Two-Year Master of Laws (LLM) in Intellectual Property & Information Law

The Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program is specifically designed to prepare internationally trained lawyers for the challenge of global practice. During the first year of study, this comprehensive program immerses students in the intricacies of the US legal system and teaches students how US lawyers are trained to analyze legal questions and advocate on their clients’ behalf. Through rigorous coursework, engaging discussions, and hands-on experiences, students develop critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and legal research skills. They gain proficiency in legal writing, oral advocacy, and negotiation, enabling them to effectively communicate and advocate within the American legal context and beyond. Additionally, the program fosters an appreciation for ethical considerations and the broader societal impact of the law.

In the second year of study, the Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program provides fundamental and advanced training in intellectual property and information law with an emphasis on the core doctrines of copyright, patent, trademark, information privacy, and unfair competition, with expansive electives in such areas as digital technology and electronic networks, biotechnology, cybersecurity, entertainment law, and technology commercialization.

The program faculty includes the School of Law’s full-time professors and experienced practitioners from Boston’s boutique firms and technology companies, who bring practical experience to the classroom.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the US legal system.
• Demonstrate an ability to use legal authority and perform legal analysis.
• Demonstrate proficiency in legal English, in both written and oral communications.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the core doctrines of intellectual property and information law.

Customized Curriculum

Students in the Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program will be advised by the Director of the Two-Year LLM program during their first year of study. During the second year of study, students will receive academic advising from the Director and/or Associate Director of International Graduate Programs.

Because students have an additional year to improve their legal English skills, the Two-Year LLM program will enroll students with English language exam scores of 85 TOEFL / 5.5 IELTS. However, only incoming Two-Year LLM students with an English language exam score of 100 TOEFL or 7 IELTS will be eligible to enroll in a bar elective offered in the two-year program. Two-Year LLM students with an English language exam score lower than 100 TOEFL / 7 IELTS will automatically be enrolled in the fall course LAW LE 659 Introduction to US Legal Culture (2 units) and, in the spring, in LAW LE 662 International Contracts and Negotiations (2 units).

The Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program will require the successful completion of at least 25 units in the first year and at least 24 units the second year. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.3 to graduate. Students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.3 after the first year of study are subject to dismissal from the program.

The program will be offered in residential format only. Students will be able to complete the program in four terms, or two years of full-time study, with the option to begin the program in either the fall (September) or spring (January) term.

First-Year Required Courses

• LAW AM 700 L2 Introduction to American Law (2 units)
• LAW AM 704 Y1/Y2 Legal Research and Writing Seminar for LLMs (2 units)
• LAW LE 650 US Legal Discourse (6 units)
• LAW LE 651 Academic Skills for US Law Studies (3 units)
• LAW LE 653 Legal Reasoning and Analysis (6 units)
• LAW LE 655 Persuasive Legal Advocacy (2 units)

First-Year Elective Courses

• LAW AM 701 Professional Responsibility for International LLMs (2 units)
• LAW AM 702 Property for LLMs (2 units)
• LAW AM 703 Evidence for LLMs (2 units)
• LAW AM 709 Fundamentals of US Constitutional Law for LLM Students (2 units)
• LAW AM 710 Criminal Law for LLMs (2 units)
• LAW AM 715 Essential Bar Skills (2 units)
• LAW AM 813 Contract Law Practice for LLM Students: Understanding the US Lawyer’s Perspective (2 units)
• LAW AM 815 Corporations for LLMs (4 units)
• LAW LE 659 Introduction to US Legal Culture (2 units)
• LAW LE 662 International Contracts and Negotiations (2 units)
• LAW LE 663 Advanced Oral Advocacy Skills (1 unit)
• LAW LE 664 Comparative Legal Practice for LLMs (1 unit)
• LAW SL 697S Academic Skills for the International Lawyer (0 units) (2-week summer course)
• LAW TX 901 Federal Income Tax I (2 units)
• LAW TX 902 Federal Income Tax II (2 units)

Second-Year Requirements

Students will follow the Intellectual Property & Information Law degree requirements on this page.

No Thesis Requirement

The Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program is classroom—not research—focused. As such, there is no thesis requirement, though students will likely write one or more lengthy research papers in the seminars they take. We make available writing coaches to help students organize and structure academic writing projects and improve expressive skills.

Special Programs

Pro Bono Program

Students can dedicate their legal skills and expanding knowledge to address unmet legal needs in the Boston area, throughout the United States, and around the world.

LLM Discovery Series

Students take part in visits to Boston-area law firms, corporations, government agencies, and courthouses where alumni introduce them to the broad range of real-world practice settings in America.

Professional Skills Lab

A one-and-a-half-day interactive program focusing on developing core professional competencies, practical skills, and long-term career management tools.

Outside the Classroom

A full menu of extracurricular activities connects students with fellow LLM and JD classmates, the city of Boston, and the beauty of New England.

After the Program—and Beyond

Career Paths

While many students know their future plans prior to completing the LLM program, some return to their former employers, and others begin internships before joining their home country’s bar. Many other graduates leverage their BU Law degrees to find new positions in their home countries, often by participating in the International Student Interview Program (ISIP) that takes place each January in New York—BU Law is one of the few schools invited to participate. A smaller number of students find permanent work in the United States.

Internships in the US

Curricular Practical Training

One unique feature of the Two-Year LLM program is its incorporation of Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which provides students on F-1 visas with invaluable opportunities to gain practical work experience in the second year of study. CPT allows students to engage in internships, externships, or other work placements that align with their academic and career goals. By working alongside legal professionals in real-world settings, students can apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their first year of coursework to tackle complex legal issues, hone their professional judgment, and develop a deep understanding of the practical application of American law. This hands-on experience not only enhances students’ legal acumen but also helps them build a professional network, gain exposure to different areas of law, and make informed decisions about their future career paths. The inclusion of CPT in the Two-Year LLM program offers students a unique advantage in their journey to becoming well-rounded legal practitioners. Students will be required to hold weekly check-ins with a designated faculty member and complete a short reflection piece as part of the CPT opportunity.

Optional Practical Training

Graduates of the Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program may seek to stay in the United States for a period of time after graduation—as permitted under visa regulations—to obtain practical work experience in a firm, company, or other organization. As an internationally trained LLM graduate, finding short-term, postgraduation work in the United States can be challenging, but it is not impossible; each year some students secure positions in the US for up to a year and beyond.

Throughout your time at BU, you will be guided and supported by a full-time associate director for professional development dedicated solely to LLM career issues. The associate director will assist you in identifying opportunities, preparing for interviews, and presenting yourself to the US legal market. Many LLM students find internships through connections from their home countries; you are encouraged to arrive in the United States with a list of connections to explore if you want to pursue an internship after Commencement.

Taking a US Bar Exam

Many Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law students have the goal of passing a US state bar exam. While the Two-Year LLM program is not specifically designed to prepare students to take a state bar exam in the United States, the program’s flexible curriculum will enable you to design a course of study leading to a high-level understanding of the US legal system. The Director and Associate Director of International Graduate Programs are available to meet with students to design a study plan that balances bar preparation with other areas of interest.

Each state has its own rules regarding the eligibility of internationally trained lawyers to sit for the bar exam; you should visit the American Bar Association’s website to learn about the requirements in each state. The current rules in New York, Massachusetts, and a handful of other states allow certain LLM students to sit for the exam under specified conditions. Each year, a majority of LLM students take the New York or Massachusetts bar exam after Commencement.