The University of Pittsburgh's Master of Laws (LLM) Program provides practicing lawyers who have obtained their law degrees outside the United States with an opportunity to study common law in a United States context. The two-semester, 24-credit program is open to any lawyer with a law degree from a non-U.S. law school who can demonstrate a proficiency in English, as measured by a minimum score of 600 on the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL).

The three required courses are described below. LLM students may choose from any of the regular JD courses to satisfy the remainder of the 24-hour requirement.

5079 LEGAL ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, AND WRITING (two credits)
This course teaches LLM students to master the fundamentals of legal analysis, research, and writing, so they can research legal problems arising under United States law. They also learn to articulate the results of their research in terms of both the analytical requirements of legal reasoning in our system and in the more formal requirements of organization and citation. Students will be introduced to the structure of the U.S. court system, the evolution of legal standards through the development of precedents, the interplay of statutes with case law, and considerations of precedential authority in legal reasoning and writing. It is expected that class discussions will include elements of comparative law. Students will write a memorandum and a brief, and will participate in a simulated oral argument. Grades will be based on the students' research and writing projects.

5336 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LEGAL THEORY (three credits)
This course provides an overview of the legal system of the United States, with particular emphasis on the common law foundations of that system. Guest lectures will be presented by a variety of faculty members on specific areas of American law. Special attention will be given to the selection of paper topics that will be the focus of student writing projects in a seminar or independent study course during the spring semester. Grades will be based on student participation and a final exam.

5600 LLM COLLOQUIUM (one credit)
This course will guide students in developing and completing their writing projects in a separate seminar or independent study. Students will be assisted with selecting a topic, developing an analytical focus, and writing the paper. At the end of the term, all colloquium participants will present their papers at a special forum.

For more information about the program, contact: