The LLM program is designed to meet the needs of students pursuing their second degree in law. Students holding a US Juris Doctor pursue the LLM to specialize in a particular field of study. Students holding a foreign law degree pursue the LLM degree to learn US law, and, in some cases, prepare for a US licensing exam.
Program Details
- Full-time, two semester program, with August and January enrollment.
- Open to individuals with a foreign law degree or those who have earned a juris doctor in the US.
- A diverse and collegial class experience, where LLM students enroll in courses with JD and other graduate students.
- Experiential opportunities, including intramural moot court competitions, volunteer clinics, and practical legal skills classes.
- After successful completion of the LLM, foreign-trained lawyers may be eligible to sit for any US state bar open to foreign-trained lawyers with an LLM, including New York and Georgia bars.
LLM Concentrations:
There are seven concentrations available to LLM students: Health Law; Business Law; Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Criminal Law; Law and Religion; AI and the Law; and Environmental Law.
For LLM students who hold a JD from an ABA-accredited law school, concentrations will be available to any student who completes the required coursework; no separate application is necessary.
Foreign-trained lawyers must apply to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval to pursue a concentration. In evaluating these requests, the committee will consider factors such as whether the student intends to sit for a US bar examination, the student’s prior legal education and professional experience, and the student’s anticipated career plans following completion of the LLM program.
No credits earned prior to the start of the LLM program may be applied toward the LLM degree or toward the credit requirements for a concentration. If a student previously completed any of a concentration’s required courses during their JD studies, the student may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for permission to substitute another course of equivalent credit.
The LLM program requires students to complete the following:
- Introduction to the American Legal System (2 credits)*
- American Legal Writing, Analysis and Research I (2 credits)*
- Electives for a total of 24 credits of academic study.
*These two class requirements are waived for students holding a US Juris Doctor.
In general, LLM degree candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Maintain a 2.5 GPA and remain in good standing.
- Students must complete two semesters of full-time residency, defined as being enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. Part-time LLM enrollment may be permissible and will be considered on a case-by-case basis for students who do not need a student visa.
- To sit for the bar exam in a US jurisdiction, LLM students must also comply with the specific state requirements for each state in which they seek admission. It is solely the student’s responsibility to understand, enroll, and complete all credits required for any examination or licensing.
For further details and program requirements, please see the Emory Law Student Handbook.
Georgia Curricular Criteria for LLM Program