LLM/SJD Curriculum

For well over 75 years, Tulane has welcomed students and scholars from throughout the world to study at the Law School. Our location in New Orleans places us in one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities in the United States, if not the world.

Degree Programs

Tulane considers graduate legal education to be a central part of its identity and offers a unique and valuable experience to law graduates wishing to pursue advanced study, including four LLM programs, an SJD program, and a 14-credit add-on program for LLM graduates wishing to prepare for US bar exams.

Master of Laws (LLM) Program

Many of international students pursue the General LLM degree, which covers a broad survey of U.S. law. Students often find the General LLM provides them the necessary background to prepare for and take U.S. bar exams.

Students may also pursue specialized LLM degrees, exploring their areas of interest more thoroughly than they could in most JD or LLB programs. The LLM in Admiralty, LLM in Energy & Environment and LLM in International & Comparative Law programs are designed to give students in-depth education in specific fields of law. In addition, some students use the General LLM degree to concentrate in other areas, such as intellectual property or U.S. constitutional law.

LLM degrees require one year of full-time study or two years on a part-time basis. Part-time study in the admiralty program is open only for attorneys practicing in the New Orleans area.

Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) Program

The SJD track is a small and selective program, designed for students who already hold LLM degrees and wish to complete significant scholarly research by writing their dissertations. Our SJD students’ dissertations focus on a variety of areas and must make original, significant contributions to legal scholarship.

Summer in New Orleans

A unique and consistently successful part of Tulane’s graduate program is the summer orientation course, Introduction to the Law of the United States. In addition to orienting international students to the US system of law and legal education, the course facilitates students’ transition to New Orleans and to Tulane. Because international graduate students have the Law School virtually to themselves for almost four weeks, they get to know each other and the faculty in a relaxed environment, conducive to informal get-togethers and strong friendships.

Professional Support

Tulane offers a number of resources to enrich students’ experiences and to help them to take full advantage of the graduate program.

The LLM and SJD programs are overseen by the Office of International Legal Programs. The Office staff works with LLM and SJD students, as well as visiting scholars and exchange students, and plans regular activities, including— during the summer orientation course—a series of field trips to courts, landmarks, and events around the city. The Executive Director of the program regularly brings together students in the graduate programs and ensures that graduate students are integrated into the life of the Law School.

Throughout the academic year, students are invited to attend social events as well as events intended to enrich the intellectual life of the community. The Office of International Legal Programs also works with Graduate Lawyers at Tulane (GLAT), the student organization that is dedicated to Tulane LLM, SJD, and exchange students.

More broadly, the law school strives to provide graduate students with professional and personal support. Tulane also offers English language instruction, with emphasis on the language of law and business. Graduate students receive guidance from the Career Development Office, which holds regular workshops on resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, networking and other topics related to job search strategies. Our assistant dean for students is also available to counsel graduate students.

Follow the links below for more information on the LLM/SJD Program