The key to a satisfying and enriching LL.M. experience is student choice. Columbia Law School offers a general LL.M. degree, giving students the freedom to select their courses from an incredibly vast curriculum. Beginning with a robust three-week long Orientation program, which includes our required Introduction to American Law and LL.M. Legal Research and Writing courses for foreign-trained lawyers, our seasoned advisers in the Office of Graduate Legal Studies help you design an individual program of study to meet your academic and professional goals—whether to broaden your general preparation; to specialize in a particular field; or to deepen your knowledge of American, international, or other legal systems. From working on a law journal or with faculty on research, to participating in pro bono projects or student organizations—the possibilities for learning, networking, and growing professionally at Columbia Law School are extraordinary. We offer unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning through our clinics, externships, and skills-based courses, such as the ever-popular Deals and Negotiation workshops. In addition, our centers and programs enrich our students’ education through daily lectures, roundtable discussions, and conferences, and also serve as catalysts for scholarly work and student involvement on issues and activities in the law. As a Columbia LL.M. student, you become part of one of the world’s preeminent universities, and are invited to take courses in other schools—such as Columbia Business School and the School of International and Public Affairs—making the LL.M. a truly interdisciplinary degree.

A Columbia Law School education prepares students for leadership roles—in academia, the judiciary, business and corporate practice, public service, human rights advocacy, and other legal and non-legal fields.