Why an LL.M. in Legislation?

Jobs at the intersection of law and domestic public policy frequently place a premium on skills such as legislative and regulatory drafting, legislative and regulatory negotiation and statutory interpretation. An LL.M. in Legislation is designed to equip lawyers with these precise skills.

Graduates will have a comparative advantage, especially in Washington, DC. And a one-year, 24-credit LL.M. in Legislation will cost less, take less time to complete, and provide more relevant preparation than a comparable public policy graduate degree.

Why American University?

No other law school offers this degree. The curriculum includes Legislation and Statutory Interpretation; Legislative Drafting; Legislative Negotiation; Constitutional Powers of the Presidency; Election Law Campaign Finance; Legislative Process; Political Process; Government Oversight; and Legislative Lawyering. Through AUWCL’s new Program on Legislative Negotiation, you can also receive training in the art and science of reaching across the aisle to overcome gridlock in Congress and state legislatures.

And as a student, you will be part of the Program on Law and Government which is celebrating more than three decades preparing students for careers at the intersection of public service, law, and domestic policy. With a strong tenured, full-time, and adjunct faculty, extensive alumni network, and prime Washington, DC location, we offer a broad array of curricular and extracurricular experiences, including cutting-edge courses, symposia and panels, and career counseling, all designed to maximize the advantages of studying law at the center of the modern administrative state.

LL.M. Degree Requirements

The graduation requirements for the LL.M. in Legislation align with those of the LL.M. in Law and Government. Students must: (a) successfully complete either two papers of at least 20 pages each (“Research Track”) or one paper of at least 20 pages and one externship (“Practical Skills Track”); (b) complete 12 credits of approved courses including (i) three core courses totaling 7 credits (LAW-821A Legislation and Statutory Interpretation; LAW-849 Legislative Drafting; and LAW 795 Legislative Negotiation) and (ii) an additional 5 credits in approved legislation electives; (c) complete 12 remaining credits in Law and Government approved courses as indicated in Appendix 2; and (d) maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the LL.M. program in Legislation consists of in-residence courses that already exist as part of AUWCL’s curriculum and that will be open to J.D. and LL.M. students alike.

(a) Core Legislation Courses (7 credits)

• LAW-821A Legislation and Statutory Interpretation
• LAW-849 Legislative Drafting
• LAW?795 Legislative Negotiation

(b) Legislation Electives (5 credits)

• LAW - 795 Constitutional Powers of the Presidency
• LAW - 795 Election Law Campaign Finance
• LAW - 680 Election Law Political Process
• LAW - 795 Government Oversight, Investigation and Accountability
• LAW - 876 Legal Ethics for Government Lawyers
• LAW - 777 Legislative Practicum
• LAW - 795 Legislative Lawyering
• LAW - 821B Legislative Process
• LAW - 892 Washington Lawyer

 (c) General Electives

Any remaining credits may be chosen from among the wide variety of courses that are open to LL.M. students. Students seeking experiential learning opportunities will be encouraged and assisted to seek externships for credit with appropriate employers in fields related to legislation.