Curriculum
The Individualized Study LL.M. Program at Loyola gives United States law graduates the opportunity to take their education even further. Students work with faculty in developing a specialized training program to fit each student’s individual interests and goals. LL.M. candidates experience all the same benefits of our renowned J.D. Program—personal attention, a rigorous curriculum and the option to earn a certificate in one of six approved tracks.
A total of 24 credit hours is required for this degree. It is anticipated that the degree will be completed in one academic year (two semesters), but students may take longer, with the permission of the Director.
All of the required 24 credit hours may be taken from among any courses in the College of Law’s course catalog, except courses that are associated with service on the school’s recognized law journals. Classes will be set with the help of a faculty mentor in order to help guide the student in his/her area of expertise. If a student intends to qualify to sit for any bar exam, he/she will need to complete the classes required by the state of your choice prior to taking the bar exam.
The 24 credit hours includes a writing project requirement which may be fulfilled by taking a two credit hour law school seminar or a two credit hour independent legal research project under the supervision of a faculty member.
Internship Credit
Up to four credit hours may be earned through a pass / fail internship with a law firm, court, or government agency. The College of Law does not promise that an internship will be available to the potential LL.M. candidate, but will make best efforts to arrange one for interested candidates.
Completing a Thesis
An LL.M. student may be able to complete a more extensive thesis under faculty supervision for up to a total of six hours credit (this would be instead of the two hour writing project, not in addition to it). If a candidate chooses to write a thesis this may be completed after the candidate’s one year period of residency on the Loyola campus, but the LL.M. degree will not be awarded until the thesis is satisfactorily completed.
Concentrations
Students may take a concentration that includes those courses which are presently required by one or more of the six certificate programs that have been approved for LL.M. students at Loyola. Those who meet the requirements of a certificate would receive both the LL.M. degree and the certificate. Offerings are as follows:
International Legal Studies
Environmental Law
Social Justice
Law Technology and Entrepreneurship
Civil Law
Common Law
Students are allowed to obtain more than one certificate as part of their LL.M. degree. If a student wants to obtain either a Common or Civil Law certificate and one of the other certificates, this would be possible within the normal twenty four credit requirement for the LL.M. degree. On the other hand, if a student wants to obtain any other two certificates, then he or she would have to enroll for more than the minimum of 24 credit hours.
In order for the applicant to apply for the certificate in Civil Law it would be required that the applicant’s J.D. curriculum was based primarily in the Common Law tradition. To be eligible for the Common Law Certificate, it would be required that the applicant’s J.D. curriculum was based primarily in the Civil Law tradition.
With the permission of the Director or the Associate Dean, a student may pursue an individualized course of study that does not meet the requirements of any of the existing certificate programs in the College of Law. An applicant who desires an individually designed program would be required to submit with his or her application a proposed program of study that (1) includes courses to be taken and (2) a general statement outlining the area of concentration for a seminar or a directed writing program requiring at least two credit hours. A student who successfully completes such an individually designed course of study would receive the LL.M. degree but no certificate.
Please visit the LL.M. website for additional information.
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