Course Requirements
The Master of Laws program begins with an orientation that introduces graduate students to DePaul’s faculty, staff, library, and computer and research facilities.
Students who received legal training outside the United States also will participate in a special course introducing them to the Socratic teaching method, the differences between civil and common law, and other differences that may be encountered as a student at a U.S. law school.
A LLM in International Law student must complete 24 semester hours of credit with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.50. A summer term is counted as a semester for this purpose. The LLM program may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis but must be completed within four years.
Core Courses
Students must successfully complete the nine (9) credit hours of required core coursework and an additional 15 credit hours in one of the following areas of concentration:
International Aviation Law and Policy
Choose three from the list below:
International Business, Commercial & Trade Law
Choose five from the list below:
International Governance & Rule of Law
Choose five from the list below
International Human Rights Law & Policy and Criminal Justice
Choose three from the list below:
*Required for International Human Rights Law & Policy and Criminal Justice Concentration
LAW 448
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
(3 hrs) Examines the foreign law aspects of establishing American business abroad, including international investment and finance relations, and problems posed by treaty, convention and trade practice between the United States and foreign countries.
Prerequisites:
LAW 102 is a prerequisite for this class.LAW 349
INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW
(3 hrs) An introduction to the regulatory structure of global economic relations, focusing on the theoretical and substantive foundations of multilateral systems such as the IMF, GATT, NAFTA and the European common market. The course also analyzes the legal and constitutional framework for the treatment of international trade questions in the US, the European Union and Japan, and explores how this framework accommodates selected issues of global trade policy.
LAW 422
PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW
(3 hrs) Covers the general principles of international relations, including such topics as what is a state, the elements of state responsibility, jurisdiction and nationality, the Law of War, the United Nations and certain international organizations.
LAW 230
UNITED STATES FOREIGN RELATIONS LAW
(3 cr. hr.) This course will provide an overview of the extensive body of law that regulates the authority of the federal government in the areas of foreign affairs and the making of foreign policy. This body of law includes the US Constitution, congressional statutes, key executive orders, federal court decisions, and applicable rules deriving from treaties and customary international law. The course examines in detail the interaction of the Constitution with the foreign policy powers of the Congress and the President, and the ways in which doctrines of the separation of powers have shaped the allotment of legal authority in US foreign relations among the three branches of government.
LAW 375
ARBITRATION OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL DISPUTES
3 credit hours. This course is designed to teach students the necessary skills to become effective advocates in the international arbitration process. The course analyzes international arbitration and the substantive law of the international sales of goods. At the end of this course students will have the opportunity to compete for a position on teams representing the College of Law at the Vis International Competitions held each spring in Vienna or Hong Kong.
LAW 356
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
(3 hrs) Gives students the means to evaluate critically dispute resolution processes as a basis for counseling clients in the selection of and participation in a process appropriate for the resolution of a particular dispute. Students, who are divided into teams, alternate the roles of attorney and client, attempt to resolve a complex civil case utilizing three dispute resolution processes: pre-trial conference, medication and arbitration. Each team works with two associates from a financial consulting or an accounting firm who are their expert witnesses to prepare for and participate in these processes. Lawyers, professional mediators and professional arbitrators act as the neutrals in the three processes. From year to year, different substantive areas are the focus of the problem, and Intellectual Property is one of the problems.
LAW 247
PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL AVIATION LAW & POLICY
(3 credits) This course will explore the laws, regulations, and policy choices affecting the complex world of global air transport. The course will consider topics relating to aviation safety and security, capital investment, labor relations, airport ownership and operations, economic regulation. Assessment will be by a take home final examination.
LAW 524
FIELD PLACEMENT
2 or 3 credit hours. This program is designed to give upper level students practical experience in an externship with a public agency, non-profit organization, member of the judiciary, or for-profit organization, such as a private law firm or in-house counsel for a corporation. Upper level students, who have at least 28 credit hours and a GPA of 2.0, may apply to participate. Participants are accepted on a case by case basis. Externships are unpaid. No student can receive more than 3 credit hours per semester and no more than 9 credit hours toward their JD degree if 3 of those credits are earned during a summer placement. Otherwise, students are limited to 6 credits hours total. A placement for 3 credit hours is expected to complete 180 hours of work whereas 120 hours of work is expected for a 2 credit hour placement.,
LAW 250
SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR
(3 hrs) Required for JD. The student must write an in-depth paper of Law Review quality on a topic of the professor's choosing.
LAW 581
SUMMER LEGAL STUDIES PROGRAM AT BEIJING FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY, CHINA
The program focuses on the legal principles related to international transactions in the Asia-Pacific area and will provide a comprehensive overview of China's legal system.
LAW 588
STUDY ABROAD: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
(3 credit hours) Legal Dimensions of Doing Business in Latin America , introduces students to the basic framework of Latin American law and legal systems, as well as to the key principles of international business law necessary for advising clients doing business in the region. Director permission required.
LAW 589
SUMMER LEGAL STUDIES IN DUBLIN, IRELAND
This program focusses on international business and constitutional law, especially with respect to the European Union (EU).
LAW 585
SUMMER LEGAL STUDIES IN COSTA RICA
The program links basic principles of international law with an overview of the Inter-American Human Rights System and with special focus on how human rights ideas, advocacy, and activist strategies have transformed Latin American society and politics. The program facilitates student engagement with important regional human rights advocates and includes visits to key institutions such as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. 2 courses/6 credit hours total.
LAW 583
SUMMER LEGAL STUDIES IN MADRID, SPAIN
This program focuses on European human rights law and European business and commercial law. Director permission required. 3 courses/5 credit hours total.
LAW 584
SUMMER LEGAL STUDIES IN PRAGUE
The program will offer students exposure to global practice in the fields of corporate law and employment law, with a special emphasis on countries within the European Union. 2 courses/5credits
LAW 454
INTERNATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Examines the growing importance of intellectual property in the international context. Covers the scope of protection granted trademarks, copyrights and patents in foreign jurisdictions so that effective comparisions can be made between foreign and demestic law. Explores the scope and substance of international treaties. Strategies for obtaining cost effective intellectual property protection in the global economy will be examined. 3 credit hours.
Prerequisites:
LAW 271, LAW 344, LAW 447 or LAW 489 is a prerequisite for this class.LAW 608
INTERNATIONAL TAXATION
(3 crs.) An introduction to the taxation of income of U.S. citizens, residents and corporations from foreign sources and the income of foreign residents and non-residents from U.S. sources. Topics may include sources of income rules, foreign tax treaties and a survey of the tax treatment of U.S. investments made offshore.
LAW 582
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND POLICY COLLOQUIUM
(2 cr. hrs.) This course is a discussion-based exploration of legal protections afforded in international law to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and stateless persons. Public policy (domestic, regional and international will be a large part of the dicussion in class. Students are expected to come to class ready to address issues beyond the text of the treaties and laws, and to be prepared to discuss from alternate perspectives. The practice of international law requires an ability to read and understand the treaties and conventions that create it, and any policy discussion requires that a lawyer be able to find and analyze the texts, and use those t exts in the formation of a policy argument. Class meets 9 weeks.
Prerequisites:
Law 422 or LAW 482 is a prerequisite for this class.LAW 482
INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS I
(3 hrs) Surveys and analyzes the legal aspects of protecting human rights through international action. Relevant treaties, conventions and international practices are discussed.
LAW 517
ASYLUM AND REFUGEE LAW AND POLICY
(3 hrs) Examines the substantive asylum law based on the Refugee Act of 1980 and the United States response to refugees within the context of the United Nations Convention and the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.
LAW 208
HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICUM: CHIAPAS
(2 hr) A 3 week program for functional Spanish speaking students in Mexico where students develop their "legal" Spanish and learn about the inter-American and Mexican legal systems.
LAW 516
IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY
(3 hrs) Gives the students an understanding of the complexities of current US. immigration law and policy and the opportunity to develop and complete a research project on a related topic. Topics of discussion include: current legislative proposals, sources of immigration power, role of the federal courts, family immigration, grounds of exclusion, deportation, Mexican community concerns, asylum and refugee problems and citizenship.
LAW 429
LEGAL CLINIC I
(3-6 hrs) Students work in one of the clinic modules under the supervision of a clinical attorney concentrating on real life problems with real clients and organizations. Instructor's permission required.