It’s about what you know – and who you know.
The BU Law difference begins in the classroom. You’ll learn from our top-ranked faculty comprising of preeminent scholars and accomplished practitioners – law firm partners, in-house counsels, judges, advisors, consultants, and government officials at state and federal levels – who are accessible, approachable, expert at blending theory with practice, and committed to helping you raise your professional standing. Upon matriculation, you’ll also have access to our network of graduates with careers in nearly every practice setting throughout the nation and the world — in law firms of all sizes; federal, state, and local government agencies; the business world; nonprofit organizations; the judiciary; and the academy – that’s a network of over 24,000 of the best and brightest minds in the world.
An unsurpassed experience.
Our graduates constantly tell us that their BU Law experience was one of the best—if not the best—of their lives. More than 95% of last year’s students reported their experience met or surpassed expectations and that they would recommend BU Law to a colleague.
BU Law Graduate Programs
The Student Experience
Boston, Massachusetts
BU Law Graduate Programs
BU Law Degree Programs:
The LLM in American Law Program is one of the nation’s premier programs for global practitioners seeking to learn how US lawyers think, approach legal programs, and handle client matters. You’ll be integrated into the JD classroom, and have the opportunity to select from 200+ courses when creating your individualized study plan. Due to its flexibility, this is the ideal program for the aspiring corporate lawyer (also known as business lawyer or commercial lawyer, depending on your country of origin).
The LLM in Banking & Financial Law equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to handle the regulatory, transactional and compliance needs of financial services clients in today’s global economy. Since conferring our first LLM in Banking and Financial Law degree in 1984, our program remains the only financial services LLM program in the country with its own faculty and a curriculum designed exclusively for graduate study. You can pursue this degree online or in-person.
The LLM in Intellectual Property Law Program gives you the opportunity to learn advanced IP theory and doctrine from some of the top IP scholars in the world. For five consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked BU Law among the top ten schools for intellectual property studies.
The LLM in Taxation Program equips you with the practical skills required for success in the field of taxation, whether you earn the degree through full or part-time residential studies in Boston, as a part-time LLM online from home, or through a combination. An LLM in Taxation degree from BU Law is valued by employers all over the world because it signals rigorous training and superior preparation.
Our Master in the Study of Tax Law is designed to provide foundational tax law training to aspiring and current accountants, auditors, and other business professionals. It is the first opportunity for those without a law degree to earn a master’s degree taking courses offered by the renowned Graduate Tax Program.
The Two-Year LLM Program begins with BU’s acclaimed one-year Legal English Certificate Program. Equipped with fluency in US legal discourse, students are then enrolled in one of our two-semester LLM programs including American Law, Banking and Financial Law, Intellectual Property Law, or Taxation LLM program.
BU Law Non-Degree Programs:
The Legal English Programs from BU Law and BU’s Center for English Language & Orientation Programs (CELOP) offer a range of programs to build communication skills for students who speak English as a second language.
The Estate Planning Certificate is a specialized, 12-credit certificate program built upon the Graduate Tax Program’s strength in estate planning instruction, this certificate enables estate planners and wealth management professionals to learn from industry experts. The program is offered part-time and available both residentially and online.
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#10
for “Best Classroom Experience.”
– Princeton Review
The Student Experience
At BU Law, graduate students are people, not numbers.
Our top reputation is closely linked to the highly personalized treatment you’ll receive. Our priority is ensuring that your study plan supports your professional path. Each program has its own dedicated staff, enabling you to receive support that suits your individual needs. Academic advising takes place in one-on-one sessions with the program directors or assistant directors, either in person or by phone, depending on your preference. If you’re an international student interested in taking a state bar exam, you’ll receive extensive counseling on eligibility requirements and bar preparation strategies. You will also receive guidance on how to prepare applications to transfer to the JD program, if this is a goal.
As a student, you’ll likely notice there’s never a dull moment at BU. As a full member of BU Law’s community, you’ll actively participate in the events and activities that define BU Law’s high-energy, positive, dynamic learning environment, whether at the law school itself or elsewhere on BU’s bustling, urban Charles River Campus.
While each graduate program fosters its own tightly knit community, you’ll find it easy to broaden your engagement by joining any of our 35+ student organizations and taking part in social events, from Red Sox and Bruins games to international potluck dinners and networking activities.
BU’s commitment to creating connections extends to all of its students, not just those in residence. Students in our online programs connect through our award winning distance learning technology.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston exhilarates. Ask anyone who has visited. Often called a European city on American shores, it offers something for everyone. A world-renowned music and cultural scene. Dozens of international enclaves. Restaurants galore. A historic past blended with cutting edge discovery and innovation. A legendary enthusiasm for sports. Picturesque beauty. One of the most diverse and educated populations on earth. And a rich quality of life. No matter your taste, you’ll find it here.
With nearly 100 colleges and over 250,000 students in the Boston area, the city has earned the moniker the “Athens of America.” The intellectual vibe is palpable—and fun.
At BU Law, you’re right in the middle of it all. Just steps from campus, you can stroll or run along the splendid Charles River Esplanade. Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox, is a 10-minute walk; downtown’s charming Back Bay area is another 10 beyond that. Keep walking or hop on the “T” and you are at Boston’s glorious Public Garden, and soon at the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean. All along the way, you’ll find points of historical interest and urban flair virtually unmatched by any other city.
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#1
QS Best Student Cities 2023 ranked Boston first in the United States.
The perfect legal laboratory.
The perfect place to study law and launch a career, Boston is a readymade laboratory for legal training in a number of fields. A hotbed for science and technology, it’s known as the “Hub of the Biotech Universe” and the Silicon Valley of the East Coast. It’s also a major financial center, home to America’s mutual fund industry and scores of global firms, consultancies, and businesses. For you, this means a remarkable pipeline of experienced practitioners to learn from—lawyers at the forefront of the law in myriad fields (intellectual property, banking and finance, health law, to name a few), hailing from the uppermost echelons of the practice. Few cities can match the depth of this resource.
Finance your studies.
We know your education is an investment, an important one. That is why all candidates for our residential programs in Boston are eligible to receive merit-based scholarship awards in the form of partial tuition waivers through BU Law’s graduate scholarship programs. All applicants are automatically considered, with no additional forms required. By offering these scholarships, we seek to support you in your educational journey and attract highly qualified graduate students to continue to strengthen our network of alumni. In addition to our scholarships, be sure to ask us about additional financial resources for international students like employer and government sponsorships.
Modern facilities for law students.
Visitors to Boston University School of Law enter the law complex by way of the glass-enclosed Robert T. Butler Atrium, the heart and social hub of the building, designed to inspire a sense of pride in our students. The law tower, a leading example of Brutalist architecture, was built in 1964 and completely renovated in 2015, adding almost 100,000 square feet of student-centric space. The Redstone building offers two libraries, moot court rooms, and bright and sun-filled classrooms featuring state-of-the-art technology. Spaces specifically designed to build community can be found throughout the building, as well as areas dedicated to peaceful study. The second-floor dining and seating facility in McCausland Commons features floor-to-ceiling views of the Charles River.
By the Numbers
Top10
in US Tax Law 2023 – LLM Guide (2023)
#9
in Intellectual Property Law – U.S. News & World Report.
Top10
in Banking & Finance Law – LLM Guide (2023)
#1
QS Best Student Cities 2023 ranked Boston first in the United States.
