Comparative Law
For over 25 years, the University of San Diego School of Law has afforded foreign educated attorneys the opportunity to study law in one of the most beautiful cities in the United States, side by side with J.D. and LL.M. students from the U.S. and around the world. This immersion into a contemporary and dynamic J.D. curriculum prepares LL.M. in Comparative Law candidates to deal effectively with U.S. attorneys on questions of common interest. Attorneys returning to practice in their home countries, as well as those serving foreign governments and international organizations, have the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the law and policy in a wide array of subjects. The program also offers foreign law professors a broader view of legal subjects that equips them to deal with comparative aspects of their subjects.
In keeping with the regulations of the American Bar Association, the LL.M. in Comparative Law is not intended to prepare foreign attorneys to sit for a bar exam in the United States. However, many graduates of the LL.M. in Comparative Law Program do go on to sit for bar exams in the U.S. with successful results. Please visit www.calbar.ca.gov for information about the State Bar of California. Please visit www.nysba.org for information about the New York State Bar Association.
Immigration regulations permit recent LL.M. in Comparative Law graduates to seek “optional practical training” for a limited period of time following completion of their degree requirements. “Optional practical training” allows graduates to gain additional practical experience by finding a placement with a U.S. law firm or agency.
Faculty
The faculty at the University of San Diego School of Law is ranked solidly among the top law schools in the United States and among the very top law schools in the areas of Business Law, Taxation, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Law and Economics, and Law and Philosophy. The faculty is further distinguished by a remarkable commitment to the academic success of the Comparative Law students. Faculty members recognize the breadth of knowledge and diversity of experience that foreign educated attorneys bring to the classroom and truly value the contributions Comparative Law candidates make to the class. All faculty members make themselves available to students for discussions outside the classroom.
Pardee Legal Research Center
The University of San Diego Legal Research Center (LRC) has extensive collections covering all areas of international law, including specialized collections in comparative and foreign law jurisdictions. We offer access to benchmark analytic and primary legal materials for key common law jurisdictions as well as select civil law jurisdictions such as France, Germany and Mexico. These traditional sources of foreign and international legal information, along with the instant availability of free and commercial digital content via our wireless (WiFi) environment, provide our users with the tools necessary to pursue wide ranging intellectual inquiry.
Our collections are especially strong in areas of interdependent humanitarian study such as the law of international human rights, international environmental law, and peace and justice studies—areas in which publishing volume continues to dramatically increase. For more information on our collection and resources, please visit our Foreign/International Law Collection Outline (PDF).
Summary of Degree Requirements
LL.M. in Comparative Law candidates must successfully complete 25 credits of appropriate coursework, including a two credit writing requirement.
Courses available to Comparative Law candidates come from the upper-division J.D. curriculum, allowing candidates maximum flexibility in creating a program of study suited to personal academic and professional goals.
Full details of the degree requirements may be found in the School of Law Academic Rules in the Student Handbook.
Required Courses
Introduction to U.S. Law: This course provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. legal system and comparatively introduces approaches to law, lawyering and legal processes.
Lawyering Skills for Comparative Law Students: Students learn the research and writing techniques used by practicing U.S. attorneys. Each student is trained on both the Lexis and Westlaw computer assisted legal research systems.
Degree Clock
Subject to visa restrictions, candidates may enroll on a full-time or part-time basis and have up to three years from the date of enrollment to complete degree requirements.
Core Curriculum Courses
LL.M. in Comparative Law candidates select their courses from a wide array of upper-division courses, allowing each candidate to design a program that best suits their academic interests and professional goals.
See current course offerings.
Introduction to U.S. Legal Education Workshop
The University of San Diego School of Law recognizes that studying law in the United States presents unique challenges for foreign educated attorneys. To aid the transition, the School of Law offers “Introduction to U.S. Legal Education Workshop” as part of the orientation process for all entering LL.M. in Comparative Law candidates. The workshop features courses designed to provide foreign educated attorneys with the foundational skills needed to begin their study of law in the United States. Workshop courses include
- “Lawyering Skills: Sources of Law, Federal and State Court Structure and Stare Decicis”
- “Anatomy of a Case: How to Read, Analyze and Brief a Case”
- “Demystifying the Socratic Method”
Each course is taught in an interactive and supportive style by a School of Law professor.
Graduate Law Programs Office
The staff of the Graduate Law Programs Office is committed to making the LL.M. in Comparative Law candidate’s experience a productive and enjoyable one. Staff members are available to assist with the candidate’s transition to living in San Diego—from coordinating visa documents to meeting housing and transportation needs. In addition, an academic advisor works closely with each candidate throughout their degree program, assisting with degree requirements, course selection and academic support.
Comparative Law Forum
The Comparative Law Forum is a social and governing body to which all Comparative Law students belong. Each year, members elect officers to represent them at the weekly Student Bar Association meetings.
The Comparative Law Forum hosts social and academic events throughout the year, including guest lecturers from the local legal community, international dinners, picnics and volleyball games on the beach, and outings to professional sporting events.
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