GENERAL LL.M. PROGRAM
CONCENTRATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL
SOUTHWESTERN STUDENTS LAW SCHOOL
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outhwestern LL.M. students are able to design an individualized course of study in consultation with a faculty advisor. The particular courses each student takes will depend upon their area of concentration. The following concentrations were developed by the international law faculty specifically for international students. ADVOCACY AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION A concentration in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution hones a wide range of skills necessary for effective advocacy and dispute resolution in multiple practice areas. Through a combination of theoretical and hands-on training courses, students in this concentration enhance their academic background through proficiency in real world know-how. Students in the Advocacy and Dispute Resolution track must take all of the following required courses. To fulfill the 24 required units, additional courses may be selected from the electives category.
REQUIRED COURSES Alternative Dispute Resolution (2) Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation (3)
Introduction to American Laws (2) Legal Writing for LL.M. Students (2) Trial Advocacy (3)
ELECTIVES Administrative Law (3) American Justice System Seminar (2) Art of Persuasion (1)a Art of Storytelling (1)a Civil Pretrial Practice (3) Class Action (2) Complex Criminal Litigation Capstone (2) Constitutional Criminal Procedure (3) Courtroom Procedure 101 (1)a Entertainment Business Affairs Negotiation (2)
Evidence (4) Family Law Procedure and Practice (2) Forensic Evidence (2) Legal Profession (2 or 3) International Litigation and Arbitration (2) Mass Tort Litigation Capstone (2 or 3) Practical Legal Research (1) Products Liability (3) Remedies (2 or 3)
a Offered in the January Intersession b Offered on campus and in certain Summer Abroad Programs
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW AND NEGOTIATION Southwestern offers international students the opportunity to concentrate their studies in International Business Law and Negotiation through a wide selection of courses and training in practical skills. They can learn American and International business concepts and practices, and refine skills in advocacy, counseling and negotiation, or drafting business contracts. Students in the International Business Law and Negotiation track must take the following three required courses and choose at least one of the additional required courses. To fulfill the 24 required units, additional courses may be selected from either the additional required courses or electives categories.
REQUIRED COURSES Contract Law, Skills, and Negotiation (3) Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation (3) Introduction to American Laws (2) Legal Writing for LL.M. Students (2)
REQUIRED SKILLS COURSES (choose at least one) Alternative Dispute Resolution (2) Business Planning (2) Drafting Business Contracts (2) Drafting Technology Agreements (3) continued on page 3 Note: Students may petition to take other upper division courses not listed here to fulfill the required units for the LL.M. degree. Petitions are approved on a caseby-case basis. Course selection is subject to change. Some elective courses are not offered every year, and seminar topics vary from year to year.
INTERNATIONAL LL.M. STUDENT VOICES I think Southwestern is an excellent program for international students. The school has a very diverse student body, allowing you to meet other people from different countries.”
Having worked as an in-house entertainment legal counsel for many years, Southwestern Law School was my only choice for pursuing my LL.M. in Entertainment & Media Law. Southwestern offers more than 60 courses related to entertainment law, and I’m able to focus on just what I need to excel in this field. The entire faculty and staff at Southwestern are amazing and helpful as they work each day with me to make my dreams come true. I am very happy and proud to be here at Southwestern!”
– Matthew Giuliani, Australia
• I love the LL.M. program at Southwestern because I have a foot in the entertainment industry. The campus is central to Los Angeles—the entertainment capital of the world.”
– Persis Hodiwalla, India
– Caroline Stussi, Switzerland
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When I was researching law schools, the first thing I did was contact some attorneys and prospective employers in the Los Angeles area to ask their opinion about Southwestern Law School. The response was phenomenal. I decided this was the place for me to earn my LL.M. degree.”
Southwestern has a very student-oriented approach—they focus on the students. They make sure you understand what you are studying, and if you face any kind of difficulties, they will guide you and help you find a solution.” – Abel Emhaye, Eritrea
– Siddharta Peddinti, Canada
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When I came to Southwestern, I did so with only one thing on my mind—to learn the law here in order to make a difference when I go back to Mexico. However, upon arriving at the law school, I was not only delighted by its history and beauty, but also by its people. There was never a day when someone on campus did not make me feel happy, make me laugh, encourage me to go on, or make me feel a part of the Southwestern family.”
The LL.M. field trip to the L.A. Superior Court was really interesting, getting to know the courts, the judges, actually watching the criminal process as it runs every day. The most interesting thing, actually, was finding out that our system is not that different from the American system. Our process is not entirely oral as it is in America, but we are heading toward it, so it was like a glance into the future.”
– Cristal Gonzalez Obregon, Mexico
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– Federico Sergio Efron, Argentina
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ELECTIVES Agency and Partnership (2) Antitrust Law (3) Bankruptcy (3) Cyber Law (2) Immigration Law (2) International Business Transactions (2 or 3)b International and Comparative IP Law (2) International Labor and Employment Law Seminar (2) International Litigation and Arbitration (2) International Trade Law (2 or 3) Latin American Laws and Institutions (2)b Law of International Development (2) Legal Profession (2 or 3) Mass Tort Litigation Capstone (2 or 3) Mergers and Acquisitions: Law, Strategy and Finance (3) Nonprofit Organizations (2) Practical Legal Research (1) Products Liability (3) Public International Law (2 or 3) Sales (2) Secured Transactions (3) Securities Regulation (3) Strategic Alliances (1)a Survey of Federal Income Tax (3) White Collar Crime (3)
OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Enrichment beyond the classroom is gained through exposure to guest speakers and visitors representing a wide range of perspectives on issues related to the law and current events. From Supreme Court justices to studio executives, visitors share their world views with students through symposia, Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute events, the Treusch Public Service Lecture, roundtable discussions, panel presentations and guest lectures. The Southwestern Journal of International Law complements the law school’s extensive course offerings and faculty expertise in international and comparative law. Recent volumes have examined future trends in international law and arbitration, environmental law, privatization in Central and South America, immigration and human rights, international crime and a host of other comparative law issues. Journal-sponsored symposia have explored such subjects as the future of children in international law, transnational litigation and civic procedure, the future of the exclusionary rule, the World Cup and Arctic sovereignty.
a Offered in the January Intersession b Offered on campus and in certain Summer Abroad Programs
SOUTHWESTERN’S EXPERT FACULTY The Southwestern faculty are passionate educators, eminent scholars and caring mentors. Outstanding students themselves, they all excelled in law school, many clerked for leading members of the judiciary at the state and federal level, and most gained concrete legal experience by practicing law in the private, governmental or nonprofit spheres. Southwestern’s 60+ full-time faculty members include internationally recognized experts in antitrust, civil rights, criminal justice, entertainment and media, environmental law, human rights, intellectual property, international law, technology, and trial and appellate advocacy, among other areas of the law. They hold key posts in scholarly, professional and civic organizations and have addressed Presidential commissions, Senate hearings and world forums. In addition, members of the adjunct faculty, distinguished judges and attorneys known for their expertise in specialized practices, enjoy sharing their real-world knowledge with students in stimulating elective courses.
Southwestern’s LL.M. program enables students to immerse themselves in the practice of law with the city of Los Angeles as their classroom. They can enrich their legal knowledge as well as their legal skill sets through a variety of classes. They can gain direct experience in some of the most fascinating judicial, advocacy, and transactional work that goes on in this city by participating in our clinics and our extensive externship program. In short, Southwestern offers the tools to bridge knowledge and experience, doctrine and application, study and practice—all in the setting of one of the most vibrant cities in the world. – Professor Priya Gupta, Faculty Director of the General LL.M. Program
THE LEGAL LABORATORY OF LOS ANGELES There is no place even remotely like it. From its wide sunny beaches to its vibrant downtown, from its ultra-chic shops to its trendy clubs, from its thriving cultural neighborhoods to its many corporate headquarters, Los Angeles lives and breathes energy and diversity. The city is also on the leading edge of several growth industries. LA County, with more than 87,000 jobs in the fashion industry, has surpassed New York’s fashion district workforce. The LA five-county area also has more than 700,000 people at work in health services/biomedical activities and 190,000 people in aerospace/technology. Below are just a handful of facts and figures about this cultural hotspot with beautiful weather.
I greatly enjoy working closely with our international students from dozens of countries around the world. We want to ensure that they get the most out of their experience in class and in our city—from choosing the right courses to finding housing to touring Hollywood, and all the other unique aspects of Southwestern and Los Angeles!” – Anne Wilson, Assistant Dean for General LL.M. and International Programs
DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHICS Population of nearly 4 million people representing 140 different countries Nearly 100 different languages spoken Largest populations of Armenians, Cambodians, Filipinos, Guatemalans, Iranians, Japanese, Koreans and Mexicans in the U.S. Second-largest LGBT population in the country
CLIMATE/GEOGRAPHY An average of 330 days of sunshine a year Average temperature in December: 68°F; average temperature in July: 83°F Altitudes ranging from 9 feet below sea level to 10,080 above Geography suitable for surfing, fishing, golf, snowboarding, skiing and hiking
ENTERTAINMENT/CULTURE 30 major movie and television studios An average of 150 productions filmed daily on L.A. streets More than 80 stage theaters, with 1,500+ annual theatrical productions Music industry capital and home of the world-famous Capital Records Building World-renowned professional sports teams: Dodgers, Galaxy, Kings, Lakers, Clippers and Sparks Major amusement parks within 30 miles: Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain More than 2,000 professional arts organizations Greatest concentration in the U.S. (300+) of museums of art, history, science, ethnic heritage and western culture More than 20,000+ restaurants offering cuisines from Argentine to Vietnamese
BUSINESS Number 1 ranked customs district and the nation’s leading customs districts for trade with 12 of its top 20 trade partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Ecuador and the Philippines 16th largest economy in the world (L.A. County) Number 1 import/export port in the U.S.; 5th largest in the world (cargo handled) Banking and financial center of the West Coast Largest government center outside of Washington D.C. Largest fashion district in the U.S. and hub of the apparel industry on the West Coast Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the number 1 international gateway to Asia/the Pacific and is the 6th busiest passenger airport in the world
Our international LL.M. students energize the class with their enthusiasm and offer unique comparative perspectives on legal issues that they share both in and out of the classroom.” – Professor Jonathan Miller
General LL.M. Program n (213) 738-5707 n llmprogram@swlaw.edu Southwestern Law School is approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610; (312) 988-6738). Since 1911, Southwestern Law School has served the public as a nonprofit, nonsectarian education institution. Southwestern does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, veteran/military status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law in connection with admission to the school, or in the administration of any of its educational, employment, housing, financial aid, scholarship, or student activity programs. Nondiscrimination has been the policy of Southwestern since its founding. The law school also requires employers using its placement services and facilities to abide by these standards and to ensure that no such discrimination occurs in hiring, promotion, or compensation for work assignments.