Executive LL.M. Program and Curriculum

Academics
Executive LL.M. Program and Curriculum

Join a program as agile and ambitious as you are.

At Columbia Law School, what we teach is informed by what’s happening in the world. The forces changing global business require expert legal professionals as innovative as the products and services offered by their clients.

Earn your LL.M. degree in six months through our intensive program designed to minimize time away from home and work.

Be part of an intimate cohort of accomplished lawyers with sophisticated international practice experience.

Develop the skills to be a leader in the evolving field of global business law through our transformative Leadership and Management series.

Learn from the world’s top corporate law faculty in small classes, gain an expert foundation in U.S. business law, and acquire the professional skills you need to stay nimble and innovative.

Join an exclusive network of the world’s brightest lawyers, and benefit from the resources and support of your fellow alumni throughout your career.

Learn more about the program below.

Program Design
One Degree, Two Pathways
Curriculum
Degree Requirements

The Executive LL.M. has both online and in-residence components, requiring a total of 24 credits. Dates below are tentative for 2024.

Online Spring Semester: March 11 - May 9

Introduction to American Law and/or Law Elective Course
- Introduction to American Law is required for students without a law degree from the U.S. (JD or LL.M.)
- Law Elective Course is required with a law degree from the U.S. (JD or LL.M.) and optional for those without
- Classes generally meet on Zoom 2-3 times each week for 2-3 hours in the morning New York Time

The online classes are dynamic, specially designed hybrid taught courses, meaning the instruction and coursework include both live class meetings as well as independent work. During each course, you will engage with your professor during live classes, watch pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures, participate in discussion boards with your classmates, and complete readings and assignments independently.

On-Campus Summer Residency: May 20 – August 9

Take five (5) on campus classes: 4 electives and the required Colloquium
Typically, courses are taught in blocks with each block lasting six weeks
An example of elective classes include International Business Transactions, Corporate Finance, ESG, Social Impact Investing, and Corporate Responsibility, and Business Organizations

A key component of the Executive LL.M. is the intensive, 12-week Summer Residency. The Global Business Law Colloquium, a course offered only in connection with the Executive LL.M., runs over the course of the Residency and focuses on current issues in business which are essential for lawyers practicing today.

In addition to classes, curated events are organized during the Residency for the Executive LL.M. students. Past events have included a Broadway show and Yankees game.

Online Fall Semester: August 16 – October 2

IP in the Digital Age
Professional Responsibility in Global Business
Classes generally meet on Zoom 2-3 times each week for 2-3 hours in the morning New York Time

The Executive LL.M. degree is awarded in October.

Students are invited to return for the Columbia University graduation ceremony the following May.

Columbia Law School offers both a full academic year LL.M. and an Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law. Trying to decide which is right for you? Consult the table below for key information on both programs.

	Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law	LL.M. Program (full academic year)
Degree Earned	Master of Laws	Master of Laws
Total Credits	24 credits	24 credits
Program Length	Six months (three months online, three months on campus)	10 months on campus
Program Calendar	Take one or two online courses in March and April, followed by a 12-week on-campus Summer Residency (May through August). Complete your study with two additional online courses in September.	Complete the entire program in residence on campus (August through May).
Weekly Schedule	Online courses: Blend of live lectures and self-directed work. Summer Residency: Two five-week blocks, each followed by one week of study and assessment. In each block, students attend classes Monday through Friday.	Full-time enrollment over two semesters, with fall term start; follows the August-May academic calendar and schedule.
Academic Focus	The program’s courses, programming, and training all reflect a focus on global business law.	General program of study. You can take a wide range of courses in both the private and public spheres, with the option to focus on a particular area of law.
Required Courses	Introduction to American Law (3 credits) OR Law Elective Course for U.S. Law Degree Holders (3 credits) Colloquium (4 credits)	Introduction to American Law (2 credits) Legal Research and Writing (2 credits) You must also complete one LL.M. Writing Project (a substantial research paper). For details, see the LL.M. Degree Requirements and Rules.
Electives	17 credits Choose from a limited number of elective courses, such as Corporate Finance and Valuation, Negotiations, and Mergers and Acquisitions. The curriculum and structure do not allow for courses to be taken outside of the Law School.	20 credits Choose from hundreds of courses, from corporate to human rights and public international law, as well as many experiential offerings, including externships, clinics, workshops, and simulation labs. You can also take classes in other graduate divisions of the University.
Career Services	Dedicated Career Management Team Access to Columbia Law School job database Residency events that connect you to CLS alumni Several career-focused events throughout the Summer Residency	Regular access to career counselors and programs through the Office of Career Services, Social Justice Initiatives, and Careers in Law Teaching Program Participation in LL.M. Interview Program Access to Columbia Law School job database
Bar Exam Eligibility	The Executive LL.M. does not qualify graduates to sit for the NY State Bar Exam, but students may be eligible to take other state bar exams.	Successful graduates of the LL.M. Program may be eligible to take the NY State Bar Exam, as well as other state bar exams.
Entering Class Size	Approximately 25-40 students	Approximately 300 students
Employment During Program	You may maintain full-time employment during the online portions of the program. The Summer Residency requires full-time attendance.	You may not maintain full-time employment during the program, but may work part-time on campus.
Student Life	Take classes only with your cohort. Participate in social events, receptions, and career workshops tailored specifically for the Executive LL.M. cohort during the Summer Residency period.	Take classes with both LL.M. and J.D. students. Participate in journals and student organizations, clinics, externships, supervised research, pro bono projects, and other experiential learning opportunities. You can also serve as research assistants to faculty and take advantage of programs, speakers, and other events on campus throughout the academic year.
Housing and Meals	Course materials and breakfast and lunch during Summer Residency classes are provided. There are a number of housing options for students during the summer residency, including campus housing sublets, off-campus sublets, and short-term corporate rentals.	On-campus housing is available for LL.M. students in apartment shares, studios, one-bedroom apartments, and dormitory-style housing. Housing, meals, and most course materials are not included in the tuition and fees.
Professional Qualifications/ Admissions Criteria	Designed for mid-career lawyers with approximately five years of professional experience.	Designed for students with at least one year of professional experience after earning their first law degree.
TOEFL Score Requirement	TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition: 105 overall score, with a minimum of 26 on Reading and Listening and a minimum of 24 on the Speaking and Writing sections. Or minimum scores on the TOEFL ITP Plus for China: 627 overall score, with a minimum of 61 on each section.	TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition: 105 overall score, with a minimum of 26 on Reading and Listening and a minimum of 24 on the Speaking and Writing sections. Or minimum scores on the TOEFL ITP Plus for China: 627 overall score, with a minimum of 61 on each section.
Tuition and Financial Aid* *Tuition only, additional mandatory fees apply	$80,792 Financial assistance is available from Columbia Law School. There may also be external sources of funding available. For more information, see Tuition and Fees.	$78,444 Financial assistance is available in the form of scholarships and institutional loans. For details, see Fellowships and Scholarships.
Living Costs* *Individual budgets may vary	$10,300	$30,842

The Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law provides students with a strong foundation in U.S. business law, which plays a key role in cross-border transactions, as well as the opportunity to study specialized aspects of international business transactions that closely relate to business law practice.

The program’s required courses explore the fundamentals of U.S. law with a focus on those subjects frequently encountered in business practice.

The following courses are required as part of the Executive LL.M.*:

Introduction to American Law (Professors David Schizer, Kellen Funk, Christina Ponsa-Kraus)
Required for students without a U.S. degree in law (JD or LL.M.)
Law Elective Course: 2023: Regulation of the Digital Economy (Professor Anu Bradford)
Colloquium in Global Business Law (Professor David Schizer)

*Courses and professors are subject to change

The elective courses allow students to tailor their studies to a particular aspect of international business law.

Representative Sample of Elective Courses:

Business Organizations
Corporate Finance and Valuation
Deals: How Lawyers Add Value
M&A Practice
International Commercial Arbitration
Negotiation and Mediation for Law Practice Workshop
ESG, Social Impact Investing, and Corporate Responsibility
International Business Transactions

Students will make their 4 elective choices at the start of the program.

The Colloquium in Global Business Law serves as an integrative experience, illuminating the domestic and international issues studied in the doctrinal courses through the perspectives of practicing attorneys and other business leaders who specialize in international transactions. This course aims to bridge theory and practice and give students a concrete understanding of practical applications of the legal principles.

The module topics are responsive to trends and student interests and have included Financial Statement Analysis, Law of Startups, and Representing Future Industries.

In additional to the modules, speakers focusing on Leadership & Management are incorporated throughout the Summer Residency. The speakers are leaders and experts in their fields for intimate discussions and direct dialogue. Some of our past conversations have been with the former President of the United States Soccer Federation, the senior vice president for legal affairs at Louis Vuitton, and the General Counsel of Airbnb.

To earn the Executive LL.M. degree in Global Business Law, you must:

Earn 24 points of academic credit. Academic point credit is earned through satisfactory completion of a course with a grade of C or better.

Satisfactorily complete the following required courses:

Introduction to American Law (online; 3 credits) or Law Elective Course
Colloquium in Global Business Law (4 credits)

You must successfully complete Introduction to American Law or Law Elective Course in order to attend the Residency. Two final online classes are completed after the Residency. The rest of the 24 required credits will be satisfied by electives taken on campus during the Residency.

Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 2.67 (B-) or better, or a preponderance of B-or-better grades. If you fail more than one course, your candidacy will be terminated automatically and you will not earn the degree. Executive LL.M. students are not eligible for academic honors.

Executive LL.M. candidates are expected to complete their degree coursework during the March-October program period.

Executive LL.M. Program and Curriculum

Related Links

Online Spring Semester: March 11 - May 9

On-Campus Summer Residency: May 20 – August 9

Online Fall Semester: August 16 – October 2

The Executive LL.M. degree is awarded in October.

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