Graduate & International Student Life
We draw a diverse group of students from all over the United States and the world and strive to make Tulane an exciting center of learning for all of our students.
Graduate students at Tulane Law School – both US and international -- are fully integrated into the life of the student body. They take classes alongside JD students, participate in any of the dozens of student organizations, and have full access to the resources of the University and the Law School. At the University level, this includes the Reily Recreation Center, the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, and all of the speakers and concerts and sporting events sponsored by the University. At the Law School, this includes all of the resources of our Career Development Office and other support services.
Naturally, all graduate students are invited to the myriad lecture series and other activities at the Law School. Some graduate law students have become involved in moot court competitions, while others have become involved with one or more of the eight faculty- or student-run journals at Tulane. Graduate students also run their own Law School student organization, Graduate Lawyers at Tulane, which regularly sponsors programs to enhance the law school experience for all students.
Through the University, the Office of International Students & Scholars provides programming and support for international students, including social events, language classes, and visa assistance. Tulane Law additionally offers a panoply of resources to enrich the experience of its international graduate students.
Language Support
Tulane offers an intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) module especially designed for graduate level law and business students. The course is intended to assist students who would benefit from improving their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and responding in English. Our objective in offering the course is to improve students’ abilities to communicate effectively in English in the professional context. Special emphasis is placed on improving listening comprehension and oral presentation skills. Students meet weekly throughout the first semester of enrollment in the LLM program, allowing them to ask questions about assignments and readings in real time as they progress through the semester. Enrollment in the course is limited to international LLM students at Tulane Law School and international MBA students at Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.
Professional Development
The resources of the Career Development Office at are fully available to students enrolled in the graduate programs, as well as to alumni of our graduate programs. The Career Development Office staff becomes acquainted early with each new class of graduate students by participating in the summer orientation program. Graduate students have an assigned career counselor with experience in both domestic and international job searches and career opportunities.
Each year in January, Tulane Law School is among a select group of US law schools invited to participate in the International Student Interview Program (ISIP) organized by New York University Law School and conducted in New York City. Over 125 law firms and other employers gather to interview international LLM students interested in working in the United States and in their home countries.
Tulane law students may attend any Tulane Continuing Legal Education program free of charge. These programs permit students to be exposed to practical aspects of an area of law and provide the invaluable opportunity for contact with practicing attorneys. Topics for these annual seminars include admiralty and maritime law, corporate law, environmental law, energy law, estate planning, labor, litigation, sports and entertainment law, and tax.
Networking
Over 2000 alumni of Tulane’s various graduate programs in law live throughout the world. Alumni groups get together informally in many European, Asian, and Latin American cities. In cooperation with our Office of Alumni Affairs and Office of Continuing Legal Education, alumni may organize multi-day meetings, alumni events, and continuing education programs in locations throughout the world. Many of our alumni stay in touch with Tulane and volunteer to provide assistance with networking opportunities for our students and new graduates. In addition, we have more than 13,000 alumni here in the United States, many of whom are well-positioned within large multi-national American firms that hire our students.
Bar Eligibility
Each state in the US has its own eligibility requirements, and prospective LLM students who may be interested in admission to a US state bar are urged to consult the eligibility requirements published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. For example, foreign lawyers may take the Louisiana bar exam so long as they (1) are authorized to work lawfully in the United States, (2) have completed legal training recognized as equivalent to the JD, and (3) have successfully completed a minimum of 14 credits from a US law school in core legal subjects.
Our LLM program in American Law is designed to satisfy the coursework requirements that LL.M. students must complete to be eligible for admission to the bar in states such as Louisiana and New York. In addition, graduates of Tulane’s LLM program who wish to fulfill the coursework eligibility requirements have the opportunity to enroll in up to 14 credits over one or two semesters at a reduced tuition rate.