Seton Hall Law School offers a full-time LL.M. option for foreign-educated lawyers seeking to practice law in the United States that delivers an innovative curriculum and provides an unparalleled work-school-life balance.
Prospective LL.M. students earn their LL.M. degree in Seton Hall Law School's hybrid weekend format. By scheduling in-class instruction on the weekend, students in the program have the freedom to structure weekdays as they please. LL.M. students take most of their courses with J.D. students, except for a few courses designed specifically for foreign-trained attorneys.
When students in the LL.M. program are not in the classroom they engage with teachers and peers through the use of technology. This flexible program empowers students to self-direct a portion of their learning experience where and when it fits into their lives.
Importantly, the LL.M. in American Law is designed to satisfy the program requirements for eligibility to sit for many state bar examinations, including New York, exponentially increasing your job opportunities upon graduation.
The LL.M. in American Law may be pursued by any foreign-trained lawyer, whether they wish to take a state bar exam or not. Our counselors will help determine the proper curricular path for you to achieve your educational goals and satisfy your legal interests.
"Legal specialization increases job opportunities in areas of compliance, privacy, and risk management."
Carl Coleman, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs
Beyond the 24 credits needed to be eligible to sit for the bar exam, students have the option of completing 6 bonus credits of online electives in one area of specialization for no additional tuition costs. These optional electives enable the students to specialize in Health & Hospital Law, Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Law & Compliance, Corporate Compliance, or Privacy Law and Cybersecurity. Legal specialization may increase job opportunities, especially in areas of compliance, privacy, and risk management in fields like healthcare, finance, banking, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and gaming.
You will begin the program by taking 2 credits of Introduction to American Law in mid-August in an intensive format over four consecutive days. Then, you’ll attend classes on alternating weekends. You can anticipate being on campus approximately 8:30-5:00 on Saturday and 9:00 to 2:00 on Sunday. Class work takes place over eight weekends each semester with one additional weekend for final exams. When not on campus, you’ll engage in self-directed activities and participate remotely in discussions with your professors and classmates using Seton Hall’s learning platform.
Students will work with the LL.M. program director and administrators to develop a course load suited to their interests.
View Complete Course Information in the University Catalogue →
The Seton Hall University Catalogue is the definitive source for up-to-date course
offerings and degree requirements.
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The self-directed learning component in courses offered in the weekend division includes interactive, online learning activities, discussion boards, and mini-assessments developed by your professor. Cutting-edge technology provides you maximum scheduling flexibility while facilitating more intense engagement with classmates and professors. The self-directed learning component for any course will comprise 1/3 or less of the instruction time.
Despite spending fewer hours within the halls of the building, Weekend Students have made the most of their opportunity and become a thriving part of the Law School community. Weekenders volunteered time at the local soup kitchen and gave back to the Newark community; they worked on behalf of real clients through the Seton Hall Law’s Center for Social Justice and wrote for Incarcerated Persons Workforce Re-Entry; and they visited detainees at the border to provide legal services. Many students were instrumental in starting and reviving new committees and student organizations throughout the law school, with some assuming prominent leadership positions on the Law Review and in the Student Bar Association, and achieving high placements in in Mock Trial and Moot Court competitions.
"We are very proud of this program. It is rigorous and challenging, but it leaves our students as prepared as anyone who went to law school full-time. We simply can’t wait to see the heights that our Weekend graduates will reach."
KIP CORNWELL, Professor of Law
