IU McKinney Law focuses on immersion
In the atrium of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law are flags representing all the countries that its students come from.
Lloyd Wilson Jr., associate dean of graduate and international programs, has been involved with the Indianapolis school’s LL.M. programs since 2004. He said the flags send an important message: when students walk into the building for the first time and see their nations’ flags, it helps them feel recognized.
“It’s a symbol of the value we place on the LL.M. students in the building,” Wilson said.
He noted that the school admitted its first students from South Sudan this year.
While a lot of international LL.M. students choose a school because of its prestige or its location, Wilson said IU McKinney Law attracts students for more practical reasons.
“We make the experience affordable and do it because we’ve been at it a lot longer than other schools,” he said. “And we value the contributions our students make in the classroom and to the student body in general.”
Wilson said that in addition to IU McKinney Law’s LL.M. program being one of the most affordable programs in the nation, the vast majority of its LL.M. students receive scholarships, thereby lowering the cost further.
“It’s not about revenue generation,” he said.
IU McKinney Law’s LL.M. program has six specialization tracks, and students are given track advisers to guide them. The most popular tracks are Corporate and Commercial Law, American Law for Foreign Attorneys, International Human Rights Law, and Intellectual Property Law. A Legal English course is offered free of charge.
LL.M. students are eligible to take all courses available to J.D. students, with LL.M. students getting priority registration.
“We think that’s a big advantage,” Wilson said.
The same faculty who teach J.D. courses teach the LL.M. courses.
Year after year, surveys done by the school show that LL.M. students want real-world experience, so IU McKinney Law places an emphasis on immersion and experiential learning.
It offers at least 100 externship opportunities in the private sector, government, courts, the public sector and Fortune 100 companies.
Popular with LL.M. students are faculty-supervised clinics in which they work with actual clients. These include the Immigration Law Clinic, the Trial Advocacy Clinic and the Wrongful Conviction Clinic.
Wilson said these experiences add value to a student’s resume.
The school’s Office of Professional Development helps students find jobs worldwide.
“The bonds [foreign students] develop here last after graduation,” Wilson said. “Some are personal, and some are professional.”
University of Arizona’s global campus
The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law offers full-time and part-time LL.M. programs, both online and on campus. Or, students can get a mix of both by beginning their studies online and then spending their final semester on campus in Tucson, Arizona.
Through its Global Campus Initiative, students living outside the United States can pursue an LL.M. in a hybrid, online/on-campus format. University of Arizona has partners throughout the world who can provide the in-person component of the program.
Scholarships are also available through the school’s global partnerships.
A Global Programs orientation is offered to all international students. It is designed to help them adapt to the law school environment and connect with other students, faculty and administrators.
International students are encouraged to join student organizations, and the law school organizes non-academic activities for foreign and U.S. students.
Amanda Bridges, assistant dean of global programs, said all students should assess their goals before choosing a program. What do you hope to accomplish? Do you want to gain more insight about a particular area of law? Do you hope to sit for the bar?
“Research, research, research,” Bridges said. “If students hope to sit for the bar, I would recommend that they look for curriculum that is tested on the bar exam. Some schools offer bar prep support, and some do not.”
University of Arizona offers a new LL.M. track called Introduction to U.S. Law, which has a very rigid curriculum, Bridges said.
“We were thoughtful and deliberate about the curriculum, based on what students would be tested on [during] the bar exam,” she said. “It gives students that foundation of core subjects that are often found in J.D. programs, and it’s certainly the area [where] we’ve seen the most interest.”
Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy and International Trade & Business Law are the other LL.M. programs open to foreign-trained attorneys.
Bridges said a team of eight instructional designers work with faculty to create the online courses.
“There is a mix of interest between in-person and online courses,” she said. “It depends on the student’s objectives. We try to do some things online to engage students, but there are limits to that, especially when students spread out through multiple time zones.”
Bridges said foreign-trained attorneys seek a well-rounded understanding of U.S. law. And employers in their home countries are interested in having someone with that knowledge on their teams.
“I would encourage prospective students to think about that,” she said. “Talk to your current employers. What would be [of] the most value?”
Tulane University excels in civil law
Every law school in the U.S. teaches bedrock American law, which is based on the English common law system. Only a few schools teach both common law and civil law, which is practiced in many European and Central American countries.
Tulane University Law School is in Louisiana, the only state in the U.S. with regions that follow the civil law system. That’s a significant advantage when it comes to having a world-class LL.M. program, said Herbert Larson Jr., executive director of Tulane’s international legal studies and graduate programs.
“Every member of the faculty is trained or familiar with civil law concepts,” he said. “We know what approaches to take to teaching common law to people with civil law backgrounds.”
Tulane’s background in civil law is no surprise, given the area’s link to France, a civil law nation. Louisiana was a French territory before it became part of the United States in 1803.
Tulane has one of the oldest LL.M. programs in the U.S., dating back to the 1930s. The school has long-standing international ties, which have grown over time, Larson said. That has helped strengthen the school’s LL.M. program, which focuses on blending cultures.
LL.M. students take classes with American J.D. students and are encouraged to take part in all school activities.
“They are a part of the student body,” Larson said.
During Tulane’s extensive four-week orientation session, students are introduced to the U.S. legal system. Get-acquainted events are held so students can meet one another.
Tulane has five LL.M. programs, but the one in Admiralty & Maritime Law stands out. Larson calls it the best such program in the nation and one of the best in the world. Many foreign students are interested in it, especially those from Central America, where the Panama Canal is located.
One other big draw? That would be New Orleans itself. The city is very European, which helps attract students from other countries.
“Students instantly feel at home,” Larson said.
University of Cincinnati uses scholarships to keep costs affordable
University of Cincinnati College of Law established its U.S. Legal System LL.M. program about a decade ago. The current tuition is less than $30,000, which is less than it was at the outset.
Nora Burke Wagner, assistant dean for international programs, said all students who request a scholarship receive one to help offset the cost of tuition.
“Students are definitely looking for value,” Wagner said. “Their No. 1 concern is: ‘How can I pay for this?’”
Wagner said the Ohio school tries to keep students’ costs down in other ways as well. She works with nearby landlords who rent to international students, for instance.
“We do whatever we can to make our students comfortable,” she said. “We think of them as part of our family.”
The school limits the LL.M. program to about 25 students, Wagner said, which allows time for personal attention.
Wagner said foreign students participate in student organizations, including the very active International Law Society. They also attend networking and career development events, work on journals and gain practical experience through participation in Cincinnati Law’s many clinics, institutes and centers. They work alongside U.S. students, who enjoy learning from foreign students about the cultures and legal systems of other countries.
“Students also study and go on social outings with U.S. students, benefiting from the partnership of our Welcome Ambassadors, and interact with U.S. students campus-wide through our university’s international student organization,” Wagner said.
Founded in 1833, Cincinnati Law is the fourth oldest law school in the nation.
“Our efforts to help our students make a smooth transition to our U.S. law school begin with the application process and end at graduation — though our relationship continues,” Wagner said. “We respond quickly to inquiries, provide information on the visa process and housing, and facilitate communications.”
She said everyone involved with the school — from students and faculty to members of the local law community — values the benefits of having international students.
