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 just over 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 Lawyer Leadership course.

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.

The Executive LL.M. requires 24 total credits delivered through a hybrid structure of online coursework and an intensive summer residency. Degrees are awarded in October, and graduates are invited to participate in Columbia University's commencement ceremony the following May.

2027 Program Calendar

*Dates below apply to the 2027 cohort. Finalized 2027 course titles will be published soon; see the 2026 schedule below for representative course offerings.

Online Spring Semester: February 19 – May 17, 2027

Format:
- 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, participate in discussion boards with your classmates, and complete readings and assignments independently. Classes generally meet on Zoom 1 time each week for 2-3 hours in the morning New York Time.
Course Requirements:
- Students without a U.S. law degree (JD/LL.M.): Introduction to American Law is required.
- Students with a U.S. law degree: Two elective courses are required (optional for non-U.S. degree holders).

On-Campus Summer Residency: May 21 - August 13, 2027

Format:
- An intensive 12-week program featuring courses taught in 6-week blocks.
- 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.
Course Requirements:
- 5 total courses (4 electives + required Global Business Law Colloquium).
Key Feature:
- 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 Lawyer Leadership as well as Financial Statement Analysis, both of which are essential for lawyers practicing today.

Online Fall Semester: August 20 - September 29, 2027

Format:
- Live Zoom classes meet twice weekly (2 hours, morning ET).

2026 Program Calendar and Course Offerings

Online Spring Semester: February 20 - May 18

On-Campus Summer Residency: May 22 – August 14

Online Fall Semester: August 21 – October 1

Professional Responsibility in Global Business Law

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	Seven months (four months online, three months on campus)	10 months on campus
Program Calendar	Take two online courses in February and May, followed by a 12-week on-campus Summer Residency (May through August). Complete your study with one additional online course 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 six-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 Two Law Elective Course for U.S. Law Degree Holders (6 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	18 credits Choose from a number of elective courses, such as Business Organizations, International Commercial Arbitration 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 Advisor Access to Columbia Law School job database Residency events that connect you to CLS alumni	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 speaker engagements 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	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. Housing, meals, and most course materials are not included in the tuition and fees.	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 (Test Center / Home Edition): 105 Overall Score —IELTS (Test Center / Online): 8 Overall Score	TOEFL iBT (Test Center / Home Edition): 105 Overall Score —IELTS (Test Center / Online): 8 Overall Score
Tuition and Financial Aid* *Tuition only, additional mandatory fees apply	$89,942 Financial assistance is available from Columbia Law School. There may also be external sources of funding available. For more information, see Tuition and Fees.	$93,757 Financial assistance is available in the form of scholarships and institutional loans. For details, see Fellowships and Scholarships.
Living Costs* *Individual budgets may vary	$9,624	$30,304

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.*:

Required for students without a U.S. degree in law (JD or LL.M.)
- Introduction to American Law (Professors David Schizer and Christina Ponsa-Kraus)
Required for students with a U.S. degree in law (JD or LL.M.)
- Regulation of the Digital Economy (Professor Anu Bradford)
- IP and the Internet in the Age of AI (Professor Hillel Parness)
Required for all ELLM students
- Colloquium Module 1: Financial Statement Analysis
- Colloquium Module 2: Lawyer Leadership

*Courses and professors are subject to change for 2027

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

Elective Courses for 2026:

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

*Courses and professors are subject to change for 2027

The Colloquium in Global Business Law is focused on Financial Statement Analysis, a favorite course for students and a key skill for business lawyers, as well as Lawyer Leadership where we seek to build the people skills that are critical to a lawyer's success as a manager and business parter to clients.

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 Two Law Elective Courses (online; 6 credits)
Colloquium in Global Business Law (4 credits)

You must successfully complete Introduction to American Law or Two Law Elective Courses in order to attend the Residency. One 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 eligible for academic honors.

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

Executive LL.M. Program and Curriculum

Related Links

2027 Program Calendar

Online Spring Semester: February 19 – May 17, 2027

On-Campus Summer Residency: May 21 - August 13, 2027

Online Fall Semester: August 20 - September 29, 2027

2026 Program Calendar and Course Offerings

Online Spring Semester: February 20 - May 18

On-Campus Summer Residency: May 22 – August 14

Online Fall Semester: August 21 – October 1

Related News and Stories

A Six-Month Transformation: The Executive LL.M. Program at Columbia Law

Meet Reem AlMaiman ’26 E.LL.M.

Graduation 2026: Entering the Profession With Pride and Purpose

On the E.LL.M. Experience With Professor Anu Bradford