LL.M. Curriculum

The LL.M. program is a course of study that requires a minimum of 24 credits, which can be taken full-time over one academic year or part-time over three to four semesters. Full-time students must enroll in at least 12 credits but no more than 17 credits per semester but may take advantage of the third-semester option by enrolling in at least six additional credits of study for a total of 30 credits for their LL.M. degree.

LL.M. Degree Requirements

To earn the LL.M. degree, students must earn a minimum of 24 credits and complete with a passing grade the following courses:

LL.M Legal Research (1 credit)
LL.M. Legal Writing (2 credits)
Introduction to the United States Legal System (2 credits)

In addition, students must enroll in one course from the following list:

Civil Procedure
Constitutional Law I
Contracts
Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure
Property
Torts

The academic deans may waive any of the course requirements where students have satisfactorily completed equivalent courses at another U.S. law program or in a common law country.

LL.M. Graduate-Level Courses

With the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, LL.M. students may enroll in courses offered in other Penn State graduate programs, including but not limited to the University’s Masters in Public Administration and Masters in Business Administration degree programs (offered at Penn State Harrisburg), and the University’s World Campus.

LL.M. Independent Study

LL.M. students may take independent study courses for up to 3 credits in any one semester, and no more than a total of 4 credits during the two semesters of the LL.M. program.

LL.M. Experiential Learning

Students in the LL.M. program may take a range of experiential skills courses.

With the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, LL.M. students may also enroll in pro bono experiential learning courses offered at the law school. LL.M. students who are eligible for Curricular Practical Training or have work authorization in the U.S. may also enroll in internship programs. Email Emily Michiko Morris with any questions about participation.

LL.M. Third Semester Option

Full-time LL.M. students may apply to stay for a third semester of legal study with the intent of completing an experiential learning program or preparing for a U.S. bar exam.

Transfer to the J.D. Program

Candidates for the LL.M. degree may seek to transfer to the J.D. program. Criteria for transferring to the J.D. program are set by the Dean of Admissions and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Important factors are excellent English language skills and strong performance in classes taken at the Law School. For more information, review the LL.M. Academic Policies.

LL.M. Concentrations and Courses

Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation

Courses

Dispute Resolution
- Arbitration: Domestic and International
- Negotiation/Mediation
- Client Counseling
- Congressional Investigations Seminar
- Entrepreneurship Law: Operational Issues
Civil Litigation in the United States
- Civil Procedure
- Trial Advocacy (Advocacy I)
- Advanced Trial Advocacy (Advocacy II)
- Federal Courts
- Pennsylvania Practice
- Evidence
- Electronic Evidence Seminar
- Remedies
Criminal Litigation in the United States
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Advanced Criminal Procedure
- Federal Criminal Practice
- Pennsylvania Criminal Law Practice
- Post-Conviction Process
- Substantive Law-Specific Procedure in the United States
- Administrative Law

Business Law

Courses

Business Structures
- Business Entities I: Unincorporated Business Entities
- Business Entities II: Corporations
- Business Planning for Small Business Enterprises
- Entrepreneurship Law: Company Creation
- Entrepreneurship Law: Operational Issues
Substantive
- Antitrust
- International Business Transactions
- International Investment Law
- Contracts
- Federal Securities Regulation
- Nonprofit Organizations
- White-Collar Crime
- Sales
- Secured Transactions
- Consumer Protection
- Bankruptcy
- Banking Regulation
- Payment Systems
- Construction Law
- Property
- Labor Law
- Employment Law
- Torts
Practice Based
- Accounting for Lawyers
- Lawyering and Ethics for the Business Attorney Seminar

Constitutional and Administrative Law

Courses

Federal & Constitutional Law
- Constitutional Law I
- Constitutional Law II
- First Amendment – Free Speech
- Administrative Law
- Congressional Investigations Seminar
- Federal Courts
- Civil Liberties Litigation
Substantive
- Election Law
- Nonprofit Organization Law
- White Collar Crime
- Regulatory & Legislative Practice Seminar
- National Security Law
- Immigration Law
- Energy Law and Policy
- Federal Tax Law
- Environmental Law
- Communication Law
- Law and Individuals with Disabilities
Practice Based
- Negotiation/Mediation
- Strategic Legal Research
State Law
- State and Local Government Law
- State & Local Taxation
- State Constitutions Seminar
- Protection of Individual Rights Under State Constitutions Seminar

Criminal Law and Procedure

Courses

Foundational
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Advanced Criminal Procedure
Substantive
- International Criminal Law
- Death Penalty Seminar
- Post-Conviction Process
- Juvenile Law
- White-Collar Crime
- Federal Criminal Practice
- Congressional Investigations Seminar
- National Security Law
- Pennsylvania Criminal Law Practice
Practice Based
- Trial Advocacy (Advocacy I)
- Advanced Trial Advocacy (Advocacy II)

Cyber Law, Data Privacy and Information Security

Courses

Substantive
- Information Privacy and Security Law
Practice Based
- Cyberlaw in Practice
- Cybersecurity Law & Policy Seminar
- Electronic Evidence Seminar

Government Law and Policy

The Government Law & Policy concentration touches upon a broad range of topics, particularly given the current tensions between the federal government and state and local governments, as well as between the various branches of the government. This concentration is designed for those who work for the government or whose jobs require frequent interaction with government bodies.

Courses in Government Law & Policy include:

Constitutional Law I
Civil Liberties Litigation
Congressional Investigations Seminar
Administrative Law
Regulatory and Legislative Practice Seminar
National Security Law
Corporate Compliance
Federal Securities Regulation
Energy Law and Policy
State and Local Government
Public Health Law
Health Law and Policy
Child Welfare Law and Policy
State and Local Tax
Election Law
Education Law
Construction Law
Insurance Law
Protection of Individual Rights Under State Constitutions Seminar
Taxation of Business Entities

Health Law and Policy

Courses

- Law and Medicine
- Health Care Law and Policy
- Health Care Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Heath Care Organizations and Finance
- Administrative Law
- Torts
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Elder Law
- Law and Aging Policy Seminar
- Law and Individuals with Disabilities
- Employee Benefits Law
- Wills, Trusts, and Estates
- Estate Planning
- Poverty Law
In-House Clinics
- Children’s Advocacy Clinic
- Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic

Intellectual Property and Innovation

Courses

Contracts
Introduction to Intellectual Property Law
Copyrights
Patents
Trademarks
Internet Law
Communications Law
Sports and Entertainment Law
Business Creation
- Business Planning for Small Business Enterprises
- Entrepreneurship Law: Company Creation
- Entrepreneurship Law: Operational Issues
- Contracts
Business Operations
- Basic Federal Income Tax
- Advanced Federal Income Tax
- Sales
- Secured Transactions
- Federal Securities Regulation
- Consumer Protection
- Employee Benefits Law
- Bankruptcy
- Employment Law
- Labor Law
- Introduction to Intellectual Property
- International Business Transactions
Practice Based
- Accounting for Lawyers
- Arbitration: Domestic and International
- Lawyering and Ethics for the Business Attorney Seminar
- Transactional Writing and Drafting

International Trial Advocacy

Courses

Substantive
- International Human Rights
- Comparative International Taxation
- National Security Law
- International Investment Law
- Energy Law and Policy
- Immigration Law
- International Criminal Law
- Congressional Investigations Seminar
Practice Based
- Trial Advocacy (Advocacy I)
- Advanced Trial Advocacy (Advocacy II)
- Advanced Appellate Advocacy
- Arbitration: Domestic and International
- Cross-Border Legal Practice Seminar
Internships
- International Justice Internship

Organizing for Social Justice

The Organizing for Social Justice concentration centers on what are commonly considered the four principles of social justice: human rights, access, participation, and equity. This track thus focuses on not just equal protection under the law but also fair and equitable distribution of wealth, opportunities for advancement, access to the political process, and maintenance and improvement of social institutions, including schools, communities, and families. The Organizing for Social Justice concentration is designed for those who work in grassroots and other social movements as well as those in government, nonprofit organizations, and public service institutions.

Courses in Organizing for Social Justice include:

Civil Liberties Litigation
Constitutional Law I
First Amendment — Free Speech
Family Law
Child Welfare Law & Policy
Elder Law
Law and Individuals with Disabilities
Education Law Seminar
Employment Discrimination
Labor Law
Election Law
International Human Rights
Protection of Individual Rights Under State Constitutions Seminar
Race, Racism, and American Law Seminar
Race and Equal Protection of the Law
Gender and Sexuality Law
Immigration Law
National Security Law
Poverty Law
Criminal Procedure
Post-Conviction Process
Innocence and Wrongful Conviction
International Criminal Law
Nonprofit Organizations
Administrative Law
Regulatory and Legislative Practice Seminar

Public Interest Law

Courses

Constitutional
- Constitutional Law II
- First Amendment — Free Speech
- Protection of Individual Rights Under State Constitutions Seminar
Federal
- Election Law
- Congressional Investigations Seminar
- Federal Indian Law Seminar
- Immigration Law
Human Rights
- International Human Rights
- Gender and Sexuality Law
- Race, Racism, and American Law Seminar
Public Interest
- Juvenile Law
- Law and Individuals with Disabilities
- Poverty Law
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Education Law
Criminal
- Post-Conviction Process
- Death Penalty Seminar
In-House Clinics
- Children’s Advocacy Clinic
- Community Law Clinic (handling cases in family, disability, housing, and public benefits law)

Security Law

Courses

National Security Law
Homeland Security Law
Counterterrorism
Military Law
Information Privacy & Security Law
Administrative Law
Congressional Investigations Seminar
Regulatory & Legislative Practice Seminar
Civil Liberties Litigation
Cyberlaw in Practice
Cybersecurity Law & Policy Seminar

Tax Law Concentration

Courses

Basic Federal Income Tax
Advanced Federal Income Tax
Corporate and Partnership Tax
Comparative International Taxation
State and Local Taxation
Estate Planning
Entrepreneurship Law: Company Creation
Entrepreneurship Law: Operational Issues

Trial Advocacy and Litigation

Courses

General Litigation
- Evidence
- Trial Advocacy (Advocacy I)
- Advanced Trial Advocacy (Advocacy II)
- Advanced Appellate Advocacy
- Federal Courts
- Conflict of Laws
Civil
- Civil Procedure
- Torts
- Advanced Torts
- Remedies
- Insurance Law
- Civil Liberties Litigation
- Remedies
- Property
Criminal
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Advanced Criminal Procedure
- Federal Criminal Practice
- International Criminal Law
- White-Collar Crime
- Post-Conviction Process