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MCL Admitted Student Resources

Key Dates

MCL Orientation (Required)
January 3, 2025

Classes Begin
January 6, 2025

Master of Comparative Law (MCL) Program 2024 - 2025

Curriculum

During the Spring 2025 semester, MCL students will take a set of specially identified courses at Emory Law in Atlanta. This curriculum includes:

Spring Semester (January 6 - April 21, 2025)

Required Courses

  • Introduction to the U.S. Legal System - 2 credits
  • American Legal Writing, Analysis and Research I - 2 credits

Electives

In addition, students will select three of the following 3-credit electives:

  • Business Associations
  • Contracts
  • Criminal Law
  • Family Law
  • Health Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Law

Summer Semester (May 16 - June 25, 2025)

Required Courses

  • MCL Capstone: Comparative Law - 3 credits
  • US Courts and Oral Advocacy - 2 credits

Prior to November 15, 2024, students must make an appointment with their academic advisor. This appointment will be held virtually before students arrive in Atlanta and can be made here.

Required Courses

Introduction to the American Legal System

Designed for lawyers trained outside of the United States, the course provides an overview of the constitutional principles, history, and governmental structures that shape the U.S. legal system; the constitutional foundations of the U.S. legal system, including the concepts of separation of powers and federalism; the structure of the state and federal court systems and concepts of jurisdiction; the mechanisms by which the law is assessed and applied by the courts; the role of lawyers and the relationship between law and society; and the primary subject areas of 1st year legal study.

Legal Writing & Research

This course introduces students to the concepts of legal analysis and the techniques and strategies for legal research, as well as the requirements and analytical structures for legal writing in the American common law legal system.

Elective Courses

Business Associations

This course surveys the formation, organization, financing, management, and dissolution of sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies. The goal is to introduce basic business-law concepts in a clear, non-scary way, and make it at least a little bit fun. The course includes fundamental rights and responsibilities of owners, managers, and other stakeholders. The course also considers the special needs of closely-held enterprises, basic issues in corporate finance, and the impact of federal and state laws and regulations governing the formation, management, financing, and dissolution of business enterprises. This course includes consideration of major federal securities laws governing insider trading and other fraudulent practices under Rule 10b-5.

Contracts

A study of the basic principles governing the formation, performance, enforcement, and imposition of contractual obligations, and the role of these principles in the ordering processes of society.

Criminal Law

A study of common and statutory criminal law, including origin and purpose; classification of crimes; elements of criminal liability and the development of the law respecting specific crimes; emphasis on the trend toward codification; and the influence of the Model Penal Code, including a study of the circumstances and factors that constitute a defense to, or alter and affect, criminal responsibility.

Family Law

This course explores the legal regulation of the family and its members. Materials and discussion will address the problems, policies, and laws related to the formation and dissolution of the marital family. Among the topics covered will be premarital controversies; constitutional limitations on entry into marriage; substantive and procedural regulation of marriage; marital rights and responsibilities; marriage equality; divorce; child custody, adoption, and other related topics.

Health Law

Health care is one of the largest sectors of the economy, and the practice of health law is growing. This course is an introduction to regulatory health law as well as some prominent medical controversies. The course will address selected topics in health law related to issues of quality, access, cost, and choice. Possible topics include: regulation of physicians and health care institutions, confidentiality, informed consent, individual and institutional obligations to provide care, discrimination in access to care, ERISA preemption and regulation, public and private health insurance structures and some of the major statutes that govern them, fraud and abuse, government powers in public health emergencies, genetic discrimination and eugenics, assisted suicide, and human and nonhuman animal experimentation for medical purposes. 

Intellectual Property

This course will introduce students to the concept of intellectual property through the four forms of intellectual property regimes in the United States: copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and patents. The course looks at each of these regimes through a comparative lens, looking at how the purpose and protections are similar and different. This course is designed both for those who are interested in pursuing IP as a career, and those who are looking only for a basic knowledge of the subject. There are no prerequisites, and a scientific background is not required. At the end of the course, students should know the basics for each doctrine, the differences in the subject matter protected, how protection in each regime is established, the scope of the rights afforded, and remedies. Students should also be able to compare and contrast the law, policy, and theories for each type of intellectual.

International Law

This course provides a broad introduction to the nature, sources and operation of international law. In particular, this course will focus on the following key learning objectives: the sources, foundation and structure of international law; the participants in the international legal system and their respective roles; the application of fundamental principles of international law, including jurisdiction, immunities and state responsibility; the application of international law in the domestic law of nations, particularly in the United States; and key substantive issues, including statehood, human rights, international environmental law; the use of force, international criminal law and the law of armed conflict.

New Student Checklist

As you prepare to join us at Emory Law, we have a checklist of actions and forms to complete.

  1. Final Transcript: The American Bar Association requires Emory Law to receive a final transcript indicating the date of your undergraduate degree conferral. If LSAC does not have this final transcript in your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, please have your final transcript sent to LSAC so that they can update the CAS report with the final version.
  2. Health Forms and Insurance Requirements: Complete all required student health information and health forms online with Emory University's online Health Services Portal. 
  3. Review our Laptop and Computer Recommendations: Emory Law students are required to own a computer. We recommend that you invest in a new notebook computer from a reputable manufacturer with a three-year warranty. Try to purchase a notebook computer that balances light weight and long battery life. Most exams are taken on computer and most faculty members permit students to take notes on computer in class. The law school supports both Mac and Windows systems.
  4. Complete the Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students: All incoming Emory University students are required to complete the Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students (SAP-G) education module. SAP-G is an online learning platform designed to empower you to make well-informed decisions about issues that affect your years at Emory and beyond. It takes approximately 45 minutes to complete (closed captioning is available for video portions). You will receive an email to your Emory email address with instructions on how to complete the module.
  5. Set Up Your Network ID and Password: Your NetID allows you to access OPUS (Online Pathway to University Students) » Set up your Network ID here. 
  6. Log In to OPUS (Online Pathway to University Students): OPUS is your portal to student accounts, the registrar, and many other services at Emory. Explore OPUS and get familiar with the resources you will use as an Emory Law student. Submit a help request if you cannot log in or access OPUS. Include your first and last name and your Emory Net ID. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR PASSWORD.
  7. Create an Emory Email Account: You will access your account using the same NetID and password that you use for OPUS access. Your email address is your NETID(at)emory.edu. 
  8. Upload Your Photo for Your EmoryCard (Student ID): The EmoryCard is the official ID Card of Emory University. It permits access to facilities and events and can be used to purchase goods and services at the university and at a wide range of merchants throughout the community. The image you upload must be on a white or solid neutral background. More information regarding your EmoryCard can be found here.
  9. Duo Authentication: Many services at Emory require Duo authentication before you can log in from off-campus. Duo provides extra security by checking an app on your phone before allowing you to login to important Emory services, such as Email and Opus. Learn more about Duo here and install the software on your phone. If you have questions about Duo or configuring Duo, please contact the University help desk at (404) 727-7777.
  10. Consider Your Mode of Transportation in Atlanta: There are many shuttle buses from Emory, and they reach most of the apartments where students live. If you plan to buy a car, get a driver’s license, and drive to campus, you must register for a Spring 2025 on-campus parking permit through the parking transportation website. If you have questions about obtaining a driver's license, please review this ISSS webpage. 
  11. Student Accommodations: Emory University School of Law provides all persons an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and services afforded to others. Please visit the Department of Accessibility Services website for information about our policies and procedures and to begin the process of registration. If you have additional questions or concerns pertaining to accommodations that you may need while you are a student at the School of Law, please contact the Office of the Registrar by sending an e-mail to: katie.cox@emory.edu. In your email, please include your full name, Emory ID number, and the program in which you will be enrolled. If you are a transfer student, please indicate accordingly. Students with disabilities seeking accommodations should contact Emory’s Department of Accessibility Services to begin the registration process in advance of when the accommodations are needed. The Department of Accessibility Services strongly encourages new students to submit their accommodation requests as soon as possible to ensure there is enough time for the registration process prior to the start of the semester.

Housing

Emory University's new on-campus graduate and professional housing, The Ridge, is now open. If you would like more information about The Ridge, please visit their website.  

Additionally, Emory's Off-Campus Housing website can assist you in finding other housing options in the area.