LLM GUIDE - Master of Laws (LL.M.) Programs Worldwide

Summer Law Programs

Use the summer to prepare for your LL.M., improve your legal English, or broaden your expertise in a new field of law

By V. Wish, Feb 14, 2007

Quartier Montmarte, Paris

An increasing number of law schools in the United States and Europe now offer specialized summer law courses for lawyers interested in broadening their expertise and improving their language skills. Though many such programs are designed to prepare lawyers for their LL.M., some courses also appeal to students who are not ready or interested in taking an entire year off to study.

One of the most common summer courses available are introductory courses in US law for foreign lawyers, many of who plan on taking a full-time LL.M. course in the United States. Some courses – such as those offered at the University of Southern California (USC), Penn, Vanderbilt, Illinois and Northwestern – utilize the generally relaxed summer months to teach introductory US law and improve the English skills of foreign lawyers and pre-LL.M. students. Such courses also provide a useful introduction to how US law schools operate.

"Our summer law classes are taught by our law school professors, so this gives students the opportunity to get used to American law school classes and they also get a sense of what can be expected for their Master's program," says Misa Shimotsu, who directs the Summer Law and English program at the USC Gould School of Law.

"It also benefits those who do not continue their legal studies in the United States as they are able to build a foundation of the American legal system and get a ‘snapshot’ experience of an American law school,” adds Shimotsu.

Summer programs are also available in the United Kingdom and Europe. Two US law schools – Boston University and Georgetown – host introductory courses in US law in London each summer. Another course is the Columbia Summer Program, a longstanding partnership between Columbia University, Leiden University and Amsterdam University that hosts month-long introduction to US law in the Netherlands each year. The Summer School of English Legal Methods at Cambridge University has similar aims, but is catered to students planning to study or practice in the United Kingdom.

There are also a number of programs for students who want to go deeper into a particular field of law, such as the International Commercial Law LL.M. program at UC Davis. Many law school summer programs also give US lawyers and law students the chance to study abroad. The International Human Rights Law program, presented jointly by Oxford and George Washington University, is one such program. Other specialized summer courses abroad include Cornell’s Paris Summer Institute, the Summer Course in EU Law at King’s College London, and the GWU and Santa Clara Intellectual Property Law summer courses in Munich.

Naturally, many prospective students may question the value of taking a few months out of their busy lives to participate in a summer program, not to mention the tuition and travel expenses. This is particularly true for students who are not taking the summer courses as preparation for their full-time LL.M. course. Apart from deepening knowledge, improving one’s legal English, or learning more about US law, are there any other concrete benefits from taking a summer course?

For incoming LL.M. students, an extra month or two to adapt to the cultural and social life at a law school is usually welcome. And for those considering their career, summer courses can send a positive message. While it may not single-handedly land you the dream job when you return home, summer courses can show prospective employers or admissions boards a motivation to study abroad, branch out and acquire new skills and expertise.

“I believe that any supplemental program – English or otherwise – is beneficial to one's resume,” says Shimotsu. “Enrolling in any programs which prepare students for their master’s level courses shows initiative and ambition.”

Related Programs

Comments

  1. Ferdynand, Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:20 PM

    THIS WEBSITE IS VERY HELPFULL FOR ME TO GET A CLUE LLM PROGRAM....THE INFORMATION AND DETAILS IS COMPLETED...AND THE INFORMATION SYSTEMATIC, SO THE PEOPLE CAN EASLY TO UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION \....THX LLM GUIDE ........

  2. Mihaescu Bucura, Wed Dec 19, 2007 04:33 PM

    Hy,
    I would like to ask you how can l apply for the summer programme and how much does it cost.
    Looking forward to hearing from you,
    Yours faithfully,
    Mihaescu Bucura

  3. Aleksandra, Wed Jan 09, 2008 08:43 PM

    hello, I'm student from Poland.This year I'm graduating Silesian University.I'm iterested in starting LLM program in Europe,specially England.I would be gratefull if you wrote me some infomation about nearest courses of summer school.
    Aleksandra

  4. TFine, Thu Jan 17, 2008 01:08 PM

    Fordham Law School in NYC also offers a two week summer program for foreign lawyers and law students. I run this program and wanted to make interested viewers aware of it. Please visit law.fordham.edu/summerprogram.

  5. Milena, Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:17 AM

    Hi,
    I am student from Central Asia- Kyrgyzstan. I would like to know how can I apply and does this programme has scholarships for international students.
    Thank you,
    Milena

  6. Sachin Sachdeva, Sun Feb 17, 2008 07:12 AM

    Hi

    I am a Fourth Year student of Law at ILS Law College, Pune, India, one of the premier law institutions of the country. I am very enthusiastic about a summer law programme. I wish to know about various Summer School Programmes In USA and Europe partiularly England. Also, can I avail of a scholarship, if yes, how.

    Regards
    Sachin Sachdeva.

  7. Silvia Pires, Wed Mar 12, 2008 07:18 PM

    Could you please, send me information about the above program.
    Thanks
    SP

  8. Daiana, Thu Mar 27, 2008 06:56 AM

    Hello, my name is Daiana, I am from Kazakhstan.
    I am very interested in pre-LLM program, and I would like to improve my legal english with the purpose to get LLM degree.
    Due to it i would like to know does US have any pre-LLM prgrams that can be not in the summer?
    Thank you in advance, Daiana

  9. Allan Kaye, Wed Apr 30, 2008 02:09 AM

    I am interested in studying an LLM in the United States or Europe. Due to my job, I would like to know if there are any options to study the LLM program during summers.

  10. moro lawyer, Mon May 12, 2008 11:10 AM

    hi; my name is Mohammed kerouich ; am a moroccain Lawyer ; due to my job i need to improve my legal english .
    the best thing i think is summer law school ; i would like if there is any programme in paris;
    i ll be so gratful for your help to send me all details.
    Bests.

  11. rita, Tue May 20, 2008 03:48 PM

    I am a current law student and will attend the Summer session on Environmental Law at American university but they also have other summer programs:
    www.wcl.american.edu/ilsp/llmsummer.cfm

  12. Azizjan, Mon Jun 02, 2008 02:52 PM

    helIo I am student from Central Asia- Uzbekistan and I would like to know how can I find and apply for international summer programms in a field of law with scholarship! thank you in advance!

  13. bakhodur, Mon Jun 09, 2008 09:47 AM

    Hello, my name is Bakhodur, I am from TAJIKISTAN.
    I am very interested in LLM program, and I would like to improve my legal english with the purpose to get LLM degree and reach my goals.
    Due to it i would like to know does US have any LLM prgrams with financial aids.
    Thank you beforehand, Bakhodur

  14. Yordanos Goitom, Mon Jul 07, 2008 08:35 AM

    Hello I am Yordanos, I am from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am very interested in working my LLM. And I believe that summer classes will improve my English with the view of earning LLM. And I would love to get a scholarship for the summer program. So I am looking for an a detail information concerning as to how should I apply especially to US summer programs?

    Best Regards
    Yordanos

  15. Nirvaya Raj Poudel, Tue Jul 08, 2008 03:26 PM

    Hello, my name is Nirvaya Ral Poudel, I am from nepal.
    I am very interested in pre-LLM program, and I would like to improve my legal english with the purpose to get LLM degree with the purpose to get LLM degree and reach my goals.
    Due to it i would like to know does US have any pre-LLM prgrams that can be not in the summer?
    Thank you

  16. rachmarindra tristanti, Wed Jul 09, 2008 09:33 AM

    Hi!
    I'm fresh graduate from Indonesia, and i would like to take Summer Law Programs to help me me prevent my English with the view of earning LL.M. I would like to ask does this programs has a scholarship program for international studies?if it does,how can i apply for it? Thanx for your kind attention..

    Best Regards,
    Rachmarindra Tristanti

  17. invictus88, Tue Jul 22, 2008 08:02 AM

    You should also consider the Duke-Geneva Institute in Transnational Law, a month-long summer course in international law co-sponsored by Duke University School of Law and the University of Geneva Faculty of Law held in Geneva, Switzerland around July every year. This program provides ideal preparation for a US LL.M. (and if you're an incoming Duke LLM student, you will receive academic credit and can lighten your load during the school year), within one of the most beautiful European cities. More information is available at www.law.duke.edu/internat/europe/photo.html.

  18. candela gonzalez, Tue Sep 16, 2008 06:33 PM

    Hello, my name is Candela Gonzalez, I`m a lawyer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I wanted to know if there is any summer law program in Miami, Florida. Thank you very much. Kind regards.

  19. Adrian Rodriguez, Wed Nov 05, 2008 07:04 PM

    Hi,
    My name is Adrian Rodriguez and im a us citizen studing Law in Mexico, i will graduate in 2 weeks from University and i will like to do a Summer Law program in California. What are my options in this case?

    Thank You for your support.

  20. Svitlana, Thu Nov 20, 2008 03:46 PM

    Hello,
    my name is Svitlana Burlakova. I am from Ukraine.
    I had been in Hague Academy of International Law in 2008 on Summer course program.
    You can find about it more on: www.hagueacademy.nl/?summer-programme

  21. sofia sofou, Thu Dec 11, 2008 01:13 AM

    I am a licensed lawyer in Greece and live in
    Chicago with my husband who is a doctor. I am interested in LLM program in Northwestern university. Could you please inform about the cost of summer course and what is exactly the duration of program? Thanks

  22. kartika chaudhary, Sun Dec 21, 2008 08:49 PM

    hi,
    i am kartika ,a law student in India. i was keen in enrolling for the summer course in england. i always wanted to do my masters in law from uk. i guess doing a summer course would help me to adapt to the social and educational culture of england. so could you please send me all the required details in order to pursue this course. thank you!

  23. Matanat, Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:12 PM

    Hi Im Matanat. I am frome Azerbaijan.
    I whould like to participate in summer school and I wanted to know if there is any summer law program in America/ and how can i apply there.
    Thanks in advance

  24. Shodra, Wed Feb 04, 2009 05:53 PM

    hi,
    this website is very helpful but i need some more information like how to apply for summer courses, fees, materials etc. please send me some advice.
    thank you

  25. Murodil, Fri Feb 20, 2009 08:53 PM

    I really want to recieve news from LLM GUIDE program

  26. Jose Pablo Arredondo, Tue Mar 03, 2009 07:22 PM

    Good Afternoon,

    I would like to know more information about summer courses, of 2 or 3 weeks, specially in international and economics law.

    Plase send me information in order to start the applications.

    Best Regards

  27. Marco, Tue Mar 17, 2009 09:55 PM

    Hi, I'm Marco from Italy, I'm a practicing lawyer, I would like to know the most important summer programs in corporation law and american law, of about 4 weeks, in England and Usa.
    Thank you in advance

  28. Liviu_B_RO, Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:52 AM

    Hello!
    I'm trying to find out more about the available summer courses.
    Besides the ones mentioned in this article, does anyone have additional info?
    Thank you!

  29. Cihan Kara, Sat Mar 21, 2009 07:27 PM

    Six-week law seminar at Yale University:

    www.yale.edu/eli/summer/law.html


  30. hameed, Wed May 06, 2009 08:47 AM

    I am interested in the LLM summer programs ,,,,,,,,,,i need to know if there is any kind of scholarship for Developing countries for such programs,
    thanks and waiting for positive reply
    thanks

    Hameed
    Quetta, Pakistan.

  31. Massimiliano, Mon May 25, 2009 09:41 AM

    hello, my name is Massimiliano from Italy and i am a young lawyer. i'm looking for the bests legal english courses, during this summer, of about 4 or 6 weeks, in Usa or Uk. can you give some useful information please?
    thank you in advance,
    kind regards

  32. Maryanna Cevan, Fri May 29, 2009 03:09 PM

    Is it limited to only foreign students. Can an american who needs work on their legal English apply as well? Do you have to have a JD to qualify for the summer program? I want to see if Law school is for me and would like to do the summer program.

    Maryanna

  33. Tapan, Sun Jun 21, 2009 02:49 PM

    I am Tapan from Beijing. I wish to study environmental law in China. Kindly advise me the bst school in china.

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