Core U.S. Legal Studies LL.M.
Courses (11 credits)
Students in the LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies program will take the
following courses as part of the program's core curriculum:
Introduction to U.S. Law 1 (2
credits) - Fall
LL.M. candidates will gain an overview of U.S. law, focusing on the
ways in which it differs from that of other nations, and in
particular how the common law system is distinct from the civil law
system. Topics covered include the U.S. federal-state relationship
and individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and an
introduction to the subject matter tested on the New York Bar
Examination. Grades are based on a final examination.
U.S. Legal Analysis and Writing 1
(2 credits) - Fall
LL.M. candidates will learn how to efficiently research complex
questions of U.S. law and write memoranda that explain the results
of their research. Students will be introduced both to core
research materials, such as case reports and annotated codes, and
to more sophisticated techniques, such as using federal and state
administrative materials, legislative histories, on-line research,
law review articles and legal databases. Students will also gain
familiarity with materials unique to particular practice areas such
as tax, securities, banking and international law. Besides
researching questions of law, the LL.M. candidates will also learn
how to explain the results of their research in the idioms and
forms of U.S. legal writing, including memoranda of law and court
briefs. An emphasis will be placed on the characteristics of
effective and persuasive writing in the context of essays and MPT
questions from the New York Bar Examination.Grades will be based
upon periodic assignments and a research paper.
Legal Research (1 credit) - Fall
Students will be introduced both to core research materials,
such as case reports and annotated codes, and more specialized
materials, such as federal and state administrative materials,
legislative histories, on-line research, law review articles, and
legal databases. Grades are based primarily on periodic
writing and research assignments.
Introduction to U.S. Law 2 (1
credit) – Spring
This course will focus on issue-spotting and problem solving in a
variety of subject matter testable on the New York Bar Examination,
including Contracts, Property, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law,
Torts and other areas. Grades are based on periodic quizzes and a
final exam.
U.S. Legal Analysis, and Writing 2
(2 credits) – Spring
This course further develops student's writing and analytical
skills, focusing primarily on persuasive legal writing for success
on the New York Bar Examination.
Professional Responsibility (3
credits) – Fall or Spring
This course studies the legal, moral and other responsibilities of
lawyers. The New York Code of Professional Responsibility and the
American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct,
along with cases, statutory material, secondary sources and
problems, comprise the reading. The course addresses issues such as
the lawyer's responsibility in civil and criminal trials; special
problems of lawyers for entities, including governments and
corporations; conflicts of interest, confidentiality and privilege;
issues in negotiation; professional advertising and solicitation;
and the lawyer's duties to improve the administration and
availability of justice. Grades are based upon writing assignments,
classroom exercises and a final examination.
New York Bar Electives (6
credits)
To qualify to take the New York Bar Examination, you must take a
minimum number of hours of courses on subjects testable on the Bar
Examination. The LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies program requires that
you select at least six (6) hours of courses that cover any of
the following subjects:
- Contracts
- Real Property
- Torts
- Constitutional Law (Federal and New York)
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- New York Practice
- Business Organizations
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Trusts, Wills and Estates
- Sales (Uniform Commercial Code Articles 2,3, and/or 9)
Other Electives (7
credits)
You may select seven (7) elective credits from any other
course taught at the Law School that may interest you or that will
assist you in your future practice of law. We strongly recommend
that all or most of these credits be taken in subjects tested on
the New York Bar Exam.
For more information on the program requirements for the LL.M. in
U.S. Legal Studies at St. John's School of Law, please contact
us.