LL.M. Curriculum

Note: Additionally, LL.M. students must successfully complete one course from the following list: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Property or Torts.

Earning an LL.M. degree in the United States does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a bar examination. Each U.S. state sets its own eligibility requirements that should be considered. While the Dickinson Law curriculum provides all coursework necessary to sit for the New York bar examination, students must plan accordingly to ensure that appropriate coursework is completed. For more information, see The New York State Board of Law Examiners.

* New York bar applicants may not count credits in any type of bar review or preparation course, independent study, directed study, research papers or projects toward the 24 semester hours of credit required to qualify for the bar exam.

Note: As of August 2022, The New York State bar examination is administered twice per year, in February and July. Applications must be filed during the month of November for a February examination and during the month of April for a July examination.

Eligibility requirements for applicants who wish to qualify for the New York State bar examination based on the study of law in a foreign country must complete a Foreign Evaluation Form. If a deficiency in one’s foreign legal education must be “cured” by completing an LL.M. degree, one must seek an Advance Evaluation of Eligibility from the Board. It can take up to six months for an eligibility decision to be made.

The LL.M. degree program must consist of a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit. All coursework must be physically completed at the Dickinson Law campus. No credit is allowed for distance, correspondence or external study or for an on-line program or course. It is recommended that students in this track take all bar-tested courses.

Minimum Required Coursework:

• 2 credits in professional responsibility;
• 2 credits in legal research, writing and analysis course;
• 2 credits in a course on American legal studies, the American legal system or a similar course designed to introduce students to U.S. law; and,
• 6 credits in subjects tested on the New York bar examination, which are: Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Torts, Contracts, Property, Evidence, Business associations, Conflict of Laws, Criminal Law and Procedure, Family law, Trusts and Estates, Secured Transactions.

For more information, see The New York State Board of Law Examiners.

Required Courses

• Contracts (4 credits)
• Business Entities I (3 credits)

Elective Course Options (2+ credits required for concentration)

• Business Entitles II 
• Entrepreneurship Law
• Accounting for Lawyers
• Corporate Compliance
• Federal Securities Regulation
• International Investment Transactions
• Lawyering and Ethics for the Business Attorney Seminar
• Sales
• Taxation of Business Entities

Required Courses

• Constitutional Law II (3 credits)
• Criminal Procedure (3 credits)

Elective Course Options (3+ credits required for concentration)

• Advanced Criminal Procedure
• Civil Liberties Litigation
• Constitutional Law I 
• Education Law
• Election Law
• Employment Discrimination Law
• First Amendment Law
• Gender & Sexuality Law
• Immigration Law 
• Innocence and Wrongful Convictions
• International Criminal Law 
• International Human Rights Law Seminar
• Law of Individuals with Disabilities
• Poverty Law
• Protection of Individual Rights Under State Constitutions
• Race & Equal Protection of the Laws
• Race, Racism & American Law

Required Courses

• Property (4 credits)
• Introduction to Intellectual Property (3 credits)

Elective Course Options (2+ credits required for concentration)

• Antitrust
• Artificial Intelligence and the Law
• Blockchain
• Biotech
• Pharmaceuticals and the Law 
• Cryptocurrency & Law
• Copyrights
• Cybersecurity Law & Policy Seminar
• Cyberspace Law & policy Simulation
• Information Privacy Law
• Internet Law
• National Security Law
• Patents
• Trademarks

Required Courses

• Civil Procedure (4 credits) or Criminal Law (3 credits)
• Evidence (3-4 credits)

Elective Course Options (1-3+ credits required for concentration)

• Advanced Persuasion 
• Advocacy I
• Advocacy II
• Appellate Advocacy
• Civil Liberties Litigation
• Client Counseling
• Criminal Procedure
• Criminal Procedure: Applied Skills
• Federal Criminal Practice
• Negotiation/Mediation

With the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, LL.M. students may take independent study courses for up to three credits in any one semester, and no more than a total of four credits may be counted toward fulfillment of the LL.M. degree requirements.

With the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, LL.M. students may enroll in experiential learning courses, including pro bono, clinical, and externship programs. International LL.M. students may have immigration compliance restrictions that may limit experiential learning options.

Earning an LL.M. degree in the United States does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a bar examination. Each U.S. state sets its own eligibility requirements that should be considered. While the Dickinson Law curriculum provides all coursework necessary to sit for the New York bar examination, for example, students must plan accordingly to ensure that appropriate coursework is completed. For more information, see The New York State Board of Law Examiners.

Dickinson Law does not regularly offer summer courses. An exception is a one-credit summer externship class. Enrollment in that course is limited to international J.D. students to satisfy the unique visa-related requirements for employment and Curricular Practical Training for those students.