Track choices include:
IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Degree Programs
Master of Laws (LL.M.)
The IU McKinney Masters of Law (LL.M.) program has several missions:
- to give currently practicing U.S. lawyers a place to hone their skills and deepen their knowledge base on a specific subject.
- to help licensed lawyers from other countries get to know American law and prepare to take a bar exam in a U.S. jurisdictoin.
- to provide a focused curriculum for legal scholars who are interested in advancing their knowledge in a specific area of law in order to prepare for the S.J.D./Ph.D. in law and an academic career.
Finding the right track
The program is designed to deliver in-depth knowledge in a specific area, but McKinney LL.M. applicants are admitted into the LL.M. program before chosing their track choice. During orientation, newly admitted LL.M. students have the opportunity to talk with faculty, staff, and students about the different program tracks, and then to an academic advisor, who will assist in deciding which track best matches each student's career goals and interests.
As an LL.M. student, you’ll complete a 24-credit program. If you attend on a full-time basis, you can complete your degree in a single year. Foreign students, to satisfy visa regulations, must finish within eighteen months.
A domestic student typically has up to three academic years to complete the degree requirements, and can take classes on a part-time or evening basis.
During orientation, newly admitted students have the chance to sit down with academic advisors and faculty to decide which LL.M. track best aligns with their career goals and interests. For all tracks, 24 credit hours must be completed with the minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) required by the chosen LL.M. track (see below).
Required Courses
All students enrolled in the LL.M. program who have not completed a J.D. at an ABA-accredited law school must complete a total of 6 required credits during the first semester of enrollment in the program.
The required courses are:
- Contract Law for LL.M. Students (2 cr.) or Tort Law for LL.M. Students (2 cr.)
- Introduction to the American Legal System (2 cr.)
- LL.M. Legal Writing and Analysis I (1 cr.)
- Legal Research for LL.M. Students (1 cr.)
In addition, students enrolled in the designated LL.M. tracks must complete the following courses:
American Law for Foreign Lawyers (ALFL)
- ALFL students will create a personalized program of study consisting of no less than 18 credits of additional courses for a total of 24 credit hours.
Corporate & Commercial Law (CCL)
- CCL students will take foundational courses, including one course in at least two of three sub-specialties:
- One of Closely Held Business Organizations (3 cr.) or Publicly Traded Corporations (2 cr.)
- One of International Business Transactions (3 cr.) or International Trade Law (2 cr.)
- One of Secured Transactions (3 cr.), Payment Systems (3 cr.), or Advanced Sales (2 cr.)
- A minimum of two elective corporate & commercial law courses
Health Law, Policy and Bioethics (HLPB)
- Introduction to Health Law & Policy (3 cr.)
- Any three of the following courses for minimum 6 credits
- Business and Legal Aspects of Health Care Organizations
- Bioethics and Law
- Health Care Quality and Safety
- Law and Public Health
- Minimum 3 additonal credit hours in elective health law courses
Intellectual Property Law (IPL)
- Intellectual Property Law (3 cr.)
- Minimum 9 additional credit hours in elective intellectual property law courses
International & Comparative Law (ICL)
- ICL students must complete 12 of their 24 credit hours in courses designated as ICL courses. ICL students may choose from elective courses in the law school curriculum to satisfy the remaining credits for a total of 24 credit hours.
International Human Rights Law (IHRL)
- International Human Rights Law (3 cr.)
- International Law (3 cr.)
- Minimum 6 additional credit hours in elective international human rights law courses
World Trade Law (WTL)
- International Business Transactions (3 cr.)
- World Trade Organization Law (3 cr.)
- International Investment Law (3 cr.)
- International Commercial Arbitration (3 cr.)
- World Trade Law Externship (6 cr.)
Grade Point Average Requirements
Students enrolled in the LL.M. track in American Law for Foreign Lawyers (ALFL) are required to have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 ("C") or higher to receive their degree. Students enrolled in the other LL.M. tracks are required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 ("C+") or higher to receive their degree.
Other Requirements
LL.M. students who have finished all coursework but have to complete a thesis or who have earned a grade of “I” (incomplete) in any course will be enrolled in LAW-G901 for each subsequent academic session (Fall and Spring). Enrollment in LAW-G901 will cease when the student has satisfactorily completed all outstanding work. G901 is not required for summer sessions.
Ordinarily, an LL.M. student must complete all requirements for his or her LL.M. degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law within 36 months after matriculation. An extension of this time period may be granted by law school administration for good cause shown.
Last Updated: April, 2023
