In the program, students engage in a comparative study of the U.S. with the country in which they earned their law degree and those of their classmates and colleagues. With only 2 required courses in this LL.M., you can choose from courses from our J.D. and LL.M. extensive course catalogs to customize your LL.M. journey to create your course of study.
Credit Requirements
Students must complete 24 credits with a minimum grade point average of 2.30/4.00 in order to receive the degree, and many students pursue different paths in reaching this goal.
Most students will take an additional two courses in the fall semester and four courses in the spring semester. Students must have 24 credits to graduate, and the exact number of courses taken depends on how many credits are associated with each course. Students studying on less than a full time basis should begin with the two required courses in the fall semester.
"Thanks to my LL.M at UM I had the opportunity to meet incredible people from all around the world. It opened the door to a great professional network."
Rita Chertorivski, LL.M. '13
Mexican University, Ibero-American University
Senior Vice President Business Legal Affairs - Global Entertainment, TelevisaUnivision
Required Courses
These courses are intended to give a foundation in American common law doctrine as well as the approach to written analysis in this system.
- Introduction to U.S. Law (this requirement may also be satisfied with Constitutional Law)
- Legal Communication & Research
U.S. Law Courses
Some students are particularly interested in taking courses that will introduce them to the American Legal System. One approach would be to register for some of the first year required courses J.D. student take including: Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Property Law, Constitutional Law I, and Criminal Procedure.
In addition, many of our foreign students take upper-level courses such as Business Associations and those that relate to individual, long-term professional interests.
New York Bar Subjects
In addition, this LL.M. allows foreign trained attorneys to sit for the Bar Exam in several states, the most common being New York. With the New York Bar, students can practice Federal Law in any of the 50 states and serve as Corporate Counsel within a corporation. Foreign law graduates wishing to pursue the NY Bar exam upon completion of the LL.M. , should consult the New York State Board of Law Examiners website.
For LL.M. New York Bar, required coursework at Miami Law would include:
- Professional Responsibility;
- Research;
- Introduction to U.S. Law and
- A minimum of six hours in other course subjects tested on the New York State Bar Examination. Courses include: Business Associations, Civil Procedure I, Civil Procedure II, Conflict of Laws, U.S. Constitutional Law I, Constitutional Law II, Contracts, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Procedure Adjudication, Substantive Criminal Law, Evidence, Family Law, Property, Real Estate Transactions Workshop, Torts, Trusts & Estates, Commercial Law I
Other International and Comparative Law Courses
Many students are most interested in our varied international and comparative law courses. Listed below are popular choices from past years, as well as some new course offerings. For a full listing of upcoming courses, visit the law school course catalogue on CourseLink.
“The LL.M. was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had. The opportunity to interact with a diverse student body, as well as an experienced and accessible faculty, broadened my perspective on quite a few subjects.”