LL.M. in International Legal Studies American University

Established in 1982, the LL.M. Program in International Legal Studies is among US’s oldest and most prestigious LL.M. programs. Drawing upon our #6 nationally ranked international law specialty, the LL.M. features an extensive curriculum of 100+ internationally-focused courses, highly in-demand specializations, world-renowned faculty with longstanding ties to employers in the United States and abroad, and internship opportunities with top employers in Washington D.C. Students also become part of a vibrant global network of students from 50+ countries and 4000+ alumni worldwide.

The LL.M. in International Legal Studies offers courses that foreign-trained lawyers are required to take to qualify to sit for the bar exams of New York and Washington D.C.

The LL.M. in International Legal Studies Program (ILSP LL.M.) requires a total of 24 credit hours of coursework. The curriculum is flexible and allows students to choose any courses from among over 100 courses offered throughout the year.

Areas of Specializations

ILSP LL.M candidates may choose to specialize in one of the areas listed below. To receive a Certificate of Specialization along with the LL.M. degree, students must successfully complete 12 credits hours in the area of specialization out of the required 24 credits hours. Certain courses count towards more than one area of specialization.

Students do not have to declare a specialization in advance-- a specialization is optional and students can pursue this option any time after commencement of the LL.M. program.

We offer the following specializations:

International environmental law

Sample courses: International Environmental Law; International Energy Law; Comparative Environmental Law; Climate Change and the Law; Environmental Law (U.S. law); Animal and Wildlife; Trade and Environment; International Business and Environment.

International arbitration

Sample courses: International Commercial Arbitration; International ADR: Global Sovereign Disputes Practicum; Bilateral Investment Treaty Arbitration; Alternative Dispute Resolution.

International investment law

Sample courses: International Investment Law; International ADR: Global Sovereign Disputes Practicum; Bilateral Investment Treaty Arbitration; Advanced Research Seminar on International Investment and Commercial Law.

International criminal law

Sample courses: International Criminal Law; Human Rights Law; International Humanitarian Law; Responses of International Law to Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender-based Violence; Human Rights and Terrorism; International and Transitional Justice.

International trade law and policy

Sample courses: International Trade Law I; International Trade Law II; U.S. Trade Regime; U.S. Remedies; U.S. Sanctions and Export Controls; International Rule Making and Dispute Settlement - WTO, WIPO and the Multilateral System International Investment Law

International business law

Sample courses: International Business Transactions; International Sales of Goods; International Business Negotiations

International human rights

Sample courses: Human Rights, Strategic Litigation of Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights and Terrorism, Human Rights and Environment