Brooklyn Law School’s LL.M. program offers foreign-trained lawyers the opportunity to study United States law and to learn how U.S. lawyers approach specific types of legal issues. The program is also designed to train foreign-educated lawyers in using legal English as it is used in U.S. legal practice. Our program is designed to meet the New York Court of Appeals requirements for foreign-trained lawyers who wish to sit for the New York State bar exam and may facilitate specialized study in three subject areas: business law, intellectual property law, and refugee and immigration law. While the three specializations draw on Brooklyn Law School’s academic strengths in these areas, the Law School can also accommodate tailored study plans for those students who wish to explore other areas of the law.
Through a complement of courses and pedagogy that focuses on the specific academic needs of those with legal training from abroad, Brooklyn Law School has created a program that will help its graduates become more effective and confident transnational lawyers. Four features in particular make the Brooklyn Law School LL.M. uniquely equipped to meet the needs of foreign-trained lawyers.
First, Brooklyn Law School offers a rich intellectual experience that extends beyond the classroom. Not only is the curriculum both broad in the range of areas covered, and deep in the intellectual experiences offered students in each area of study, but the opportunities for intellectual engagement when not in class are virtually limitless. Among other things, students may attend and participate in the many programs sponsored by the Dennis Block Center for the Study of International Business Law, participate in programs sponsored by student organizations whose focus is on business law, intellectual property, and refugee law, attend the School’s refugee law discussion group, which attracts people from around the northeast of the United States, and to act as special advisors to our J.D. students who are writing articles on topics that concern the expertise of our LL.M. students. In addition, students will have the opportunity to see the state and federal courts in action, which are located within blocks of the Law School.
Second, for those students who are not native speakers of English, the program places a strong emphasis on helping foreign-trained lawyers develop the skills needed to successfully draft U.S. legal documents by teaming law professors with linguists experienced in English as a Second Language (ESL). Together, these faculty members oversee the instruction of legal-writing courses and provide additional support outside of the classroom for those students who need it.
Third, students enrolled in the LL.M. program who choose to sit for the New York State bar examination can receive particular assistance to help them pass the exam. Students have the option to take a specially designed course with a syllabus focused on the New York State and U.S. law subjects tested. The course also includes bar exam simulations to familiarize students with the exam format and test-day expectations.
Fourth, we will make your stay in New York easy to navigate by offering housing to all full-time LL.M. students. As a Brooklyn Law School LL.M. student, if you submit your housing request by the deadline you are guaranteed accommodations in Feil Hall, a contemporary new residence hall located just a few blocks from the Law School that contains 239 apartments for students and faculty.
Our goal is student success, and our program is designed to give foreign-trained lawyers what they really need: the education necessary to function at a high level of professional skill in an ever-evolving global environment.