Berkeley Law's LL.M. Degree Program | Executive Track
Executive Track
A Berkeley Law LL.M. means earning your degree at one of the top law schools in the United States — a public institution committed to academic excellence, social engagement, and a public mission of using law to make our community and our world better. It means coming to a place where we’ve been teaching LL.M. students for over 70 years and J.D. students for more than a century. It means learning from and engaging with internationally renowned faculty and distinguished scholars. It means creating long-lasting relationships with legal professionals from around the globe. And it means living in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the world’s most culturally and intellectually stimulating regions.
ONE LL.M. DEGREE
TWO EXECUTIVE TRACK OPTIONS
REMOTE + SUMMER
This timeline allows you to earn your LL.M. degree in one calendar year, with part-time spring/fall semesters online and one full-time summer semester in Berkeley.
TWO SUMMERS
This timeline allows you to earn your LL.M. degree over two consecutive full-time summer semesters in Berkeley.
EXECUTIVE TRACK (R+S)
EXECUTIVE TRACK (S+S)
PROGRAM CALENDAR
IN BERKELEY
EXECUTIVE TRACK
OUR MOST FLEXIBLE PROGRAM
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The flexibility of the Executive Track enables students to take the same number of units and receive the same LL.M. degree as our other tracks, but with less time spent away from home. Specifically designed with working professionals in mind, this non-traditional program structure compresses our academic-year course schedule, allowing students to delve deeply into a few subject matters at a time for a rigorous and intensive educational experience.
The Executive Track is the only degree program running at the law school during the summer semester, resulting in a tight bond among LL.M. students and faculty. Shortly after starting your semester you’ll know every person you see in the hallways.
COURSEWORK AND DEGREE CUSTOMIZATION
Unlike an academic-year semester in which students take multiple courses at the same time, students in the Executive Track take one or two courses every few weeks with exams immediately following. Only students in the remote + summer timeline take courses part-time in the spring and fall semesters while students in the two summers timeline only take courses in the summer. After students complete mandatory coursework in Fundamentals of U.S. Law and Legal Research and Writing, they are free to enroll in any of the electives they choose. Students in the Executive Track may also focus their studies to earn a Certificate of Specialization in one of our most popular areas of study — AI and Emerging Technologies, Business Law, Law and Technology, or Post-Graduate Executive Leadership. With careful planning, students can also meet the requirements to become eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination.
SOLID FOUNDATION, ENDLESS CUSTOMIZATION
In Berkeley Law’s LL.M. program, you start by laying a solid foundation in Fundamentals of U.S. Law while allowing for customization based on individual interests and goals.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
LAY THE FOUNDATION
Complete mandatory coursework in Fundamentals of U.S. Law and Legal Research & Writing.
CHOOSE TO SPECIALIZE
Pursue (optional) certificate of specialization to deepen your study in a practice area.
CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATIONS
Law & Technology
Berkeley Law is a pioneer in intellectual property, one of the law’s most exciting frontiers. Our program has ranked first in the nation for 16 of the last 18 years, and we published America’s first IP law journal. That figures: The Bay Area is the hub of California’s knowledge-based economy. Our courses expose students to all facets of IP law. Our technology clinic and journal offer invaluable immersion experiences. And our seminars bring in scores of prominent outside speakers every year. Whether your interests run to patent protection, artificial intelligence, social media, information technology, data privacy, or emerging technologies, our program will help you master IP's complex legal machinery.
Business Law
#1 #4
Berkeley Law offers a superb education in both established and emerging fields of business law. With classes on topics ranging from Mergers & Acquisitions and Contracts, to Governance in Venture Capital and Blockchain, you’ll graduate with a solid foundation and an understanding of the direction business law is heading. Berkeley’s business law program is informed and inspired by the innovative entrepreneurs calling the Bay Area home and is internationally recognized both for the depth of its faculty and the breadth of its interdisciplinary approach.
Post-Graduate Executive Leadership
The LL.M. Post-Graduate Executive Leadership Certificate is specifically designed to provide an opportunity for LL.M. executive track alumni with the opportunity to gain the skills of an effective people and project manager. This enhanced training will in turn help participants become more well-rounded legal professionals and better able to serve their clients and organizations.
AI Law and Regulation
In the ever changing legal profession, staying ahead means embracing cutting-edge legal practice areas. The AI Law & Regulation Certificate is designed exclusively for LL.M. students seeking to navigate the complex application of legal frameworks to the challenges posed by AI technology. This certificate will provide you with an industry-endorsed foundation in AI focused on building core skills and knowledge in areas including intellectual property, data privacy, licensing, and risk. You'll leave prepared to effectively advise clients, governments, and organizations on AI-related legal matters, ensuring compliance and fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. *This paragraph was drafted with the assistance of AI technology.
Rankings according to U.S. News & World Report, 2023-24
FIND YOUR COURSES GET INVOLVED
Customize your degree by choosing from our wide variety of course offerings .
Scan the QR code to explore courses
Gain valuable experience in our top-ranked programs and centers.
GLOBAL NETWORK
Earning your LL.M. degree from Berkeley Law means you’ve met rigorous standards, learned from top legal scholars, and acquired skills and a global professional network to move you forward in your career.
This map shows the countries our alumni come from during the years 2021-2024.
200+
Legal experts in your professional network
Legal experts in your professional network ~50
There were so many fun things at Berkeley. I can say it was the best year of my life up until now. Making friends and getting to know a lot of people every day was the best part.
CARLOS PEREZ CHOW ’14 – Mexico
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
• INDIVIDUAL ADVISING with specialized attorneycounselors dedicated to the professional development needs of LL.M. students
• PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS tailored for LL.M. students, including resume writing, interviewing skills, business etiquette and networking, and legal practice areas
• NETWORKING EVENTS to help LL.M. students build and cultivate professional networks
• International and domestic JOB SEARCH ADVISING
RAISE YOUR BAR
THE CALIFORNIA BAR determines eligibility based on whether you’ve been admitted to practice law in any jurisdiction in the world. But don’t worry if you haven’t yet been admitted, we offer all the coursework you might need to become eligible for the California Bar Exam in all of our tracks!*
*Bar eligibility is determined by the relevant state bar and not Berkeley Law. Please contact the state bar with questions about your eligibility.
SOFIIA MELNYK ’22 India “
Berkeley Law has enriched me not only academically but also through countless opportunities to contribute to journals, engage in pro bono work, and participate in clinics.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
#4
8:45AM
Arrive at Berkeley Law, stop by Cafe Zeb to grab coffee on the way to class 9:00AM Class starts
Best University in the World
According to Shanghai Rankings, 2023
10:30AM
Class break, go outside to the rooftop garden to check out the view
12:00PM
Class ends, grab lunch with friends at Cafe Zeb
12:30PM
Bring your lunch to a lunchtime presentation on U.S. Business Etiquette and Networking
#1
Intellectual Property
#4
Business/Corporate Law
Attend your Legal Research & Writing class, ask your instructor for help with English grammar
3:30PM Read for tomorrow’s class in the library 2 :00PM
According to U.S. News & World Report, 2023-24
4:00PM
Meet up with members of SOALS (Student Organization of Advanced Legal Studies) to plan a class trip to Google headquarters in Silicon Valley 6:30PM
Pick up your family (who came with you to Berkeley) and head to the park for a LL.M. class BBQ and soccer game
5:00PM
It’s been a long day of study, meet up with your friends for happy hour at Freehouse across the street
6:30PM
Ride your bike home, a group of classmates is coming over with food from their home countries for dinner!
THE BAY AREA
MARIN
SAN FRANCISCO
OAKLAND
ALAMEDA
San Francisco Bay Oakland Airport
APPLYING THE LL.M. DEGREE PROGRAM
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
A complete LL.M. Executive Track application includes:
• An application form submitted online via LSAC
• An application fee
• A personal statement
• A curriculum vitae
• Official academic records
• Two letters of recommendation
• A TOEFL score of 100 or IELTS score of 7.0
• Video Assessment (optional)
SCHOLARSHIPS
Berkeley Law awards selective merit or citizenship-based scholarships to outstanding admitted LL.M. students. Scholarship decisions are made at the time of admission.
Here is a list of scholarship opportunities:
• African Legal Impact Scholarship
• Least Developed Countries Scholarship
• Global Reach Scholarship
• Young Lawyers Scholarship
• Latin America Scholarship
• Asia Pacific Scholarship
• MOU Partner Scholarship
• Scholarship Reconsideration Program
Scan this QR code to review current scholarship opportunities details:
ADMISSIONS TIMELINE
AUG. 1 APPLICATIONS OPEN
SEPTEMBER
NOV. 18
ADMISSION DECISIONS BEGIN (ROLLING)
APPLICATIONS CLOSE Remote + Summer
DEC. 18
APPLICATIONS CLOSE Two Summers
LL.M. students Aastha Daftary, Mike David, Arunabha Ganguli, and Tanya Manalaysay chatting between classes.
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