General Degree Information

The law school offers two graduate law degrees: the Master of Laws (LLM) and the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD). Graduate law students take courses with Juris Doctor (JD) students. Graduate students are able to combine traditionally taught courses with in-depth seminars, internships, skills training, and clinical experience for a complete legal education.

In addition, our Master of Studies in Law (MSL) has been designed specifically for non-lawyers who wish to gain greater knowledge of the law (see page 63 for more information about the MSL program).

JOINT MASTER OF LAWS–MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

GW offers joint degree programs for LLM candidates with two other schools of the university. The LLM–MPH is offered with the Milken Institute School of Public Health for students who are pursuing a general LLM or the LLM degree in environmental law. The LLM–MA (in the field of history with a concentration in U.S. legal history; in the field of women’s studies; or in the field of public policy with a concentration in women’s studies) is offered with the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences for students who are pursuing the LLM degree in international and comparative law. Students must be admitted both to the law school and, separately, to the school that confers the other master’s degree. Each school must separately approve a student’s application to pursue a joint degree program. The joint degrees must be conferred simultaneously and only after all requirements for both degrees have been met.

THE MASTER OF LAWS (LLM) DEGREE

GENERAL LLM PROGRAM

Graduates of non-U.S. law schools may pursue the General LLM as a means of studying a range of issues in U.S. law. The General LLM program accepts a limited number of U.S. law school graduates to study in areas other than those covered in the specialized programs. U.S. law school graduates applying to the General LLM program must submit a proposed program of study that includes courses to be taken and a general statement outlining the intended area of concentration for the thesis. Before admission, the student is paired with a faculty member in that area who will assist in further developing a curriculum and supervising the student’s thesis. Recent General LLM candidates have focused in such areas as labor law, constitutional law, health care law, criminal law, and antitrust law. Areas of interest are limited only by the availability of faculty advisors.

SPECIALIZED LLM PROGRAMS In addition to the General LLM, specialized fields of study include Business and Finance Law, Energy and Environmental Law, Environmental Law, Government Procurement Law, Government Procurement and Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, International and Comparative Law, International Environmental Law, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, National Security and Cybersecurity Law, and National Security and U.S. Foreign Relations Law.

THE DOCTOR OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE (SJD) DEGREE

The Doctor of Juridical Science degree offers a small number of highly qualified students who have already earned the Master of Laws degree the opportunity to concentrate on scholarly research and writing in a specific area of interest. The program is designed for students with an interest in legal scholarship, principally those interested in teaching, whose outstanding academic record indicates they would be able to produce a publishable dissertation.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LLM DEGREE

U.S. LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES

U.S. law school graduates must fulfill the following requirements: Completion of 24 credit hours, including the required curriculum and written work in the specialized programs; attendance for an enrollment period of a minimum of two consecutive semesters; and achievement of a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.67 at the time all requirements are met. Students may attend either full or part time.

NON-U.S. LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES Non-U.S. law school graduates must fulfill the following requirements: Completion of 24 credit hours, including the required curriculum and written work in the specialized programs; attendance for an enrollment period of a minimum of two consecutive semesters; completion of Legal Research and Writing for International LLM Students, and Fundamental Issues in U.S. Law; and achievement of a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time all requirements are met (2.67 for non-U.S. law school graduates who previously earned an LLM from a U.S. law school). A thesis is not required, although students may choose to complete a thesis in connection with the degree. Non-U.S. law school graduates generally are expected to complete all degree requirements in one academic year.

For more detailed information on LLM degree requirements and academic regulations, see the Law School Bulletin at www.law.gwu.edu/bulletin.

Mary L. Schapiro, J.D. ‘80, 29th Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, gave the keynote address at the C-LEAF conference “Navigating Dodd – Frank: Are We Avoiding Another Financial Crisis?” in October 2012.