If you’re looking to learn from America’s best law professors — if you’re seeking “the best classroom experience” in the nation — the LLM in American Law Program could be right for you.

You’ll have access to BU Law’s full-time faculty, consistently ranked in the top ten in America by Princeton Review. Our faculty are not only world-renowned scholars — many have written the leading texts in the topics they teach — but they excel inside the classroom. That’s why The Princeton Review consistently singles out BU Law for providing the “best classroom experience.” You can hear it from our current students and alumni. Many will tell you that their BU Law instructors are the best they’ve had, anywhere. They’re approachable, accessible, and attentive to the unique needs of international students. They want to get to know you. They want you to visit their office hours. They want to have lunch with you. And they’ll want to stay in touch after you graduate. It doesn’t get much better than that.

The LLM in American Law Program is BU Law’s most flexible graduate program.

Beyond the program’s two required fall semester classes — Introduction to the American Legal System and a Legal Research and Writing seminar — you’ll have the freedom to:

• Select from 200+ courses and seminars covering nearly every area of the law, one of the broadest selections available at any law school. This includes first-year JD classes, second- and third-year JD classes, and specialized classes offered through BU Law’s Graduate Program in Banking & Financial Law and Graduate Tax Program.
• Pursue an optional “concentration” (or, specialization) if you’d like to focus your studies in any of three important areas of global legal work: International Business Practice, Intellectual Property, and Tax. To complete a concentration, you’ll take a minimum of four courses from a list of qualifying classes. You’ll have the option to designate your chosen concentration on your official BU Law transcript.
• Take classes exclusively developed for LLM students interested in qualifying and preparing for a US bar exam. These include six-week 2-credit “Fundamental Track” classes covering such bar-tested topics as property, civil procedure, evidence and the Uniform Commercial Code.
• Take a range of practical skills-based classes taught by experienced practitioners, such as negotiation, transactional contract drafting, client interviewing and counseling, and advanced legal writing.
• Enroll in special classes that meet the professional needs and interests of international LLMs, such as International M&A, International Due Diligence, Intellectual Property Licensing and Effective In-House Counseling.
• Supplement your law studies with courses at other graduate schools at BU, such as the Questrom School of Business, or the School of Public Health.

The beauty of this design is that you’ll be able to achieve multiple goals, such as qualifying for a US bar exam, learning substantive doctrine in foundational and specialized topics, and developing advanced lawyering skills that you’ll use no matter your area of practice. Your biggest challenge will be deciding what not to take. But don’t worry. Rest assured that the director and associate director will work with you individually to design a plan that’s best for you.

Why do so many of our graduates say their BU Law experience was the “best year of their lives?”

Because they grow and develop, professionally and personally, in ways unimagined, inspired by the highly personalized support, guidance and encouragement they receive every step of the way.

We don’t deny it. US law studies are challenging. The adjustments are formidable, especially for foreign-trained LLMs. Common law reasoning. Socratic instruction. Case law methodology. New doctrines, theories, words and phrases. All in English. Legal English. And what about finding a job? Or applying to the bar?

There’s no reason to panic. We get it. Providing superior support and guidance is what we’re all about.

To support your success in the classroom, you can expect:

• One-on-one consultations with the Director and Associate Director to select your classes, taking into account your personal and professional goals, background and experiences, learning style and preferences, and language skills.
• A comprehensive “Academic Achievement” series that includes regular, interactive workshops on important academic skills such as time management, case briefing, citing authority, case reading and analysis, outlining and exam taking.
• Several elective classes offered on an LLM-only basis, a welcome option for LLM students who prefer a pace of instruction that considers their language skills and unique learning needs.
• An upper-class JD student who will serve as your writing “tutor” in your Legal Research and Writing class.
• Weekly review sessions led by upper-class JD students in classes with 10+ LLM students.
• A full-time writing coach, available to assist with organizing and structuring a seminar paper you may be writing.
• Mandatory “check-in” meetings with the director/associate director to hear of any concerns or difficulties.
• During the summer, before school even begins, an opportunity to enroll in the six-week pre-LLM Legal English and Foundations of US Law class, offered through BU’s Center for English Language and Orientation Programs (CELOP).
• The availability of the staff at the Graduate and International Programs Office (OGIP) to help address any concern, no matter how large or small.

Your professional development and career success is a top priority, no matter your aspirations. You can expect:

• An experienced LLM professional development staff exclusively dedicated to advising international LLM students. (In other words, you won’t have to compete with JDs for attention.)
• One-on-one counseling on job search strategies, interviewing and networking skills and US resume and cover letter preparation.
• Comprehensive guidance on all matters related to bar qualification, including individual assistance communicating with state bar authorities.
• Networking events, to introduce you to Boston practitioners and BU Law JD and LLM alumni.
• A spring semester “Professional Skills Lab” that features hands-on, interactive training on professional etiquette, lawyering skills and career management.
• Access to BU’s online job, internship and pro bono and career resource database.
• An extensive array of career-related workshops and panels throughout the academic year.
• An opportunity to participate in the International Student Interview Program (ISIP) held in NY each January, where 200+ employers from around the world seek to interview and recruit LLM students.