University of Cincinnati College of Law Announces Launch of New LLM Program

The University of Cincinnati College of Law announces the launch of its LLM program on the U.S. legal system for practicing attorneys and law school graduates who received their legal education outside the United States. The one-year master’s degree program is designed to provide a substantive introduction to the U.S. legal process, while allowing students to develop knowledge in areas of study relevant to their legal practice.

“We’re excited to announce the launch of the LLM program,” said College of Law dean Louis Bilionis. “We are eager to welcome students from around the world to the program also. It will expose our JD students to legal cultures around the world, extend our global reach, and enrich the dialogue at the College of Law.”

Who Is the LLM Student?

Some of the students in the program will be attorneys practicing law in other countries who will return to their home countries better prepared to represent clients who have regular business dealings with U.S. companies or government agencies. Others may seek to further legal reform movements in their home countries using new knowledge gained through their experiences in the program. Some may decide to stay in the U.S. and practice law.

Regardless of their reasons for coming, all students will gain the skills and knowledge necessary for more effective relationships with U.S. lawyers, business executives, and other U.S. parties. The program is expected to be particularly valuable for non-U.S. lawyers who want to better represent their U.S. clients, partner with U.S. lawyers in the representation of those clients, and negotiate or litigate opposite U.S. parties.

Benefits of the LLM Program

The LLM program will enrich the educational and scholarly environment for both students and faculty at the College. Because LLM students will take classes with students in the JD program, all will benefit from developing a better understanding of the global context in which law is practiced today. Further, students of the LLM program will integrate into the university community and have a similar, positive impact.

LLM students will complete at least 24 credit hours in order to earn the degree. The program will require three courses: Introduction to U.S. Law, a high-level introduction to the structure of the U.S. government, foundational legal concepts, and the case law and statutory components of the U.S. legal system; The U.S. Legal System, advanced study of the critical features of the U.S. legal tradition; and Legal Research and Writing for LLM Students, specific preparation for the written communication, research, and persuasion skills needed in law school and professional practice. The rest of the coursework will be chosen from students’ areas of interest.

Additionally, the College of Law will provide forums for participants to discuss their legal cultures, as well as to introduce their law firms or institutions to area attorneys and business executives. In this way participants and local attorneys will have many opportunities to network and form lasting professional contacts.

“We are eager to welcome our first class of LLM students next fall. Our new LLM students will benefit from the training they will receive in U.S. law and all of us at the College of Law will benefit from the exchange of ideas about the various legal systems and traditions around the world that our new students will no doubt inspire,” said Nancy Oliver, associate dean for Curriculum and Student Affairs and professor of Practice.

To be admitted to the program, students should be foreign-trained practicing attorneys or law school graduates; provide evidence of their English language proficiency; and demonstrate their overall academic promise as indicated through letters of recommendation, education, and professional accomplishments.

The LLM program is advised by the following board members: Paul Allaer, Thompson Hine LLP; Harvey Jay Cohen, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP; Joseph Dehner, Frost Brown Todd LLC; Richard La Jeunesse, Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP; Robert J. Miller, formerly Procter & Gamble; Walter Spiegel, Standard Textile Co., Inc., Mark Stall, International Paper Company, Xpedx Division; and Ross Wales, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.

For more information about the program, visit the

UC Law LLM Program

online.