International Law Concentration
The Concentration in International Law recognizes the growing globalization of the practice of law. Virtually all fields of law have been influenced by this trend: international and foreign law rules often affect US policy, legislation, and the claims of litigants in US courts and elsewhere. As US lawyers transact business and litigate across borders, they increasingly find it valuable to possess the knowledge and skills required to use international and foreign law to further the commercial, intellectual property, human rights, and other interests of their clients. Lawyers in the 21st century also increasingly need, or find it advantageous, to resort to international, regional, or foreign courts, arbitral tribunals, and other transnational dispute-settlement procedures.
Submit an Intent to Concentrate Form
View International Law Concentration Learning Outcomes
Requirements
A student may be certified as having completed the Concentration in International Law by meeting the following requirements:
1) Satisfactory completion of two of the three following classes:
International Business Transactions
3 credits
This course provides a comprehensive survey of the legal and business issues arising in international commercial transactions. The course will cover key areas of international business and economic law impacting cross-border transactions, including: the basic documentary transaction (international sales and shipment contracts); agencies and distributorships; franchises and licensing; joint ventures; international project finance; and Cross-border mergers and acquisitions. In addition to substantive law, the course introduces students to essential lawyering skills crucial for success in international transactional practice. Students will develop their skills in negotiation, contract drafting, and client counseling.
Through a combination of doctrinal study, case analysis, and practical exercises such as role-playing, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of international business transactions and the role of lawyers in facilitating these deals. The course will also address the importance of cultural awareness in international business dealings and explore topics such as corporate social responsibility and international dispute resolution. PREREQUISITE: Any course in International Law.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 842 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
International Human Rights
3 credits
This is an introductory seminar to international human rights law. The class will introduce students to the concepts of human rights, and the legal texts that have codified and provided content to those concepts in the last seventy years. The class aims to work at three levels: to examine the role of human rights (law) in history and politics; to analyze the doctrine of international human rights law; to introduce key areas of current and future human rights practice. We will accordingly look at the historical evolution and political role of human rights law, and ask whether there is such a thing as universal human rights, or whether the concepts are dependent on specific regions, cultures and political systems. We will look at the key institutions and mechanisms, at the global and regional level, for the monitoring and enforcement of human rights law. We will analyze the law on specific rights (for example the right to life, the prohibition of torture, the right to self-determination) as well as in specific contexts and themes (for example human rights and climate change; business and human rights) to understand the reach and function of human rights law in the international system. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 991 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
International Law
4 credits
Sloane section: This course offers a basic introduction to and survey of contemporary international law. We will consider both the traditional “law of nations” and postwar developments, which have shifted the fulcrum of international law from a relatively exclusive focus on the rights and duties of nation-states (countries) inter se to a broader focus on all of the diverse participants in international law today. The course agenda is twofold: first, to understand the basic structure, norms, and processes that characterize—and at times distinguish—international law; and second, to introduce a diverse sample of several of the most significant substantive fields, which, in combination, make up the contemporary international legal system. Specific topics typically include (1) international law’s history, nature, and sources; (2) the establishment, transformation, and termination of states and other actors in contemporary law; (3) national incorporation of international law, focusing on core concepts of U.S. foreign relations law; (4) how international law allocates jurisdiction to make and apply law, as well as selected immunities to jurisdiction; (5) international law’s postwar effort to protect human dignity through the evolution, expansion, or creation of comparatively novel fields, chief among them (a) human rights, (b) the law of war and (c) international criminal law; (6) how international law controls and regulates the planet’s resources (e.g., the law of the sea); and (7) economic sanctions and the use of force. We will conclude by considering some of the perennial questions, challenges, and doubts that international law faces. Relevant current events will be incorporated from time to time.
George section: This course will offer a basic survey of contemporary international law. It will teach students about the major issues of public international law and policy that influence current events, with an eye to both legal theory and modern legal practice. Specific topics will include: (i) the history, theory, and nature of international law; (ii) the sources of international law; (iii) the "actors" of international law -- states, international organizations (with emphasis on the U.N. system); (iv) the domestic incorporation of international law, with a focus on key concepts of U.S. foreign relations law; (v) international human rights; (vi) the use of force; and (vii) humanitarian law.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 927 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 927 B1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
2) Satisfactory completion of substantial written work on an international, foreign, or comparative law topic. This requirement can be satisfied by the same written work that satisfies the School of Law’s upper-class writing (certification) requirement or by written work that satisfies the requirements of a course or seminar for which credit is given towards the concentration. With the approval of one of the concentration advisers, this requirement may also be satisfied by written work completed in a context other than a course or seminar for which credit is given towards the concentration. If the candidate student wrote the paper for a course or seminar other than the foregoing, or for another purpose, or if the supervising professor is an adjunct (part-time) faculty member, then a faculty concentration advisor must review the paper and confirm that it satisfies the concentration paper requirement.
3) Satisfactory completion of a minimum of five (5) additional courses from the following courses and seminars in international, foreign, and comparative law, as well as, to a limited extent, graduate-level courses in international, foreign, or comparative law (see paragraph 4 below). This list may be updated periodically to reflect changes in course offerings.* Please be aware that some of these courses are not regularly offered. At least three (3) of the remaining courses must come from the following Law School courses or seminars in international, foreign or comparative law.
Animal Law
3 credits
What legal protections - if any - do animals truly have? How does the law define their worth, their suffering, or their right to exist free from harm? Introduction to Animal Law invites students into a complex and rapidly evolving field at the intersection of legal theory, ethics, and our relationship with non-human animals.
We begin by exploring foundational questions: What is the legal status of animals? Are they property, persons, or something in between? From there, we'll examine the legal frameworks that govern human-animal interactions across a wide range of contexts - animals as victims of abuse, as food, as companions, as research subjects, and even as consumers of antibiotics. Along the way, we'll consider the role of animals in entertainment, agriculture, and wildlife policy, highlighting both the explicit and hidden ways the law shapes their lives - and ours.
Though the course centers on U.S. Law, it will include comparative and international perspectives to explore how different societies conceptualize animal rights and welfare. A central inquiry will be the motivations behind human efforts to protect animals: Are these rooted in compassion, utility, justice - or something more complex? We will also tackle one of the most pressing legal dilemmas in the field: who was the right to speak for animals, and under what circumstances can humans represent them in legal proceedings?
The course is open to all students - no prior legal experience required. Students will be expected to engage critically with readings and contribute thoughtfully to discussions. Rich in legal debate and ethical complexity, animal law challenges us to rethink our most basic assumptions about rights, representation, and justice across species lines.
NOTE: There will be a midterm exam and a final (3,000 word) research paper. UPPERCLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to partially satisfy the requirement.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 796 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Artificial Intelligence & National Security: Law and Policy
2 credits
This course will explore the implications of advances in artificial intelligence for the law and policy of U.S. national security. Students will first learn to understand and classify AI systems. The class will then consider the lawfulness and prudence of current and potential future uses of AI in intelligence, law enforcement, and armed conflict. The course will also explore AI’s potential effects in the online information space, cybersecurity, and terrorism, before considering possible government responses and the applicable legal principles. The class will also situate AI within the broader geopolitical context, including great-power competition with China. Student assessments will include written assignments, a class presentation, and a final exam.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 959 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Capital Punishment in the United States
3 credits
Capital punishment is still implemented by the federal government and several states within the United States. This seminar will broadly examine the topic of capital punishment. Specific topics will likely include: morality and history of the death penalty; procedural path of a capital case from trial through initial appeal, habeas, and requests for clemency; statutes and cases that arose from the Supreme Court's decision in Furman v. Georgia; sentencing and mitigating/aggravating factors analyzed by juries when deciding capital cases; role of judges, juries, prosecutors, and defense attorneys in death penalty trials; and the impact of race, economic status, mental health, competency, and gender on whether a death sentence is issued. Students will engage in discussion and reflection and will also write an extensive paper (that can partially satisfy the upper-level writing requirement) and do a formal oral presentation of their paper topic for the class.
NOTE: The material in this course can be graphic and emotionally challenging, but it is nonetheless required. Students will not be excused from any assigned topic. Therefore, all students should carefully gauge their tolerance for this difficult material before choosing to take this class.
UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: All students are able to use this class to partially satisfy the requirement and a limited number of students may use this class to fully satisfy the requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
Challenging Carceral Feminism: Criminalization of Violence Against Women
3 credits
This seminar is aimed at giving the students an overview of feminist approaches to criminal law, with emphasis on the feminist projects of criminalising violence against women. By mapping the extensive points of contact between feminist groups and the state on the questions of rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence, trafficking, and child sexual abuse, the seminar is geared towards critically evaluating the upsides and downsides of such engagement. Besides focus on American domestic criminal law, the seminar will also look at similar issues in other jurisdictions, particularly in the Global South. The seminar will also touch upon feminist interventions in international criminal law to address war-time rape. Further, the course will introduce students to arguments of abolition feminism and other forms of anti-carceral scholarship. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: Students may use this class to satisfy the requirement with a 6,000 word research paper. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
Comparative VAT
2 credits
This course considers the details of the world's leading Value Added Tax system, the E.U. VAT. Students should expect to acquire a good grounding in the major legal instruments of the community (regulations, directions and decisions) which have binding effect on the member states as well as the recommendations and opinions which do not. Case law will be considered primarily from the leading decisions of the European Court Justice, although an occasional decision or two from domestic courts will be included. Major developments in the E.U. VAT are expected to be covered, including: (1) the adoption of the "reverse charge" mechanism as a response to widespread carousel fraud, (2) the inclusion of a transfer pricing regime under Rationalization Directive, and (3) proposals for major changes in the place of supply rules in services and intangibles. There are no pre-requisites for this course. JD students are not permitted to enroll in the online section of any tax courses without receiving prior approval from the Assistant Dean for Graduate, International, and Online programs.
FALL 2026: LAW TX 952 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW TX 952 OL, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
ENGLISH LEGAL HISTORY
3 credits
This course will cover the history of the common law in England from the late twelfth century to the time of the American Revolution. We will study the development of the legal profession, its doctrines, and its techniques in five areas: procedure, criminal law, property, contract, and tort. The readings emphasize primary sources, and students will give presentations in teams on historical documents handed out in class. Students can either write a research paper or complete a take-home examination. Research papers may, but need not fulfill the Writing Requirement. OFFERING PATTERN: This class not offered every year. Students are advised to take this into account when planning their long-term schedule.
EU Law
2 credits
This introductory course is designed to enable students to learn EU Law fundamentals, research current EU Law developments, and present their findings professionally. Reading assignments and in-class work will cover: Historical and economic foundations of the Treaty of Rome (EEC 1957); institutional and constitutional structure of the EU; legal infrastructure of the EU internal market; EU external relations; human rights protection in the EU legal system; legal management of the EU 'crises' of the 21st century; and EU law perspectives on geopolitical turmoil. An in-class examination shortly after spring break will assess students' knowledge of assigned readings (50% of the final grade). Students will present their own research to the class during the last part of the semester (50% of the final grade). ENROLLMENT RESTRICTION: Students who previously enrolled in the 3-credit seminar (JD880) may not take this course.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 890 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
European Union Law
3 credits
This seminar's content will include: Historical and economic foundations of the Treaty of Rome (EEC 1957); institutional structure of the EU; internal market and the four freedoms of movement (goods, services, people and capital); fundamental rights protection; the EU crises of the 21st century, including migration and Brexit; and the prospect of Ukraine's accession. Assessment: 1) Students will be asked to discuss assigned readings (or, occasionally, videos) in each meeting. They will periodically be asked to upload short answers on our Blackboard site. 2) Students will select an EU Law topic, after consultation with the instructor and with the law librarian. After spring break, on a schedule to be determined, they will provide an overview of their chosen topics to the class. By the last day of spring exams, students will submit their complete research papers (approx. 6000 words, not counting footnotes). The seminar paper requirement can also be satisfied by two papers (approx. 3000 words each, not counting footnotes). UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
Food Law
3 credits
This is an introductory survey course in food law. We will discuss a range of issues impacting the food system from farm to table including health and safety, transparency and choice, food exceptionalism, and food justice. We will discuss these issues through an in-depth exploration into the history, development, and enforcement of major federal food statutes and regulations, with emphasis on the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Foreign Relations Law
3 credits
This course introduces the tripartite framework of constitutional, statutory, and international law that both authorizes and constrains the conduct of U.S. foreign affairs. After studying how the framing generation allocated foreign affairs power between and among the federal branches and the states, we will focus on discrete topics of contemporary relevance or interest. Topics vary at the margins from year to year but generally include (1) the role, powers, and limits of the judiciary in foreign affairs; (2) presidential and congressional foreign affairs powers—and the dynamics of cooperation, acquiescence, and conflict between the political branches; (3) how U.S. national law incorporates international law insofar as it does; (4) whether and how constitutional rights apply to persons outside U.S. territory or jurisdiction; (5) war powers; (6) the detention, interrogation, and trial of unprivileged belligerents (e.g., criminal gangs, terrorist networks, rebel forces, etc.); (7) sanctions; and (8) civil rights and liberties in war. We may have the time to cover other topics. Current events will be woven into the curriculum periodically. There will be an in-person final exam.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 992 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Global Islamophobia
2 credits
Western nations are experiencing a wave of populism eroding the liberal values these nations boast as setting them apart from illiberal regimes in the Global South and East. Animated by a sense of victimhood, an increasing number of citizens from majority groups are attracted to populist rhetoric by right wing ideologues who condemn immigrants, Muslims, and racial minorities as threats to liberal democracy. The stronger the populists become, however, the more the very system they purport to protect is destabilized. As xenophobia and Islamophobia is normalized in mainstream U.S. media and among right wing politicians, the chorus of populism demands building walls, banning Muslims, ending affirmative action, and restricting religious freedom. In this course, students will learn to think critically about the social, economic, political, and legal factors that contribute toward prejudice, discrimination, and human rights violations against Muslims and Arabs in the United States, Europe, and Asia in an era of rising populism. LIMITED WRITING REQUIREMENT OPTION: A limited number of students may be permitted to satisfy the upper-class writing requirement.
Immigrants' Rights - Human Traffic Clinic
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program. Students have three fieldwork options: (1) concentration in immigrants' rights; (2) concentration in human trafficking; or (3) work on both types of cases. Students focusing on immigrants' rights will represent adult and children asylum seekers and other vulnerable noncitizens with the opportunity to litigate an immigration case in the Boston Immigration Court. Students focusing on anti-trafficking work will represent survivors of labor and sex trafficking in a wide range of civil matters and engage in policy-related work to address gaps in the local and national landscape. Students focusing on both immigrants' rights and human trafficking will represent immigrant clients and survivors of human trafficking in a range of civil matters. All students will have the opportunity to engage in immigrants' rights and human trafficking work through "Know-Your-Rights" visits at the local jail/detention center and by conducting intake at the Family Justice Center for human trafficking survivors. Students, working in pairs, assume the primary responsibility for multiple clients' complex cases, from start to finish. Students conduct client interviews, track down witnesses, speak with experts, develop documentary, testimonial and expert evidence, and write legal briefs. The clinical supervisors prepare students for their cases through weekly supervision meetings, mid-semester and final individual meetings, and mock hearings, as appropriate. NOTE: The Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. PRE/CO-REQUISITE: Evidence. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 859 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 859 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Immigrants' Rights/Human Traffic Clinic
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program. In this seminar, students will further develop their trial advocacy skills by participating in multiple mock hearings and portions of simulated trials. In particular, this course will focus on developing students' competencies in the following topics: (1) witness preparation, including working with lay and expert witnesses; (2) oral advocacy, including direct/cross examination and opening and closing statements; (3) factual and legal research; (4) cross-cultural lawyering and implicit bias; (5) legal advocacy and brief writing; (6) basic negotiation; and (7) developing professional roles and identities. Students will also be introduced to the intersections between criminal and immigration law, and to law and organizing in the immigration context. NOTE: The Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 888 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Immigrants' Rights/Human Traffic Core Skills
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program. The seminar is the fall companion course for students enrolled in the Program. It provides a practice-oriented introduction to advocacy on behalf of indigent clients, including noncitizens and survivors of human trafficking. Students will develop a wide range of competencies with classes focusing topics including: (1) client interviewing and counseling; (2) case planning; (3) legal research and writing; (4) cultural competency; (5) legal story-telling and developing a theory of the case; (6) affidavit writing; (7) vicarious and secondary trauma; and (8) professional responsibility. Students will participate in class simulations, present in case rounds, and actively engage in facilitated discussions. There also will be two boot camp classes for students with specialized training in the following areas: (1) immigration law with a focus on asylum law and representing vulnerable noncitizens; and (2) human trafficking law with a focus on the protection framework in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and multi-disciplinary lawyering. NOTE: The Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 882 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
IMMIGRATION LAW
3 credits
This class will cover the immigration laws of the United States, including the administrative and regulatory framework of the United States agencies charged with enforcing U.S. immigration laws. The topics covered by this course include the power of the Congress to regulate immigration; the effect of politics on immigration policy; nonimmigrant and immigrant visa classifications; the law of asylum; the intersection of immigration law and criminal law; grounds of removal from the United States; relief from deportation, immigration court representation and access to justice; and the law of naturalization and derived citizenship.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 968 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Inbound International Tax
2 credits
This course will cover the U.S. tax rules applicable to taxation of income from U.S. (and sometimes foreign) sources received by corporations and individuals that are non-residents of the United States. In some cases, such income will be derived from passive investments and be in the form of dividends, interest, rents, or royalties. In other cases, the income will arise from active business activities. The course will address the concept of residence and entity classification, the U.S. source of income rules, the U.S. withholding tax rules (including the obligations of withholding agents) with respect to non-business income, the types of activities that can generate a "trade or business" (tax nexus) in the U.S., the U.S. rules for determining income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business and thus taxable in the U.S., the branch profits tax, FIRPTA (foreign investment in U.S. real property) and the U.S. rules applicable to financing U.S. operations owned by non-U.S. taxpayers Finally, we will address the impact of tax treaties on the taxation of income of non-residents. This course will be of interest to students who will represent foreign resident taxpayers with economic operations in the United States. Prerequisite or corequisite: Federal Income Taxation I; Recommended: Tax Aspects of International Business. JD students are not permitted to enroll in the online section of any tax courses without receiving prior approval from the Assistant Dean for Graduate, International, and Online programs.
SPRG 2027: LAW TX 953 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW TX 953 OL, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
International Arbitration
3 credits
This class is intended to introduce students to the key legal and practical issues encountered when resolving disputes through international arbitration. Arbitration is a private means of dispute resolution where the parties agree to be bound by the decision of an arbitrator of their choice, whose decision in a final award has the same legal force as a court judgment or order. International arbitration is the main form of dispute resolution relating to cross-border commercial disputes and is also sometimes used in public international law contexts involving governments. This course will explore both doctrinal issues--such as what constitutes 'consent' to arbitrate and the relationship between international tribunals, who adjudicate the disputes, and national courts, who compel arbitration and enforce (or void) arbitral decisions--and policy debates, such as what issues are appropriate for resolution by private arbitrators rather than judges and the social ramifications of the lack of transparency in arbitration. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may be used to satisfy the requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who waitlist for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 980 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW
3 credits
This class will focus chiefly on the crimes for which individuals incur criminal liability directly under contemporary international law. We will cover, in particular, (i) what crimes qualify as international in this sense, general principles of international criminal jurisdiction and immunities, and the historical evolution of the field from its genesis after World War I to Nuremberg to the permanent International Criminal Court established in 2002; (ii) treaty provisions, statutes, and tribunal jurisprudence defining the nature and scope of liability for core international crimes, viz., genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes; (iii) modern debates over other, and at times more controversial, international crimes, such as torture and CIDT, as well as the crime of aggression; (iv) the minimal requirements and forms of individual criminal responsibility under international law; and (v) selected special topics, including the principle of legality, head of state immunity, and crimes of sexual violence. LIMITED WRITING REQUIREMENT OPTION: A limited number of students will be permitted to satisfy the upper-class writing requirement with this seminar after consultation with the instructor. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
International Development and Project Finance
3 credits
Over the last 40 years, financially-constrained governments in both developed and developing nations have increasingly turned to the private sector to develop, finance, build and operate essential infrastructure projects, including electricity and natural gas networks, renewable and conventional power generation projects, airports, toll roads, liquified natural gas facilities, sports stadia, hospitals, student housing and others. The private sector's preferred financing solution for the hundreds of billions of dollars a year in necessary infrastructure projects is non-recourse 'project finance', under which individual or limited groups of projects are financed on a standalone basis, relying solely on the economic potential of the project to repay lenders and equity investors.
Project finance is a multidisciplinary practice area covering corporate law, securities law, contract law, construction law, insurance law, secured lending and banking laws, regulatory laws and policies, environmental law, real estate law, and tax law among others. Project finance is increasingly affected and driven by environmental, social and governance issues, including climate change.
This seminar will examine both the norms and conventions of project finance and emerging trends in project finance practice, including sources of capital, the role of government and the role of E.S.G.
The seminar will analyze and evaluate a hypothetical project throughout the year. We will look at the lifecycle of the project, from conception, permitting and development, financing, construction through operation, including what happens when projects go bad. Our emphasis will be on typical projects that business lawyers may encounter.
A final 'Client Memorandum' of 6,000-7,000 words outlining key issues and risks in the hypothetical project and recommending solutions will be required in lieu of an examination. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 936 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
International Economic Law and Climate Change
3 credits
This course explores the following question: To what extent do the international rules governing trade and investment constrain or facilitate countries in making and implementing climate commitments? Students will examine the history of how today’s trade and investment agreements and climate agreements have been formed and the underlying principles that shape them. They will become familiar with the texts of those treaties and how they have been interpreted in modern jurisprudence, including the most recent decisions by the International Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Body, and investment dispute tribunals. They will also become familiar with how this system of treaties is intended to shape national-level policymaking, which, in turn, shapes the actions and behavior of private firms and individuals. The course includes topics such as (1) environmental disputes at the World Trade Organization, (2) investor-state dispute settlement targeting environmental and climate policies, (3) efforts at the bilateral, regional and mega-regional level to incorporate environmental commitments into free trade agreements, (4) unilateral efforts by the EU and the US to promote climate-friendly policy-making worldwide and (5) developing country perspectives in the "just transition" movement. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the points of harmony and tension between these two regimes and will have thought critically and creatively about the ways forward. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement with approval of the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 748 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
International Estate Planning
2 credits
The course will cover international estate planning from two perspectives: (1) U.S. citizens residing outside of the U.S. or owning assets located outside of the U.S.; and (2) foreign citizens residing in the U.S. or transferring assets in or to the U.S. U.S. gift and estate tax laws applicable to both situations will be studied in depth in a practice-oriented manner. Planning techniques and vehicles utilized in international estate planning will be explored, in particular trusts and the special U.S. income tax rules applicable to foreign trusts with U.S. beneficiaries and off-shore U.S.-grantor trusts. The impact of non-U.S. transfer taxes and tax treaties will be considered, as well as non-tax foreign laws impacting on international estate planning. The course will also cover the U.S. tax and estate planning issues applicable to "mixed marriages" where one spouse is a U.S. citizen and the other is a non-U.S. citizen, and multi-jurisdiction situations of gifts or bequests from non-U.S. donors or decedents to U.S. beneficiaries. Finally, the course will also consider cultural and ethical issues peculiar to the area of international estate planning. Prerequisite or corequisite: Estate and Gift Tax, Estate Planning. JD students are not permitted to enroll in the online section of any tax courses without receiving prior approval from the Assistant Dean for Graduate, International, and Online programs.
International Human Rights
3 credits
This is an introductory seminar to international human rights law. The class will introduce students to the concepts of human rights, and the legal texts that have codified and provided content to those concepts in the last seventy years. The class aims to work at three levels: to examine the role of human rights (law) in history and politics; to analyze the doctrine of international human rights law; to introduce key areas of current and future human rights practice. We will accordingly look at the historical evolution and political role of human rights law, and ask whether there is such a thing as universal human rights, or whether the concepts are dependent on specific regions, cultures and political systems. We will look at the key institutions and mechanisms, at the global and regional level, for the monitoring and enforcement of human rights law. We will analyze the law on specific rights (for example the right to life, the prohibition of torture, the right to self-determination) as well as in specific contexts and themes (for example human rights and climate change; business and human rights) to understand the reach and function of human rights law in the international system. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 991 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
International Human Rights Clinic
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the International Human Rights Clinic. Students in the Clinic work on policy issues on behalf of institutional clients that represent refugees, forced migrants, immigrants, and stateless persons. Students work on long-term human rights projects such as: working with NGOs in advocacy in the UN human rights system or in regional organs (e.g., Inter-American and European human rights bodies); advocating for durable solutions to statelessness and citizenship deprivation in the Middle East; and organizing workshops and presentations to major stakeholders around the world. Students conduct legal and factual research and outreach to partners and project strategy development, and prepare written reports and submissions to international and regional agencies. The clinic fieldwork may include international travel. PRE/CO-REQUISITE: International Human Rights (LAW JD 991). NOTE: The International Human Rights Clinic counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 975 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 975 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
International Human Rights Clinic: Human Rights Advocacy
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the International Human Rights Clinic. This is the companion spring classroom component for students in the Clinic. The course focuses on further developing skills in the context of the substantive law and mechanisms of the Inter-American Human Rights system. Classes will cover: interviewing and counseling institutional (non-governmental organizations) clients; designing and implementing human rights field research; ethical pitfalls and professional 'best practices' in human rights collaborations with international networks; advocacy within the Inter-American machinery; and simulations using comparative and foreign human rights problems. The classes will be a combination of readings and discussion; simulations; student presentations; short papers and case rounds to discuss project work; and group and individual feedback on project development. NOTE: This course counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 843 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
International Human Rights Clinic: Skills 1
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the International Human Rights Clinic. This course is the companion fall classroom component for students enrolled in the Clinic and provides an introduction to essential lawyering skills, with a focus on those relevant to the practice of human rights law. The goal of the course is to help students develop a wide range of competencies, including written and oral communication and advocacy, legal research, factual investigation, witness interviewing, professional responsibility, and strategic thinking and problem-solving. NOTE: This course counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 840 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
International Law Research
1 credits
An important component of understanding international law is mastering all the diverse sources of this area of law. Students will learn to navigate the international system as well as the relevant primary sources of law. Students will learn research strategies and skills for locating treaties, decisions of international tribunals, documents of international organizations and other sources of state practice. Among the organizations the course will discuss the United Nations, the OAS, the EU and the WTO. In addition, students will be introduced to strategies for researching the law of foreign jurisdictions. Students will gain hands-on experience in answering legal research questions in the area of international and comparative law. Classes will combine instruction and hands-on exercises using major print, electronic, and web based resources for international law research. NOTE: This class counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT: A student who fails to attend the first class or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the class. Students who are on the wait list are required to attend the first meeting to be considered for enrollment.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 707 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 707 B1, Aug 31st to Oct 16th 2026
International Law: Adv. Topics
3 credits
The International Law Commission (ILC/the Commission) is the only subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly mandated by the UN Member States to initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification. The ILC, which is comprised of 34 international legal experts from around the world nominated and elected by States, has over the past seven decades made seminal contributions to the development of modern international law. This advanced seminar, which offers students a unique opportunity to learn how international law is made from a visiting faculty member who serves on the ILC, will first explore the historical origins, mandate, working methods and contributions of the ILC towards the establishment of a rule-based international legal system. The seminar will then critically evaluate the main topics under current study by the Commission, their present status, and future direction. These include Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction; Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea; Sea level rise in relation to international law; and Subsidiary means for the determination of rules of international law. Overall, the seminar, which is open to students who have completed an introductory course in international law, exposes students to the process of international law's codification and progressive development. Seminar grades will be based on a) paper (60 ); b) class presentation (20 ) and class participation (20 ). LIMITED WRITING REQUIREMENT OPTION: A limited number of students will be permitted to satisfy the upper- class writing requirement with this seminar after consultation with the instructor. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
INTERNATIONAL TAX I
2 credits
This course provides an overview of U.S. international taxation as it affects both individuals and corporations. Lectures and discussions will examine how U.S. tax law addresses both inbound (non-U.S. persons) and outbound (U.S. persons) taxpayers / transactions. Among the specific topics to be addressed are the structure of U.S international taxation ("worldwide" v. territorial taxation), U.S. anti-deferral regimes (controlled foreign corporation and passive foreign investment company rules), and mechanisms to ameliorate double taxation (tax treaties, the Sec. 911 exclusion, the foreign tax credit). Course readings will include primary sources of U.S. tax law as well articles and commentary on U.S. international tax policy. While not a primary objective of International Tax I, upon completion of the course students should be able to impress their friends at cocktail parties by being able to explain in exacting detail how Apple, Google and others achieve their often enviable effective tax rates.
International Trade Regulation
3 credits
This course focuses on the law governing international trade, including both the law established by the World Trade Organization and relevant U.S. laws. This will include an in-depth analysis of the treaties, regulations, and case law that govern international trade. The course will cover the basic principles and mechanisms of international trade law, including most-favored-nation (MFN), national treatment, dispute settlement, as well as relevant laws in different substantive areas such as tariffs, quotas, services, intellectual property, and trade remedies. The course will also examine the political economy of international trade relations, including how economic and political forces have shaped current regulatory policies and may shape future policies.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 858 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Intro to Project Finance
2 credits
This course focuses on the structure, documentation and negotiation of a typical project finance transaction. The class will explore legal, financial, and policy problems involved in investing in domestic and cross- border power and infrastructure projects. We will focus on strategies and techniques of structuring and financing such investments, and will touch upon the legal and regulatory environment for investment, and in the context of foreign investment, the role of political risk management and the implications of treaties, conventions, and other relevant law. Selected domestic and cross- border investment transactions, both actual and hypothetical, will be used to illustrate recurring issues. This course may contain a graded group drafting component where students draft and negotiate a loan agreement. JD students are not permitted to enroll in the online (OL) section of any Banking course.
FALL 2026: LAW BK 957 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Islamic Law
3 credits
This seminar introduces students to the sources, jurisprudential methodology, doctrines, actors and institutions, and operation of Islamic law from classical to modern times. Readings include primary sources--foundational texts, fatwas (legal opinions), case reports, and constitutional and statutory provisions--along with secondary sources that discuss the history and evolution of Islamic law, theories of Islamic legal interpretation, competing views of the meaning and application of Islamic law, and variations in the role Islamic law plays in the legal systems of today's Muslim-majority countries. Specific topics to be covered include: the roots of the law and the derivation of legal rules from those roots; the respective roles of scholars, judges, executive officials and other actors in determining and enforcing rules of Islamic law; judicial procedure and rules of evidence; reform and the reception of Western law in the 19th and 20th centuries; democracy, constitutionalism, and contemporary theories and forms of "Islamic" states; and Islamic law in the U.S. and other "non-Muslim" lands. Cases in criminal law, family law, Islamic finance, and other fields will provide opportunities for in-depth discussions of substantive Islamic law, and regular reference to both the common-law tradition and the modern American legal system will offer comparative perspectives. Grades will be based on class participation, short weekly writing assignments, and a take-home final examination paper. PREREQUISITE: None. No background in Islamic studies is required. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class does not satisfy the requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This class will not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 675 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Law & Ethics of War
3 credits
This seminar will critically examine the chief legal norms and ethical precepts that regulate war. We will focus on both the just war tradition and contemporary international law, which include the law governing recourse to force (jus ad bellum) and the conduct of hostilities (jus in bello). Ad bellum topics generally include (1) the U.N. Charter framework for collective force under Security Council auspices; (2) the inherent or natural right of self-defense codified in Article 51 of the Charter; (3) ad bellum necessity and proportionality constraints on resort to force; (4) the novel and persistent challenge to the traditional jus ad bellum posed by diverse non-state belligerents and private armies (e.g., rebels, gangs, transnational terrorist networks, etc.) operating in the world today, all waging war in a legal and geopolitical environment that differs tremendously from the interstate paradigm that animated the drafters of the Charter in 1945; and (5) the associated topics of a state’s alleged right to use force to rescue nationals taken hostage by or in a foreign state, humanitarian intervention, and the so-called responsibility to protect (R2P). Jus in bello topics deal with the legitimate means and methods of warfare. Specifically, we typically cover (6) non-combatant immunity; (7) military necessity, distinction, and proportionality (MNDP) principles; (8) perfidy, prohibited weapons, and other illegal means or methods of warfare; (9) cyberwar, autonomous weapons, drones, and weaponized artificial intelligence; (10) asymmetric warfare; and (11) supreme emergencies, that is, circumstances in which violating the letter of the law of war might be excused or justified. Current events will be woven into the curriculum from time to time. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT:: With the instructor's permission, a limited number of students may satisfy the upper-class writing requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 979 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
LAW & STRUCTURAL SOCIAL CHANGE
3 credits
This seminar is an introduction to comparative law's themes and methods. Accordingly, the seminar is organized in two parts. The readings selected for the first part present theoretical articulations and practical applications of the main methodological approaches relied upon by comparative lawyers. Participants will become acquainted with the "mechanics", as well as the broader implications, of the various ways of comparing: functionalism, structuralism, culturalism, postmodern neo-culturalism and critical comparative law. The materials discussed in the second part explore how these different methodologies play out in recent and heated comparative law debates. Participants will be asked to reflect over the common law-civil law dichotomy and its implications for the debate over the European Civil Code as well as for projects of harmonization, such as the World Bank's "Legal Origins" study; the circulation of legal rules and institutions and the export of constitutional models in Eastern Europe and Iraq; the ambiguous relation between US and European legal cultures and the debate over different ideas of "privacy"; the "West" and the "Orient" in family law reform. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may not be used to satisfy the requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
Microfinance
2 credits
This course provides an introduction to the field of microfinance, particularly its rapid evolution and role in economic development. Students will learn key concepts including the study of lending methodologies, products available to micro-entrepreneurs and the legal challenges, public policy considerations, and risks faced by investors, technical experts and financial providers. This course will also examine financial practices in the developing world such as payment and remittance systems, which allow foreign nationals to transfer funds internationally within and outside traditional banking systems. JD students are not permitted to enroll in the online (OL) section of any Banking course.
Restorative Justice
3 credits
A study of the fundamental principles and practices of restorative justice as applicable to church and society. The course explores the needs and roles of key stakeholders (victims, offenders, communities, justice systems), outlines the basic principles and values of restorative justice, introduces some of the primary models of practice, and identifies challenges to restorative justice and strategies to respond to them. The course is organized around the issue of crime and harm within a western legal context, but attention is given to applications in other contexts. Of particular interest is the contribution of traditional or indigenous approaches to justice as well as applications in post-conflict situations. The class meets at the School of Theology and will include students from both the Law School and the School of Theology. Students will be graded on the basis of their written work and classroom performance. There will be no final exam.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 827 A1, Jan 19th to Apr 29th 2027
Supervised Research and Writing
Var credits
Upper-class students may pursue a special research interest under the guidance of a full time faculty member, and earn one or two semester credits for a Supervised Research and Writing project (also known as an Independent Study). The study must involve a substantial investment of time and effort, and result in significant written work that reflects a high standard of legal scholarship. The student's final grade will be based solely upon written work submitted, and will be included in the student's average. NOTE: Students must register for Supervised Research and Writing directly with the Registrar's Office. You may not register via the Student Portal.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 B1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 B2, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 C1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 C2, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 D1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 E1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 F1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 G1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 H1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 I1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 J1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 K1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 M1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 M2, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 N1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 O1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 P1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 R1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 S1, Oct 19th to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 S2, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 T1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 T2, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 V1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 W1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 Z1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 841 Z2, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 B1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 B3, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 C1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 C2, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 D1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 D2, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 E1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 F1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 F2, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 G1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 H1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 I1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 J1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 K1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 L1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 L2, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 M1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 N1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 P1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 R1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 S1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 T1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 U1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 V1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 W1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 841 Y1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Supervised Study - Other
Var credits
Upper-class students may pursue a supervised study project under the guidance of a BU Law faculty member (or, in special cases, a non-law BU faculty member), and earn one or two semester credits. Other Supervised Study projects may include, but are not limited to, advocacy before courts, agencies, or legislatures; field research; interdisciplinary studies; creating teaching materials; creating public-facing legal materials; or co-authoring written work with a faculty member. Supervised Study other than supervised research and writing (JD841) must have learning outcomes consistent with those of the student's degree. All Supervised Study must involve a substantial investment of time and effort and meet a high standard of academic performance. The student's final grade will be based solely upon work completed by the semester deadline and may either be included in the student's average or taken on a Credit / No Credit / Honors basis. Projects supervised by non-BU Law faculty will be graded solely on a Credit/ No Credit/ Honors basis. NOTE: Students must register for Supervised Study directly with the Registrar's Office. You may not register via the Student Portal.
Tax Aspects of International Business
2 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: TX 901; Undergraduate Corequisites: TX 901 - Tax aspects of international business transactions, both "inbound" and "outbound", with particular attention to fiscal jurisdiction, the foreign tax credit, allocation of income among affiliated companies, treaties, anti-abuse measures aimed at tax haven operations, information reporting and foreign investment in U.S. securities and real estate. Prerequisite or corequisite: Federal Income Taxation I. JD students are not permitted to enroll in the online section of any tax courses without receiving prior approval from the Assistant Dean for Graduate, International, and Online programs.
FALL 2026: LAW TX 906 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW TX 906 OL, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Topics in the Application of AI to the Law
2 credits
AI has come to the practice of law, raising many issues and implications that are essential to understand. This two-credit elective examines what AI is and how it works, and how emerging AI technologies intersect with civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. The course will explore topics such as liability for autonomous systems; algorithmic decision making in government and private markets; proof, causation, and evidence; personhood; bias and profiling; authorship and IP; morality and professional responsibility; and ultimately how AI is and should be regulated through litigation, legislation, and agency action. While we discuss how AI works, algorithms, and related matters, no technical background is required. There will be a final exam.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 792 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Transnational Lending
2 credits
This course examines legal issues arising in debt financing provided by financial institutions in international markets. The structure of transnational loan agreements, guarantees, letters of credit, participation and loan sales transactions, and basic instruments and documents common to trade financing are examined. The nature of the documentation and techniques used in such transactions, as well as regulatory patterns, legal problems and international law reform efforts, are studied. The course also covers issues related to the syndication of debt financing transactions, governing law, and creditor remedies. JD students are not permitted to enroll in the online (OL) section of any Banking course.
SPRG 2027: LAW BK 958 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW BK 958 OL, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
* The School of Law may not offer all of the enumerated courses every academic year, although it offers most regularly. Some of these courses are offered through the Graduate Banking & Financial Law Program or the Graduate Tax Program. Consequently, please note that subject to availability, students wishing to take courses offered by either (a) the Graduate Banking and Financial Program or (b) the Graduate Tax Program must obtain permission from and register through these respective programs.
** In order for the Independent Study to qualify as one of the required courses, the Independent Study topic must be approved in advance in consultation with one of the Concentration Faculty Advisors.
4) Students who wish to receive concentration credit for course offerings not listed above in satisfaction of any of the above requirements may do so with the approval of one of the faculty concentration advisers. Approval for course offerings taken outside of the Law School is limited to graduate-level courses in international, foreign, or comparative law. Such courses may include those taken in the dual degree program with the Department of International Relations, courses taken in one of the Law School’s overseas program, and courses taken at other law schools, in other graduate programs at Boston University, or elsewhere. A maximum of two course offerings may be approved for any student under the provisions of this paragraph. To ensure maximum flexibility for students in their future career decisions, transcripts of students who elect the Concentration in International Law will not reflect the concentration. Rather, the BU Law Registrar’s Office will record completion of the concentration and the award of honors in the concentration and will make available official documentation of these accomplishments at the student’s request.
5) Students who receive at least a 3.5 grade point average in School of Law course offerings taken to satisfy the requirements of the concentration will be awarded Honors in the Concentration in International Law. To be eligible for Honors, a minimum of five concentration courses comprising at least 15 credit hours must be in Law School course offerings. In accordance with the Law School’s regulations, only Law School courses will be included in calculating a student’s grade point average, and only such courses will be used to determine whether a student has earned Honors.
6) The transcripts of students who elect to complete the Concentration in International Law will not reflect the concentration. Rather, the School of Law’s Registrar’s Office will record completion of the concentration and, if relevant, the award of Honors in the Concentration, and will make available official documentation of these accomplishments at the student’s request.
Faculty
BU Law’s award-winning faculty includes numerous scholars and teachers with expertise in international business and finance to comparative law and European law. Our faculty offers students a wide breadth of specialized skills in virtually all areas of international and transnational law.
Professor Robert Sloane is the faculty advisor for the Concentration in International Law. Students who have questions about the substantive aspects of the concentration should contact rdsloane@bu.edu .
Questions concerning administrative details should be directed to Associate Dean Gerry Muir .
