Two-Year Master of Laws (LLM)
Build the language skills and legal foundation needed for success in U.S. legal practice through our structured LLM for Foreign Lawyers, a two-year program designed for outstanding international law graduates.
Program Overview
Two-Year LLM students will have an entire year of studies with intensive support in legal English combined with concentrated exposure to regular law classes and immersion in the local legal community. This enhanced preparation helps students to enter their second year of studies with a solid foundation in and a good understanding of the academic and linguistic requirements of an LLM program.
Certificate Programs
LLM students have the opportunity to pursue a Certificate in one of four specialty areas. A Certificate is optional and requires 9 credit hours in the specialty area as part of a 24-credit LLM requirement. Students may earn an LLM and one Certificate in an academic year.
- Certificate in Negotiation & Dispute Resolution
Provides substantial foundation in conflict theory and dispute resolution, with hands-on opportunities to gain practical skills in business negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. - Certificate in Business & Corporate Law
Develops knowledge and skills necessary to become well-rounded business lawyers, with training in corporate finance, law and economics, publicly traded corporations, and taxation. - Certificate in International Law
Equips students with a strong foundation in international law and specialized training in areas such as international human rights, international intellectual property, and international commercial arbitration. - Certificate in Intellectual Property and Technology Law
Allows study of introductory and advanced intellectual property law under the guidance of leading scholars, covering patent, trademark, copyright issues, and emerging technologies.
Intensive Summer Program and Orientation
Students admitted to the Two-Year LLM program will start with a four-week summer pre-LLM Intensive Legal English Program (ILEP) on campus. For five hours a day, ILEP students are immersed in courses designed for learners of legal English.
Following the intensive legal English summer courses, students of the Two-Year LLM will attend an intensive orientation before regular classes begin.
First Year
The first year of the Two-Year LLM program is conducted as a cohort, with all students in the program enrolled in the same schedule of courses.
Legal English Classes (Each Semester):
- Intensive Legal English Writing and Reading and Skills (ILEWR)
- Intensive Legal English Communications Skills (ILECS)
These five-hour-weekly classes will prepare Two-Year LLM students for the coursework of their substantive law classes as well as for the linguistic and academic demands of an LLM program.
Class sizes are kept small in the legal English courses (8-15 students per class), ensuring more comprehensive instructor feedback and enhanced opportunities for practice of English communication skills.
Substantive Law Courses:
Students will also take a limited concentration of substantive law courses alongside the legal English courses.
- Introduction to U.S. Law & Methods I
- Introduction to U.S. Law & Methods II
- One course in a specific focus area: Property, Torts, or Contracts
Two-Year LLM students will be integrated with one-year LLM students for the substantive law courses.
Why WashU Law?
Foreign-trained lawyers choose WashU Law’s Two-Year LLM for our proven approach that recognizes mastering U.S. legal concepts requires both linguistic confidence and cultural understanding. With small cohort sizes, intensive English language support, and a gradual integration model, you’ll build essential communication skills while developing lasting connections with classmates from around the world.
Located in the heart of the United States, St. Louis provides affordable living and access to federal courts, major corporations, and a collaborative legal community—giving you practical exposure to American legal practice throughout your studies.