At the end of their 2^nd year, IILJ Scholars with exemplary academic record have an opportunity to apply to apply to the four-year JD-LLM in International Law, a highly selective program providing advanced specialist training in international law. The 4-year JD-LLM is a unique and innovative addition to NYU Law School’s academic programs. It is designed for students seeking specialist academic expertise in international law. The program aims to provide close mentoring and specialist training for a small number of outstanding students who will go on to make a significant contribution to scholarship, teaching, and innovative practice in the field of international law. The three-year JD program is followed by a one-year Master of Laws degree (LLM) that combines research and writing with some course work. Throughout the program Scholars will participate in academic colloquia, including presentation of their own scholarship during the LLM year, and in special seminars with leading scholars and practitioners in international law. Individual mentoring by international law faculty is a key component of the program. Potential mentors include Professors Philip Alston, Jose Alvarez, Kevin Davis, David Golove, Ryan Goodman, Robert Howse, Benedict Kingsbury, Martti Koskenneimi, Mattias Kumm, Samuel Rascoff, Linda Silberman, Richard Stewart, J.H.H. Weiler, and Katrina Wyman, along with many other NYU Law faculty

This 4-year program is designed to overcome the growing challenge in a three-year JD program of obtaining both an outstanding general legal education and the depth of specialist expertise and proven publication record that helps bring success in some of the most exciting parts of the international law job market. International law is a specialized and complex field. For the academic and international organizations job markets in particular, where a portfolio of high-quality written work is required, JD graduates are increasingly seeking not only clerkships and practical experience, but also post-graduate research and course work in international law. The NYU JD-LLM offers an integrated program of specialized training that is made possible by NYU Law’s unique range and depth in international law faculty, courses, and programmatic resources.

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In their first year, IILJ Scholars typically take International Law as a first year Spring semester elective course and participate in all IILJ events consonant with the demands of the first-year Law School curriculum. IILJ Scholars are eligible to receive funding for a suitable international law summer internship as well as assistance in arranging such an internship for the summer at the end of the first year.

IILJ Scholars in their second year of Law School take a mixture of international law courses and other courses in individual programs designed in consultation with the program director.

These typically include core and advanced courses on relevant international law subjects and at least one seminar involving substantial writing on an international law topic. In their second or third year, IILJ Scholars often take the IILJ Colloquium, which has thematic focus varying from year-to-year (in 2023-24, the theme of the IILJ Colloquium is “Space and Planetary Law and Governance”, which marks the emergence of the IILJ’s new inter-disciplinary Planetary project). More information about the IILJ Colloquium is available here.  In the course of the seminars and Colloquium, the Scholars are exposed to different theories and research methodologies, including rational institutionalism, normative theory, constructivism, economic analysis, historical or case study methods, and development and testing of policy.

During their second year, Scholars are encouraged to produce a publishable student note for a suitable journal, often begun as part of an internship the previous summer, and IILJ faculty are available to provide comments and advice in this work.  All second, third-year and LLM Scholars participate in the International Law and Human Rights Emerging Scholarship Conference at which they present their academic papers for review by faculty and peers.

A review of personal goals, curricular plans, and academic performance is held with the program director near the end of the second year. Continuation of the scholarship is subject to satisfactory performance and mutual agreement. The vast majority of Scholars then continue.

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Those IILJ Scholars who have been accepted into the JD-LLM Program subsequently undertake the LLM year, with individually-tailored course schedules, including an International Law Thesis course.

By the end of the program they will have written several very substantial supervised research papers relating to international law, with publication being the objective. These papers may address different aspects of the same big topic of the student’s central interest, although more commonly they explore several separate topics. The LLM is normally undertaken immediately following the JD, but a one-year deferral may be granted in special cases for clerkships.

Over the course of their law school career, IILJ Scholars participate in an extensive range of international law meetings and IILJ events, including speaker series given by NYU faculty and visiting scholars, judges, and practitioners.

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For students admitted to the JD-LLM Program, the Law School will meet the tuition charge for the LLM year. Living and other expenses in that year are the responsibility of the Scholar. Receipt of an IILJ Scholarship does not require Scholars to apply to the LLM segment of the program, nor does it guarantee admission to that program.

The Admissions office forwards the most promising of the relevant admissions applications to the IILJ, which reviews them and invites finalists to the campus to meet with us and to become familiar with the Law School. All questions regarding admissions to NYU Law JD program should be directed to the Office of Admissions.

For all students admitted to the JD-LLM Program, admission to the LLM will be presumptive for those who have successfully completed the 3-year JD component, provided the necessary GPA has been maintained and the program director both approves and certifies that the student is meeting all program requirements and is contributing fully and effectively to realization of the program’s goals. Any deferrals will require the approval of the program director as well as the Law School’s Admissions Office.

Applicants to the JD-LLM Program in their second year at NYU Law should submit applications by the specified deadline (generally in March) in accordance with details announced earlier that semester.

Applicants to the JD-LLM Program should include a letter explaining reasons for interest in the program and future career aspirations, academic transcripts from NYU Law and pre-Law School studies (informal transcripts are accepted), a description of the applicant’s involvement in relevant activities prior to and during JD studies, and an indication of areas of particular research interest. Students whose research interests cross over between international law and other areas of law, or between international law and other disciplines, are also encouraged to apply. Students interested in applying are encouraged to take part in international law events of interest to them during their first year but are advised to concentrate primarily on their first year courses. Potential applicants are encouraged to take the basic international law course and any relevant seminar requiring written work during the Fall semester of their second year.

Questions regarding JD-LLM program should be directed to Angelina Fisher.  Questions regarding admission to the NYU Law Graduate Programs (LLM, JSD), should be directed to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

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