Program Requirements

Each student is required to complete 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 27.

International Law and Justice Courses

This 24-credit minimum must include 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Law and Justice program.

The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include the following Core Course:

    ● International Law

Any remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must be chosen from among the wide selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Law and Justice program, (courses designated 'INLJ' on the class schedule).

Additional Required Courses

For students who do not hold a degree from a U.S. law school, the remaining 12 credits of the 24-credit minimum must be fulfilled with the following courses:

    ● Introduction to the U.S. Legal System 
    ● Legal Writing and Research for LL.M. Students 
    ● Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession
    ● And at least 6 credits of "Content Outline" Courses*

Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LL.M. Students during their first semester of study in the LL.M. program.

NOTE: If a course fulfills both a Specialization Distribution Course requirement and a Content Outline requirement, the course may count toward both requirements. For example, Family Law (3 credits) counts toward the Specialization Distribution Course requirement and will also count toward the Content Outline requirement, leaving 3 credits of Content Outline Courses and 9 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses to be fulfilled.  

*Students who are admitted to the New York bar or who do not intend to sit for the New York bar may seek a waiver from the Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession and Content Outline course requirements by submitting the online waiver request form available at law.fordham.edu/llmforms. 

Students beginning their programs prior to Fall 2012 are not required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession or the Content Outline courses and are exempt from taking Legal Writing and Research for LL.M. Students if they hold a first degree in law from a law faculty in the U.S., Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, North Ireland, South Africa, or the U.K. 

Elective Courses

Any remaining credits may be chosen from among the wide variety of courses that are open to LL.M. students.