Academic Calendar

Tuition & Fees

Director's Welcome

The LLM in International Legal Studies Program and the SJD in International Legal Studies Program are built upon Golden Gate University School of Law's long-standing commitment to international law, and envision American and foreign legal scholars working side by side to appreciate the complex process of progressive development of international law.

Both American and foreign law graduates who intend to specialize in international and comparative law will find that the LLM and SJD programs offer advanced qualification in five core areas: international law, private international law (conflict of laws), international trade regulation, comparative law, and international dispute resolution. Foreign law graduates interested in comparative aspects of United States law will be able to take a course on the American legal system and may select courses offered in the Juris Doctor program.

The LLM and SJD programs in international legal studies are both academic and practical. At its core, the LLM program provides students with knowledge of the fundamental principles of international law and the current rules that govern their application. The curriculum reaches beyond rules, however, to examine the effect of various cultural practices and rational policies on international trade, human rights, and the environment. In addition, courses trace the development of international and regional organizations and treaties that govern multinational issues. Students are exposed to practical applications of negotiating skills and to different methods of international dispute settlement.

The LLM program's two primary objectives are to:

• Acquaint American students with the legal traditions of other countries, thereby initiating the internationalization of American legal education;
• Encourage all students to understand the existing variations in international legal principles so that they may work toward harmonizing their legal consequences.

The SJD program is a natural extension of the LLM program.

These objectives will be achieved through the interaction of students from diverse legal cultures, led by a faculty of experienced international legal scholars and practitioners, in and out of the classroom, and through research and publication of international and comparative law materials.

Dr. Christian N. Okeke
Associate Professor of International and Comparative Law,
Director, LLM/SJD in International Legal Studies Program