The LL.M. Program at Vanderbilt Law School

Vanderbilt's LL.M. program offers foreign lawyers and international students an opportunity to pursue a one-year master's degree program. LL.M. students may choose to pursue one of three options within the LL.M. program:

The Course Track, through which students earn a minimum of 24 credits and may take up to 28 credit hours of course work during their year of study.

The Law & Business track, which includes a foundational core curriculum on which students build expertise in areas of interest by choosing from an extensive range of elective courses. Students enrolled in the Law & Business track are required to take a minimum of 27 credits and may earn a maximum of 30 academic credits.

The Thesis Track, which combines coursework with a major research project completed during the spring semester. Students enrolled in the Thesis Track program earn between 24 and 28 credits.

All candidates for the degree of Legum Magister (LL.M.) must meet the following requirements to receive their LL.M. degree:

• Pursue full-time resident law school study for a fall and spring semester, in that order, during one academic year;
• Earn between 24 and 30 credits;
• Take and earn a passing grade in the required Life of the Law (2 credit) course;
• Take and earn a passing grade in the required Introduction to Legal Research, Writing and Analysis in the United States (2 credits) course;
• Maintain at least a C average;
• Students on the thesis track must complete a substantial scholarly research and writing project during the spring semester, earning up to 7 credits;
• Pay in full all financial obligations due Vanderbilt University prior to the granting of the degree; and
• Receive the favorable recommendation of the faculty for the degree.

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