designed for the needs of LL.M. students. Our students, who have come from 70 countries, form a close-knit community and become involved in law school activities with classmates from the J.D. Program. LL.M. students benefit from individual attention and guidance in a family atmosphere. Our LL.M. programs begin in the fall only and require full-time attendance.

Because our programs are designed to prepare foreign students for careers in their own countries where they will be working with U.S. law and lawyers, we give LL.M. students ample opportunity to interact with J.D. students and practicing lawyers. It is easy for our LL.M. students to become integrated into the intellectual and professional life of our community; our J.D. enrollment is relatively small (650), and our student/faculty ratio is low (17/1). In addition to academic support provided by the program director and law school administrators, each LL.M. student is assigned a J.D. student mentor.

LL.M. students are instructed in U.S. legal research, writing and analysis in the only LL.M. program that offers a weekly student workshop approach to monitor student progress and ensure a fruitful transition into the U.S. legal discourse community. A U.S. legal writing course is offered throughout the academic year. LL.M. students learn how to prepare legal memos, client letters, and produce a substantial research paper in the spring semester.

Only LL.M. students have access to a course "Doing Business in the U.S.A." taught by leading Cleveland attorneys. The course analyzes a transnational business transaction and introduces students to basic concepts of U.S. law that are relative to the transaction This course enables LL.M. students to compare their unique perspective about the transaction. "Doing Business in the U.S.A." prepares LL.M. students for advanced law classes. Our LL.M. students also participate in seminars led by lawyers from the Cleveland legal community, concerning international business transactions and human rights issues, giving students a practical view of the law. For interested LL.M. students, we arrange internships with local law offices, corporate legal offices, courts and prosecutor offices the summer following May graduation.

LL.M. students receive grades of Honors, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, and Incomplete. Students who complete the LL.M. degree may apply to transfer into the law schools J.D. program. Students who complete and do well in the LL.M. program will be favorably considered for admission to the J.D. program with advance standing.