765 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Phone: 617.353.5323 | Fax: 617.358.2720
E-mail: bullm@bu.edu |
Website: www.bu.edu/law
Introduction
Boston University School of Law, founded in 1872, is a top-tier law school with a dynamic community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni united in the pursuit of excellence. The core of the BU Law experience is superior teaching and a supportive, engaging learning environment in which teachers guide, inspire, and challenge their students. BU Law professors are nationally acclaimed for their legal skills, scholarship, and activities in the public and private sectors. But what uniquely defines them is their devotion to students—academically, professionally, and individually.
The superior value of a BU Law degree is recognized worldwide. Our LLM graduates are among the most highly recruited by global firms and corporations. Graduates live or practice in over 65 countries outside America, and Boston University Alumni Clubs span the globe with international associations worldwide.
BU Law thrives as part of Boston University—a major, internationally recognized institution of higher education and research with more than 33,000 students from 50 states and 134 countries. Its location in Boston, Massachusetts—America's academic capital—presents students with one of the world's greatest settings for advanced studies. Boston's unique combination of educational, cultural, financial, and high-tech scientific activity attracts thousands of students each year from all over the world. LLM students are at the center of it all, with convenient access to the city's myriad offerings—federal and state courts, the Massachusetts legislature, nongovernmental organizations, corporations, law firms of all sizes, cultural and historical sites, major sporting events, and other civic and social opportunities.
Nestled between the Charles River and the bustling Back Bay district, BU offers a unique combination of urban excitement and peaceful relaxation. Within steps of BU Law's door lies the famed Charles River Esplanade—three miles of riverside paths and parks—where students can picnic, jog, rollerblade, cycle, or even rent a sailboat between classes.
Law School Enrollment
- Total law school enrollment: 994
- JD enrollment: 741
- Full-time LLM enrollment: 158
- Part-time LLM enrollment: 74
- Exchange student and nondegree enrollment: 21
Physical Facilities
Libraries: BU Law's Pappas Law Library, with over 80,000 print volumes and thousands of electronic resources, is one of the top law libraries in America. It contains one of the largest law school research collections in the United States. Students may also use other Boston University libraries, including the Mugar Memorial Library, adjacent to BU Law.- Sports and Entertainment: BU's world-class, state-of-the-art Fitness and Recreation Center and the adjacent Agganis Arena, one of the top music and entertainment venues in New England, provide students with unrivaled opportunities to indulge in leisure pursuits.
- Technology: BU Law houses four computer labs with Windows XP-based computers. A wireless network is available in the law school and in many coffee shops and gathering places on campus with service to the Internet, e-mail, LexisNexis, Westlaw, and a wide variety of web-based research resources. LLM students also have free access to a wide variety of computing resources through Boston University's Office of Information Services and Technology.
Housing
LLM students live off campus, usually within a short walk or a convenient subway ride from school. BU Law offers housing resources to assist all incoming LLM students in finding suitable accommodations. The university owns and manages several rental properties for students in various neighborhoods, including a new graduate student apartment building on Commonwealth Avenue. Updated listings of apartments and sublets in the greater Boston area are available free of charge to all Boston University students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Once admitted, LLM students receive additional housing resources and information to help them in their housing search.
LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization
Boston University School of Law offers five distinct Master of Laws programs.
LLM in American Law Program
This full-time program integrates foreign lawyers into BU Law's JD classroom. It is ideally suited for students who seek an "immersion" experience in common law studies, the flexibility to select from the school's 190+ course offerings, and first-hand exposure to one of America's top teaching faculty. The program mainly attracts students who seek preparation as global, cross-border lawyers, skilled to handle transactions in both the common and civil law systems. Students can pursue optional concentrations in International Business Practice, Intellectual Property, and Taxation.
- Application available: October 1, 2013
- Application deadline: April 15, 2014 (and on a space-available basis thereafter)
- Application fee: $80
- Letters of recommendation: Two required, including one from a law professor
- Personal statement of interest and CV required
- Candidates must have first degree in law, or its equivalent, from outside the US
- A certified English translation must accompany foreign transcripts
- LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service strongly recommended
- Minimum TOEFL: 600/250/100; minimum IELTS: 7.0; minimum ILEC (International Legal English Certificate): B2
- Approximately 60–80 students participate each year
- Tuition: Approximately $45,000 per year
- Scholarships: All applicants are automatically considered for merit-based awards with no additional forms or submissions required.
For additional information, please visit The LLM American Law Program website, or contact:
Assistant Dean John Riccardi
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Suite 1534
Boston, MA 02215
USA
Phone: 617.353.5323
Fax: 617.358.2720
E-mail: gradint@bu.edu
LLM in Banking and Financial Law
Established in 1984, the Graduate Program in Banking and Financial Law was the first—and remains the only—banking and financial services LLM program in the United States with its own faculty and a curriculum of specialized courses designed exclusively for graduate study. The faculty primarily consists of highly experienced practitioners from the private and public financial services sector who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with students in this dynamic, rapidly changing field. Domestic and international students are welcome and may attend the program on a full- or part-time basis. (Some international students may be required to enroll on a full-time basis.)
- Application available:
- Spring 2014 application: September 1, 2013
- Fall 2014 application: October 1, 2013
- Application deadline:
- Spring 2014: Domestic applicants, November 30, 2013; international applicants, October 31, 2013
- Fall 2014: Domestic applicants, June 30, 2014; international applicants, April 15, 2014 (and on a space-available basis thereafter)
- Application fee: $80
- Letters of recommendation: Two required, including one from a law professor
- Personal statement of interest and CV required
- A certified English translation must accompany foreign transcripts
- LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service strongly recommended
- Minimum TOEFL: 600/250/100; minimum IELTS: 7.0; minimum ILEC (International Legal English Certificate): B2
- Domestic applicants must hold a JD from an ABA-approved law school; international candidates must have first degree in law, or its equivalent, from a school outside of the United States
- Approximately 50 full-time and 3–5 part-time students participate each year
- Tuition: Full-time students, approximately $45,000 per year; part-time students, approximately $4,000 per course
- Scholarships: All applicants are automatically considered for merit-based awards with no additional forms or submissions required.
For additional information, please visit the Banking and Financial Law website, or contact:
Director James E. Scott
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Suite 1524
Boston, MA 02215
USA
Phone: 617.353.3023
Fax: 617.353.2444
E-mail: banklaw@bu.edu
LLM in Intellectual Property Law Program
BU Law offers a select group of lawyers the opportunity to pursue an advanced degree in one of the most dynamic fields of legal practice today—intellectual property. The program's extremely limited size ensures that each LLM student receives the undivided attention of the program director and the full-time associate director for professional development. All students must attend the program on a full-time basis.
- Application available: October 1, 2013
- Application deadline: April 15, 2014 (and on a space-available basis thereafter)
- Application fee: $80
- Letters of recommendation: Two required, including one from a law professor
- Personal statement of interest and CV required
- A certified English translation must accompany foreign transcripts
- Domestic applicants must hold a JD from an ABA-approved law school; international candidates must have first degree in law, or its equivalent, from a school outside of the United States
- LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service strongly recommended
- Minimum TOEFL: 600/250/100; minimum IELTS: 7.0; minimum ILEC (International Legal English Certificate): B2
- Approximately 1–3 students participate each year
- Tuition: Approximately $45,000 per year
- Scholarships: All applicants are automatically considered for merit-based awards with no additional forms or submissions required.
For additional information, please visit the LLM in Intellectual Property Law Program website, or contact:
Assistant Dean John Riccardi
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Suite 1534
Boston, MA 02215
USA
Phone: 617.353.5323
Fax: 617.358.2720
E-mail: ipllm@bu.edu
LLM in Taxation
The Graduate Tax Program, established in 1959, was one of the first of its kind in the country, and it continues to be one of the best, offering a comprehensive curriculum distinguished for its breadth and depth in specialized classes taught by highly experienced practitioners. BU Law's top reputation in the field reflects the program's long-standing tradition of preparing students to excel as tax practitioners, in the US and abroad. Students may attend the program either on a part-time or full-time basis on campus, or complete the program on a part-time basis online.
- Application available:
- Spring 2014 application: September 1, 2013
- Summer 2014 application (online option only): December 1, 2013
- Fall 2014 application: October 1, 2013
- Application deadline:
- Spring 2014: Domestic residential applicants, November 30, 2013; international residential applicants, October 31, 2013; online option applicants, November 15, 2013
- Summer 2014 (online only): April 1, 2014
- Fall 2014: Domestic residential applicants, July 31, 2014; international residential applicants, April 15, 2014 (and on a space-available basis thereafter); online option applicants, July 15, 2014
- Application fee: $80
- Letters of recommendation: Two required, including one from a law professor
- Personal statement of interest and CV required
- A certified English translation must accompany foreign transcripts
- Minimum TOEFL: 600/250/100; minimum IELTS: 7.0; minimum ILEC (International Legal English Certificate): B2
- LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service strongly recommended
- Domestic applicants must hold a JD from an ABA-approved law school; international candidates must have first degree in law, or its equivalent, from a school outside of the United States
- Approximately 35–45 students participate in the residential program option each year; 30–50 students participate in the online option each year
- Tuition: Full-time students, approximately $45,000 per year; part-time students, approximately $4,000 per course; online students, approximately $1,900 per credit
- Scholarships:
- All applicants to the residential program option are automatically considered for merit-based awards with no additional forms or submissions required.
- Applicants to the residential program option may also apply for the Frederic G. Corneel Scholarship.
- Scholarship awards for applicants to the online option are not available at this time.
For additional information, please visit The Graduate Tax Program website, or contact:
Associate Director Anne Benson
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Suite 1670
Boston, MA 02215
USA
Phone: 617.353.3105
Fax: 617.353.2368
E-mail: gradtax@bu.edu
Executive LLM in International Business Law
BU Law's Executive LLM in International Business Law program presents both domestic and international lawyers with the unique opportunity to master the core topics of international business practice in a flexible, "executive" format. Taught by members of one of America's top teaching faculty, the program blends world-class live instruction with cutting-edge Internet-mediated learning in a way that meets the needs of today's most qualified LLM candidates—busy global practitioners whose professional demands make it impossible to complete a traditional nine-month LLM residency in Boston. Offered in two attractive locations, Boston, Massachusetts, and Budapest, Hungary, the program consists of three, two-week residential sessions that can be completed in one six-week summer session, or can be distributed over one year or several years. Students have the option to pursue online classes in international taxation and international environmental and energy law—and to obtain a concentration in these fields—thus giving them the flexibility to earn the degree by attending two residencies, combined with online studies from their home countries.
- Application available: Rolling admissions based on modules
- Application deadline: Deadlines altered based on modules
- Application fee: $80
- Letters of recommendation: Three required
- Personal statement of interest and CV required
- A certified English translation must accompany foreign transcripts
- Minimum TOEFL: 600/250/100; minimum IELTS: 7.0; minimum ILEC (International Legal English Certificate): B2
- JD transcripts required for applicants with US law degree
- LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service strongly preferred
- Tuition: Approximately $6,800 per course; $2,300 per colloquium; and $40 registration fee for each session
For additional information, please visit the Executive LLM in International Business Law website, or contact:
Director Ian C. Pilarczyk
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Suite 1440
Boston, MA 02215
USA
Phone: 617.358.6162
Fax: 617.358.6264
E-mail: execllm@bu.edu
Legal English
- Boston Program: For international LLM students seeking preparation for their upcoming graduate studies in America, Boston University's Center for English Language and Orientation Programs (CELOP) offers a six-week pre-LLM Summer Program in Legal English designed to provide students with the language and academic skills needed to succeed in a demanding LLM program. Through small-class instruction, students build their legal English vocabularies, strengthen their writing skills, receive exposure to fundamental doctrine of the American legal system, and become acquainted with the materials, methodologies, and culture of American law school instruction. The program, which runs from early July to late August, is open to all foreign lawyers who have been admitted into an LLM program at a US law school in the upcoming fall semester.
- London Program: BU Law's renowned Summer Legal Institute in London offers "Legal English and Global Business Transactions"—a three-week program that provides practical training in the contractual aspects of international business transactions and in the use of legal English, both in written and oral communications. Participants will receive intensive training in communicating effectively in English; structuring and drafting international business agreements in English; negotiating the key contract provisions that impact the outcome of cross-border transactions; and resolving and enforcing international business disputes through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
- Extended LLM Option: Prospective students with impressive qualifications who need extended, intensive English language training before commencing full-time law studies are encouraged to consider BU Law’s three-semester “Extended LLM” option. The first semester of this enrollment option includes intensive English language courses at CELOP, as well as introductory courses at BU Law. Students then complete the LLM degree requirements over the following two semesters.
Student Services and Organizations
We encourage LLM students to enrich their experiences by participating in extracurricular activities, student organizations, community service, and other pursuits outside the classroom that will contribute to their intellectual, professional, and personal growth. BU Law organizes a wealth of activities to help students connect with their fellow LLM and JD classmates. As an LLM student, you may join any of the 30+ student organizations, ranging from the International Law Society to the Communication, Entertainment, and Sports Law Association. You can also volunteer to participate in BU Law's Pro Bono program, which allows you to use your legal skills in a public interest setting and receive recognition on your transcript for such work. LLM students also participate in student government: Each year, one LLM student is elected to a representative position in the Student Government Association.
Career Services
BU Law has an unwavering commitment to the career success of its LLM students. We offer a variety of programs for LLM students, including workshops on job searches, professional etiquette, résumé and cover letter drafting, networking, and interviewing skills. We also organize career-related panels and speakers from specialized areas of practice. The Office of Graduate and International Programs (OGIP) includes a full-time associate director for professional development who works exclusively with LLM students. Students receive individualized counseling to help them plan job searches and market themselves to the legal community.
LLM students and alumni have access to BU Law's online job posting site, which includes openings for internships and permanent positions. Foreign-trained LLM students are invited to participate in the annual International Student Interview Program (ISIP), which draws over 200 global employers to New York City each year. Graduate Tax Program students participate in our annual Tax Attorney Recruiting Event (TARE)—held in Washington, DC—a job fair targeted at recruiting for positions in law firms, government agencies, corporate legal departments, and all "Big 4″ accounting firms.
LLM students also have access to BU Law's comprehensive career resources library and receive materials specifically tailored to their unique job search needs. After graduation, individual career advising remains available to support your lifelong career development.
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