What is the value of earning an LLM in Law in Government?

Whether you are looking to retool and refocus your legal career or whether you are a recent law school graduate, the Program offers flexibility, the opportunity to expand your expertise in critical areas of law, and structured access to the Washington, DC legal community.

Do you have main areas of concentration?

Yes, we do. The course offerings are organized in the following three areas:

• Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy
• Business and Financial Regulation
• Civil and Constitutional Rights

How long will the Program take to complete?

The Program is very flexible. You may take as many or as few courses as you would like. You may also change your status from part-time to full-time or vice versa. To obtain the LLM degree you will need successfully to complete 24 credits, which, on average, would be 8 courses. Therefore, full-time students typically finish in one year, and part-time students typically finish in two years. The law school offers numerous evening courses to accommodate part-time students.

Does the Program include any experiential learning?

Absolutely. We encourage students to consider externships in the Washington, DC metro area. LLM students have access to an extensive database of potential employers where other WCL students have worked.

Since this Program is specifically on law and government, can I count for credit some government courses I took at another U.S. university a few years ago?

No. The 24 required credits are to be from law courses at AU WCL. The fact that you took government courses years ago will likely be a factor in your favor in the admissions process, and will no doubt help you as you proceed with your studies.

Interesting law courses are taught each summer at the law school where I did my JD degree. Can I take and count some of those courses toward the LLM?

You certainly can take them, but you cannot count them toward the LLM degree. The 24 required credits are to be achieved though courses at AU WCL. We do not award "transfer" credits from other law schools, such as is done when students apply as transfer applicants to JD programs.

I would like to refresh my knowledge of Constitutional Law. Can I take for credit that basic course at the law school?

No. First year courses are in general off limits for the LLM Program, which is a graduate law degree program. You may take any second or third year courses, including administrative law or advanced constitutional law.

What is the limit of externship credits and independent study credits that I can count toward the LLM degree?

One can take a total of 6 non-classroom credits out of the 24 required for the degree. The limit of 6 includes both externship credits and independent study credits.

How do I go about signing up for independent study?

One should contact a professor at AU WCL who is willing to sponsor independent study in a particular area, and complete a special form obtainable from the Registrar's office at the time of registration.

How do I go about signing up for an externship?

One needs to contact the Director of the Externship Program about finding a placement through the database. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.wcl.american.edu/externship/.

What is the relationship between the LL.M in Law and Government and the LLM in International Legal Studies?

People with domestic public law interests tend to be drawn to the LLM Program on Law and Government because of the focus on U.S. administrative law and those who wish to focus on international law tend to be drawn to the International Legal Studies Program because of the focus on international law. Some students choose to pursue both LLM degrees, which one can do for a reduced course load of 40 credits total. For more information on the LLM in International Legal Studies, please visit their Web site at http://www.wcl.american.edu/ilsp/.