Master of Law (LLM)

Program Overview

UB School of Law offers three distinct LL.M. programs: a General LL.M., an LL.M. in Criminal Law, and an LL.M. in Cross-Border Legal Studies. Each program is a 24-credit hour course of study, typically completed within one year of full-time enrollment. The General LL.M. provides immense flexibility, allowing students to design an individualized program tailored to their specific interests and career goals by choosing from nearly the entire J.D. curriculum. The specialized LL.M.s in Criminal Law and Cross-Border Legal Studies offer in-depth concentrations in those respective fields, building on UB Law's established strengths and unique geographical advantages. All LL.M. programs emphasize experiential learning, requiring a minimum of three credits in clinics, externships, clerkships, or practicums, ensuring graduates gain hands-on legal experience.

Curriculum: The 24-credit curriculum for the General LL.M. offers unparalleled flexibility. Students, with the guidance of an academic advisor, can select courses from almost the entire range of J.D. offerings. This allows for broad exposure to various legal subjects or a deep dive into specific areas of interest such as constitutional law, environmental law, civil litigation, human rights, intellectual property, labor law, or tax law. For international students, additional required courses typically include a legal research and writing class and an introduction to the United States legal system, preparing them for practice within the U.S. legal framework. Students interested in taking the New York Bar Exam receive tailored advisement on courses needed to satisfy specific bar requirements.

Research Focus: The UB School of Law maintains a strong research focus across its various centers and faculty expertise, which directly benefits its LL.M. students. Faculty members are engaged in diverse scholarly activities, covering a wide array of legal subjects such as criminal law, cross-border legal issues, environmental law, human rights, and more. The school is home to prominent research centers like the Buffalo Criminal Law Center, the Cross-Border Legal Studies Center, and the Buffalo Human Rights Center. LL.M. students are encouraged to engage with the scholarly environment, often through seminars, research projects, and by leveraging the extensive resources of the law library. The program's design, particularly for the General LL.M., supports students who wish to conduct in-depth research in their chosen areas of specialization.

Industry Engagement: UB School of Law is deeply committed to engaging with the legal industry to provide students with practical experience and career opportunities. A mandatory experiential learning component across all LL.M. programs, requiring a minimum of three credits, ensures students gain hands-on skills through clinics (e.g., Access to Justice Clinic, Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic, Entrepreneurship Law Center Clinic), externships, and judicial clerkships. The school boasts a robust alumni network, particularly dominant in the Western New York legal market, who actively partner with the law school through mentorship programs and professional development initiatives. The career services office provides extensive support, connecting graduates with potential employers in private practice, government, public interest, and corporate sectors.

Global Perspective: The LL.M. programs at UB School of Law strongly emphasize a global perspective, recognizing the increasingly interconnected nature of legal practice. The presence of specialized LL.M.s in Criminal Law (with its comparative and international focus) and Cross-Border Legal Studies (leveraging UB's unique proximity to the Canadian border) inherently promotes an international outlook. The diverse international student body enriches classroom discussions with a variety of global viewpoints on legal challenges and solutions. The curriculum often incorporates international and comparative law topics, preparing graduates to navigate complex legal issues in a globalized world, whether working for multinational corporations, international organizations, or in their home jurisdictions with a heightened understanding of global legal frameworks.