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LL.M. Degree

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LL.M. Residential Track & Requirements

The Residential Track is designed for students to pursue their LL.M. in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law while living in Washington, D.C. Residential students have the unique in-person opportunity to explore all D.C. has to offer, including working at leading international organizations and NGOs, attending over 50 in-person classes at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL's campus while networking with world-renowned faculty, and may be eligible to take the New York Bar Exam.Ìý

Subject to individual visa requirements, students have a maximum of five years to complete their program after enrollment.Ìý

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LL.M. COURSEÌýREQUIREMENTS

The LL.M. degree in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law requires 24 credit hours from the designated list of classes with a grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better.

Students are required to take 12 credits in Specialized Courses in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Depending on experience, students should choose 6 credits from a list of suggested core course credits, and complete the remaining of the credits with other key elective course credits. In addition, students are encouraged to complete credits during the Summer Program of Advanced Studies in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, taught by world-renowned experts in the field.

Spring Core Courses

  • LAW-980-001 Advanced International Law and Peace Negotiations
  • LAW-795AL-001ÌýAfricana Legal Studies
  • LAW-656-001 Asylum & Refugee Law
  • LAW-659A-001 EU Law, Policy & Diplomacy
  • LAW-725B-001 Gender, Cultural Differences, and International Human Rights Seminar
  • LAW-816-001ÌýInternational & Transitional Justice
  • LAW-808-001 International Business & Human RightsÌý
  • LAW-618-001 International Environmental Law
  • LAW-795MB-002 International Human Rights Law Courts & Monitoring Bodies
  • LAW-620-001 International Humanitarian Law: Law of Armed Conflict
  • LAW-903-001 International Law Commission Practicum
  • LAW-754 LLM Externship Program
  • LAW-978-001 Responses of International Law to Conflict-Based Sexual and Gender Violence
  • LAW-795OC-001 Protection for the Oceans -The New High Seas TreatyÌý
  • LAW-775-001 Labor Migration in the Global Economy
  • LAW-997-001 Strategic Litigation (NEW)

Fall Core Courses

  • LAW-620-001 International Humanitarian Law
  • LAW-626-001 Human Rights
  • LAW-676A-001 Gender & International & Comparative Law
  • LAW-739A-001 Human Rights & Terrorism Seminar
  • LAW-754-012 Human Rights Externship (LLM Only)
  • LAW-850-001 International Criminal Law
  • LAW-927-001 International Trafficking in Persons
  • LAW-956-001 Torture Prohibition in International Law (Permission Only)
  • LAW-980-001 Advanced International Law and Peace Negotiations (Permission Only)
  • LAW-997-001ÌýStrategic Litigation & Human Rights

Key Electives Courses

  • LAW-739A Human Rights & Terrorism
  • LAW-808 International Business & Human Rights
  • LAW-662 International Organization & Multi-National Institutions
  • LAW-927 International Trafficking in Persons
  • LAW-795F Prevention of Genocide
  • LAW-714 Advanced International Humanitarian Law Ìý
  • LAW-656 Asylum & Refugee Law
  • LAW-795Q Human Rights & the Environment
  • LAW-795TJ International & Transitional Justice
  • LAW-725B Gender, Cultural Difference, Human Rights Ìý
  • LAW-676A Gender and International/Comparative Law
  • LAW-886 Global Perspectives on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  • LAW-795CL International Criminal Law & Procedure Practicum (Permission Only)
  • LAW-795LC International Law Commission Practicum
  • LAW-997 Strategic Litigation in International Human Rights Law
  • LAW-795U Torture Prohibition in International Law (Kovler Project Permission Only)
  • LAW-618 International Environmental Law
  • LAW-655 Immigration & Naturalization

AdditionalÌýRequired Courses (4 credits)
All LL.M. students, who were not trained in a common law country, are required to take the following courses:

  • LAW-580-001ÌýAmerican Legal Institutions (2 credits)
  • LAW-580-002ÌýLegal Research & Writing (2 credits)

Experiential and Research Skills (up to 6 credits optional)

Students are encouraged to seek experiential learning opportunities through externships for credit at international or domestic institutions, NGOs or think tank employers in fields related to international human rights and humanitarian law. Those interested in doctrinal and research skills may opt in the research track by completing a research paper supervised by a faculty advisor.

Experiential Opportunity: LL.M. candidates may register for and successfully complete an externship for credit, as well as write one research paper.

Research Opportunity: LL.M. candidates may complete a research paper that demonstrates a high degree of skill in legal scholarship and writing. The paper can be written in connection with a class, or through independent research and writing.

General Electives

Any remaining credits may be chosen from among the wide variety of WCL courses that are open to LL.M. students. Additionally, students may attend specialized summer programs abroad, including the Geneva Program on Human Rights, Labor, and the International Law Commission and the Summer Program in The Hague on International Criminal Law.

NEW YORK BAR TRACK:

With careful planning, foreign-educated law students can meet the LL.M. degree requirements and the New York bar eligibility requirements at the same time.

Of the 24 credit hours required to earn the LL.M., 12 credits must be in the subject matters required by the New York bar.

New York Bar Courses include:
Required (6 credits)

  • LAW-580-001: American Legal Institutions (2 credits; offered Fall & Spring)
  • LAW-580-002: Legal Research & Writing (2 credits; offered Fall o& Spring), and
  • LAW-550: Legal Ethics (2 credits; offered Spring & Summer)

Plus 6 credits from the following courses:

  • LAW-581-001: U.S. Business Law (3 credits; offered Spring)
  • LAW-504-002: U.S. Contracts Law (3 credits; offered Fall)
  • LAW-503-001: U.S. Constitutional Law (3 credits; offered Spring)
  • LAW-507-001: U.S. Criminal Law (3 credits; offered Fall)
  • LAW-636: Family Law (3 credits; offered Fall & Spring)

LL.M. candidates interested in taking the New York bar exam must complete the degree within 2 years of beginning the LL.M. program, and may only enroll in a maximum of 4 summer credits.

U.S. Bar Exam Information

The LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian LawÌýis not specifically designed as a U.S. bar exam preparation course; however, after graduating from the program, many of our students sit for the New York bar exam. We urge students interested in taking a U.S. bar exam to review theÌý, which lists the bar eligibility requirements of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The guide is published by theÌý.

Students interested in sitting for the D.C. bar exam will be required to take 24Ìýcredits. Please review theÌý.

Information about the New York bar is available atÌý. Foreign-trained attorneys should pay particular attention to Rule 520.6 of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law and to the pre-LL.M. education requirements. Foreign-trained attorneys must submit an evaluation of their foreign credentials up to one year in advance of sitting for the New York bar exam.

FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME:

The LL.M. degree can be completed full time (two or three regular semesters), or part-time (up to 5 years, as long as no visa restrictions apply). Students on an F-1 or J-1 visa must be enrolled in at least 8 credits during the fall and the spring, except for the last semester when students can take a reduced course load for 1-7 credits.