experience - northeastern university › law › pdfs › academics › llm-brochure.pdflegal...

Experiencethe Differencethe DifferenceExperiencethe DifferenceExperience

LLM ProgramEnrolling students starting August 2012

Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research

university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern is a leader in worldwide

experiential learning, urban engagement and interdisciplinary research that

meets global and societal needs. The university’s broad mix of experience-

based education programs — our signature cooperative education program,

as well as student research, service learning and global learning — build the

connections that enable students to transform their lives. The university offers

a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to

degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools.

Welcomefrom the Dean

At Northeastern University School of Law, innovation is our tradition. From the time of its founding in 1898, the law school has committed itself to addressing the needs of students and of society. Now, building on our signature approach to experience-based legal education, we are launching a new LLM program.

In this vibrant LLM program, our esteemed faculty will guide you through the complexities of US law while providing you with the skills and confi dence you need to build a successful and fulfi lling legal career in our increasingly global economy. You will take classes with law students from throughout the United States and around the world, obtain vital hands-on practice experience in a legal placement with a US employer, and enjoy the benefi ts of a lively university campus located in the heart of Boston, one of the world’s most interesting and beautiful cities.

We welcome your interest in our program and your presence in our community.

Sincerely,

Emily A. SpielerDean and Hadley Professor of Law

LLM Courses & Curriculum PAGE 3 • Eight Great Reasons PAGE 5 • Faculty PAGE 12 • Admission PAGE 15

Northeastern University School of Law is the preeminent US law school in experienced-based legal education. Our unique approach to training lawyers brings together outstanding classroom teaching with simulation courses based on real-world legal problems, clinical programs working with real clients, and legal placements (called “co-ops”) with law fi rms, courts, corporations and governmental and non-governmental organizations in the United States and around the world. In the process, our students gain the intellectual tools, the practical experience and the confi dence they need to become outstanding legal professionals.

The School of Law’s LLM program combines some of the best elements of our more than 40 years of creating experience-based legal education programs, with courses specifi cally designed to give LLM students

the foundational knowledge and skills to become effective global lawyers. Whether you are looking to enhance your understanding of the US legal system, gain fi rst-hand practice experience working with US lawyers, increase your expertise in a particular fi eld of law, enhance your attractiveness to employers in your home country or seek the necessary credential to sit for a US bar examination, a Northeastern University School of Law LLM will help you to achieve your personal and professional goals.

We invite you to experience the Northeastern difference by enrolling in the Northeastern University School of Law LLM program.

Northeastern University School of LawA World Leader in Experience-Based Legal EducationNortheastern University School of LawA World Leader in Experience-Based Legal EducationNortheastern University School of Law

PAGE 2 www.northeastern.edu/law

Curriculum includes

• Two courses specifi cally designed to provide LLM candidates with the skills and training necessary to succeed in a US law school and a global legal practice environment:

• Intensive Introduction to American Law and Institutions

• Introduction to Legal Research and Writing

• Legal Externship/Co-op Experience (such as working in a US law fi rm, court, government agency or advocacy institution)

• Capstone Seminar designed to integrate the externship/co-op experience with classroom learning

• Opportunity for an independent research and writing project under the direction of a Northeastern faculty member

• Opportunity to enroll in courses from the fi rst-year and the upper-level law curriculum based on your interests, with guidance from the LLM faculty director

• Opportunities to specialize in substantive areas, such as corporate law, commercial law, trade law, public international law, intellectual property, human rights and many others.

Course Offerings

• Business, commercial and trade law

• Public international and comparative law

• Intellectual property law

• Law and economic development

• Human rights law

• Health and social insurance law

• Criminal law

• Labor and employment law

• Property law

• Constitutional and comparative constitutional law

• Public interest litigation/ law and social change

LLM Program

Northeastern University School of Law offers a broad choice of courses across a range of legal fi elds. As an LLM student, you will have an opportunity to take courses from the regular law school curriculum, and, as you choose, concentrate by enrolling in courses in specifi c practice areas.

Some of the areas in which you might study include:

For a complete course listing, please visit our website at www.northeastern.edu/law.

www.northeastern.edu/law

I teach in the areas of corporate

and commercial law, both of

which are rapidly evolving and

of great importance to foreign

lawyers. Likewise, a knowledge

of American commercial law is

essential for foreign lawyers engaged

in international transactions. My

experience includes helping to draft

the new Massachusetts Business

Corporations Act, several years

doing law and development work in

South Korea, and a research interest

in foreign investment in the United

States. I am excited about foreign

lawyers coming to our classrooms

because I know the exchange

of ideas and experiences will be

enriching for all of us.

DavidPhillips

Pro

fess

or

“

”

Commitment to Excellence with a History of Results

For more than 40 years, Northeastern University School of Law has been a recognized innovator and global leader in delivering an experience-based approach to legal education that law schools worldwide are now trying to emulate. We have

long known that combining excellent classroom teaching with practice-based simulation exercises and real-world practice experience builds skills, confidence and practical expertise, while reinforcing students’ doctrinal knowledge of the law. The result of this approach is the production of excellent lawyers. Our graduates are working at the highest levels of the profession in private practice; as in-house counsel for international corporations, labor unions, universities and other institutions; and as judges, in government and in non-governmental organizations around the world.

1

Flexible Program to Meet your Needs

The LLM program is small and diverse, designed to ensure that you get the legal foundation and skills you need to succeed while affording you the freedom to tailor your coursework, legal placement and written research project to meet your interests. Whether you want to pursue corporate law, human rights, international trade, comparative law

or litigation for social change, Northeastern University School of Law has the courses, faculty, library facilities, student organizations and programs to support you as you explore your legal interests and dreams.

2

Eight Great Reasons to Come to Northeastern for Your LLM

Today’s global lawyer needs

an appreciation of the cultural,

historical and institutional

underpinnings of different legal

systems. In my comparative law

class, we examine the roles served

by law in different regimes, from

legitimizing the state, supporting

a market economy and settling

disputes to giving voice to political

participation. Because laws are not

self-enforcing, we also examine

those who use and work in the

legal system, from the judges who

enforce the law and the lawyers

who employ the law to the citizens

who rely on the law.

Margaret Woo


Pro

fess

or

“

”

Hands-On Practice Experience

In the LLM program you will be required to do a part-time legal placement in a legal practice setting such as a law firm, court, government agency or advocacy organization, starting in the second half of the LLM year. In addition, through a specially

designed Capstone Seminar, you will be able to integrate your legal practice experience with the legal skills and doctrinal knowledge you gained in the classroom. No other LLM program in the US includes a legal practice placement as one of the formal course requirements for an LLM degree.

3

Outstanding Faculty with Teaching Built on Experience

Northeastern University School of Law’s faculty are graduates of some of the world’s most prestigious law schools and academic institutions. With a broad range of research interests, they are

recognized and respected leaders in their scholarly fields. But, what most distinguishes Northeastern’s faculty from those at other US law schools is the breadth and depth of practice experience that each faculty member brings to his or her teaching, scholarship and student mentoring. Nearly every member of the faculty practiced law in their field of research before coming to the legal academy, and most have a continuing commitment to participating in cutting-edge legal practice as an integral part of their academic life. This means that the Northeastern faculty bring to the classroom and to their one-on-one student advising the kind of practical wisdom that can only be gained through real-world experience and a passion for lawyering. With our faculty, law comes to life for you, both as an academic pursuit and a professional vocation.

4

Having practiced and studied in

the United States, France, the

Netherlands and the UK, I build

a truly international dimension

into my teaching at Northeastern.

In International Trade Law and

Transnational Litigation, in

particular, we combine doctrinal

perspectives and experience from

practice. I’m regularly in contact

with diplomats and WTO offi cials to

make sure my scholarly work stays

in tune with the fi eld experience

of practitioners and policymakers.

I fi nd it fascinating to see how

the various perspectives mesh to

result in more creative and original

approaches that can be useful for

different constituencies.


SoniaRollandP

rofe

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LLM Program Fully Integrated into the Law School Community

As a Northeastern LLM student, you will be fully integrated into the law school community — taking classes and interacting with JD students and other LLM candidates, participating in

student organizations and community events, and making full use of the research and other facilities the law school provides. Our goal is for you to have a real US law school experience, while providing you with the resources and support necessary to help you to succeed both in the classroom and in your legal placement.

5

Collaborative Educational Environment

In most contexts, the practice of law is not an isolated pursuit, but a collaborative enterprise designed to bring all available skills and resources to the service of protecting your

clients’ interests and achieving your clients’ aims. In this spirit, the School of Law fosters a collaborative educational environment and a supportive community atmosphere. This manifests in many ways: the extensive use of group or team educational exercises; student participation on law school committees and governance; and faculty and student participation in an annual talent show to raise funds for students to pursue unpaid public interest co-op placements, among others. The community atmosphere and collective commitment to the achievement of both individual and institutional goals is a unique aspect of the Northeastern’s culture, which makes it a very special place to study, to work and to teach.

Accessible Faculty Committed to Mentorship

The School of Law faculty prides itself on its commitment to mentorship through collaborative work with students. Many faculty members have an “open door” policy and all are regularly available to meet with students for discussions

of coursework or advice about legal careers. Many students often assist faculty on research and practice projects, and faculty regularly supervise students on independent research projects. As a student in the LLM program, you can work closely with an individual faculty supervisor on a research and writing project. You will also have the opportunity to engage other faculty members for advice and mentorship as your time and interest allows.

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www.northeastern.edu/law

In my scholarship and my classroom

teaching, I try to bring the insights

and experience gained from many

years as an international corporate

lawyer, business executive and

entrepreneur, together with

interdisciplinary analytic methods

to explore the diverse local, national,

regional and transnational legal

regimes that structure economic

activity in the global economy.

Understanding the complex

interrelationships among these

regimes, as well as the role of

multinational corporations in

shaping the content, operation

and effects of these regimes,

is crucial for business lawyers,

regulators and policymakers

navigating an increasingly

integrated global economy.

DanDanielsen

Pro

fess

or

“

”

Boston – A Beautiful City and a Sophisticated Legal Market

Northeastern is located in one of America’s most beautiful, exciting and truly livable cities. Within walking distance of the law school, you can take in the galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts, a Boston Pops concert at renowned Symphony Hall or a Red Sox baseball game at historic Fenway Park. Or, if you want to soak up local and international culture, hop on the T (Boston’s

subway) right outside of the law school’s doors for a short ride to the Italian North End or Chinatown for authentic regional cuisines. Or go shopping at Faneuil Hall or relax in Boston’s famed Public Garden. What’s more, because the city is filled with hundreds of thousands of students, there are tons of opportunities to get student discounts at great museums, theaters, concerts and events.

Boston is also one of the most sophisticated legal markets in the United States. A center for technological innovation, financial services, education and health care, Boston is home to some of the oldest and most prestigious law firms in the country. Massachusetts has a long history of producing distinguished jurists, and its courts are respected across the United States and around the world. For an introduction to the highest levels of US legal practice, you couldn’t be better located than at Northeastern University in the heart of Boston.

8

GLOBAL LAW

At Northeastern University

School of Law, we approach

legal eduction from a global

as well as an American

perspective. Our faculty

teach, conduct research

and advocate on a wide

range of global law issues.

Students can combine solid

educational and practice

experiences in US law with

a range of international

courses, including trade,

international litigation and

foreign relations law.

Roger I. AbramsRichardson Professor of LawCornell University, BA 1967Harvard University, JD 1970

Libby S. AdlerProfessor of LawUniversity of Michigan, AB 1989Northeastern University, JD 1994Harvard University, LLM 1998

Aziza AhmedAssistant Professor of LawEmory University, BA 2000Harvard University, MS 2003University of California, Berkeley, JD 2007

Daniel A. AustinAssociate Professor of LawBrigham Young University, BA 1983University of Pennsylvania, MA 1993, PhD 1994Columbia University, JD 1986

Brook K. BakerProfessor of LawHarvard University, AB 1969Northeastern University, JD 1976

Michael G. BennettAssociate Professor of LawFlorida A&M University, BS 1995Harvard University, JD 1998Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, PhD 2006

Lee P. BreckenridgeAssociate Dean for Academic AffairsYale University, BA 1973Harvard University, JD 1976

Margaret A. BurnhamProfessor of LawTougaloo College, BA 1966University of Pennsylvania, LLB 1969

Dan DanielsenAssociate Professor of LawUniversity of California, Los Angeles, BA 1984Harvard University, JD 1989

Martha F. DavisAssociate Dean for Clinical and Experiential EducationHarvard University, AB 1979Trinity College, Oxford University, MA 1981University of Chicago, JD 1983

Richard A. DaynardProfessor of LawColumbia University, AB 1964, MA 1970Harvard University, LLB 1967Massachusetts Institute of Technology, PhD 1980

Melinda F. DrewLawyering Skills Professor and Director of the Academic Success ProgramSt. Joseph’s College, BS 1974Boston University, EdM 1978Northeastern University, JD 1987

Rashmi Dyal-ChandProfessor of LawGrinnell College, BA 1991Northeastern University, JD 1994

Peter D. EnrichProfessor of LawYale University, BA 1972Harvard University, JD 1983

Daniel J. GivelberProfessor of LawHarvard University, AB 1961, LLB 1964

James R. Hackney Jr.Professor of Law and Faculty Director for ResearchUniversity of Southern California, AB 1986Yale University, JD 1989

Wallace E. HolohanClinical Professor and Director of the Prisoners’ Rights ClinicFitchburg State College, BA 1976

Lois Hilfiker KanterClinical Professor and Director of the Domestic Violence InstituteRadcliffe College, AB 1968Harvard University, JD 1976

Karl E. KlareMatthews Distinguished University ProfessorColumbia University, BA 1967Yale University, MA 1968Harvard University, JD 1975

Sarah Hooke LeeAssistant Dean and Director of Information and Research Services and Associate Professor of LawUniversity of Maine, BA 1974, MLS 1976, JD 1982

Hope LewisProfessor of LawHarvard University/Radcliffe College, AB 1983Harvard University, JD 1986

Kristin M. MadisonProfessor of Law and Health Sciences University of California, Berkeley, BA 1992Yale University, JD 2000Stanford University, PhD 2001

Susan Maze-RothsteinAssociate Academic SpecialistCornell University, BS 1981Boston College, JD 1985

Michael MeltsnerMatthews Distinguished University ProfessorOberlin College, AB 1957Yale University, JD 1960

Susan Barbieri MontgomeryExecutive Professor of Law and BusinessRhode Island School of Design, BFA 1971, MAE 1978Northeastern University, JD 1986

Mary E. O’ConnellProfessor of LawBrandeis University, AB 1970Northeastern University, JD 1975

Wendy E. ParmetMatthews Distinguished University Professor of LawCornell University, BS 1979Harvard University, JD 1982

David M. PhillipsProfessor of LawBrandeis University, AB 1964Columbia University, JD 1967

Deborah A. RamirezProfessor of LawNorthwestern University, BA 1977Harvard University, JD 1981

Sonia Elise RollandAssistant Professor of LawInstitut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (France), BA 1999Université Paris-10 (France), MA 2000University of Michigan, JD 2003Cambridge University (UK), PhD 2009

Rachel E. RosenbloomAssistant Professor of LawColumbia University, BA 1990University of California, Berkeley, MA 1994New York University, JD 2002

James V. RowanProfessor of Law and Director of the Clinical ProgramsGeorgetown University, AB 1967Duke University, JD 1970, LLM 1978

Daniel C. ShafferProfessor of LawHarvard University, AB 1959, LLB 1962

Susan SloaneDirector of Legal Research and Writing in the LSSC ProgramVassar College, AB 1969Boston University, JD 1972

Emily A. SpielerDean and Hadley Professor of LawRadcliffe College/Harvard University, AB 1969Yale University, JD 1973

Stephen N. SubrinProfessor of LawHarvard University, AB 1958, LLB 1963

Kara W. SwansonAssociate Professor of LawYale University, BS 1987University of California, Berkeley, MA 1988, JD 1992Harvard University, PhD 2009

Lucy A. WilliamsProfessor of LawBaylor University, BA 1969University of Chicago, JD 1974

Margaret Y.K. WooProfessor of LawBrown University, AB 1979New York University, JD 1983Georgetown University, LLM 1989


Faculty Just as important as scholarly excellence is the crucial role faculty members play in mentoring students. Faculty members counsel students in the choice of work placements and post-graduate employment, integrate students’ co-op/work experiences into the classroom and invite student participation in their research projects and pro bono activities.

TECHNOLOGY

The law school is

equipped with more than

50 lab computers running

Windows XP. Our larger

classrooms contain a

teaching station with

built-in technology to aid

in class presentations.

Wireless Internet is available

throughout the university for

laptop users, and there are

also network ports available

for those who do not have

a wireless card. All students

receive a personal email

account, as well as access

to Lexis and Westlaw

computer research.

D E G R E E R E q U I R E M E N T S

• Satisfactorycompletion

of33quartercredits,

includingrequired

coursesintheLLM

programandelectives.

• Successfulcompletion

ofoneco-opexternship

(afieldplacementina

lawofficeorcourtfora

minimumof20hoursper

weekfor11weeks).

• Successfulcompletion

ofaresearchandwriting

projectinasubstantive

fieldoflaw.


Admission

1. Completed application for admission and application fee. Application available on Northeastern University School of Law’s website.

2. An offi cial TOEFL score report for all applicants from countries where English is not the primary language.

3. Complete, sealed offi cial transcripts from all colleges or universities from which you have received a degree. All transcripts and other academic documents must be offi cial, including the registrar’s signature and/or the institution’s seal. If transcripts or academic records are not in English, certifi ed translations must be supplied. International applicants must submit academic transcripts by registering with the Law School

Admission Council (LSAC) in the United States. LSAC registration fee may be waived under an institutional agreement.

4. Personal Statement. This is a two- to three-page statement introducing yourself to the Admissions Committee. This document should discuss your reasons for applying to Northeastern University School of Law’s LLM program and how the degree relates to your professional and personal goals.

5. Two letters of recommendation. You must submit two letters of recommendation from law professors in support of your application. You may also submit additional reference letters from employers. Recommenders should

be well acquainted with you and able to address your skills and qualifi cations. You may send letters of recommendation to the Offi ce of Admissions in a sealed, signed envelope, or they may be mailed directly by the recommender.

6. Curriculum vitae in English.

7. Proof of fi nancial support form. All international applicants must submit a complete Northeastern University School of Law Financial Support Form, along with relevant documentation.

8. Interview. Qualifi ed applicants will be required to participate in an in-person or telephone interview.

Northeastern University School of Law seeks applicants with strong academic backgrounds who possess excellent English language skills. Both international and domestic applicants must have earned their fi rst law degree in good standing. Applicants whose fi rst law degree curriculum was not taught in English must take the Internet-based TOEFL exam and attain a minimum score of 100. Conditional admission may be offered to applicants who do not meet the minimum TOEFL score requirement, but only if the student has access to an English language preparatory program. No minimum GPA is required, as international grading systems vary considerably.

A P P L I C AT I O N R E q U I R E M E N T S

The Law Library houses more than 322,000 volumes, over 100 unique electronic

databases, and is continually adding to its collection in all areas. Of particular note

are the library’s collections in public interest law, international human rights, law

and public health, death penalty issues and progressive lawyering.

The library is rich in natural light-filled study and research areas. A wireless

network is available for research and study in addition to three computer labs,

two of classroom size. The labs also include high-speed printers, scanners and

an infrared port to facilitate printing from laptops. Four of the library’s eight

professional librarians hold both the JD and advanced degrees in library science.

The library staff is eager to assist you in your research and curricular needs.

Snell Library, the university’s main library, holds 985,000 volumes and

welcomes more than one million visitors a year.

THE LAW LIBRARY


At a GlanceHISTORY

Located: Boston, Massachusetts

Founded: 1898

LAW STUDENT PROFILE

Total number of JD students 629

Male 40%

Female 60%

People of Color 33%

Number of US states represented 30

Number of undergraduate institutions represented 241

FACULTY

Full-time total 39

Male 41%

Female 59%

People of Color 21%

INSTITUTES AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS

• CivilRightsandRestorativeJustice

• DomesticViolenceInstitute

• ProgramonHumanRights and the Global Economy

• PublicHealthAdvocacyInstitute

• HealthLawProgram(launchingfall2011)

DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAMS

• SustainableInternationalDevelopment(MA, Brandeis University)

• EnvironmentalLaw (MELP,VermontLawSchool)

• PublicHealth (MPH, Tufts University School of Medicine)

• BusinessAdministration(MBA)

• Accounting(MS/MBA)

• LawandPublicPolicy(MAandPhD)

OfficeofAdmissions400HuntingtonAvenueBoston,Massachusetts02115

Phone:(617)373-2395Fax:(617)[email protected]/law

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