Columbia University - Columbia Law School (CLS)

For more than a century, Columbia Law School has educated students who, having already earned a basic law degree, wish to pursue an advanced course of full-time study in furtherance of careers in teaching, public service, or the international practice of law. In Spring 2019, Columbia Law School welcomed its inaugural class for the vanguard Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law. This accelerated hybrid learning program is designed for high-achieving, experienced lawyers ready to advance their careers, build a global network, and take the lead in complex cross-border transactions. 

LL.M. Program
Columbia Law School offers a general LL.M. degree, giving students the freedom to select their courses from an incredibly vast curriculum. Beginning with a robust three-week long Orientation program, which includes our required Introduction to American Law and LL.M. Legal Research and Writing courses for foreign-trained lawyers, our seasoned advisers in the Office of Graduate Degree Programs help you design an individual program of study to meet your academic and professional goals—whether to broaden your general preparation; to specialize in a particular field; or to deepen your knowledge of American, international, or other legal systems. LL.M. students sit alongside J.D. students in class, resulting in a mix that promotes an exchange of fresh ideas and perspectives.

Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law
The Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law is a program as agile and ambitious as you are. Earn your LL.M. degree in six months through our intensive program designed to minimize time away from home and work. Learn from the world’s top corporate law faculty in small classes, and gain an expert foundation in global business law plus the professional skills you need to stay nimble and innovative. Designed for experienced lawyers who have a minimum of approximately five years of professional experience, this accelerated program combines online courses with an intensive 12-week residency on Columbia Law School’s campus in New York and our transformative Leadership and Management series. Hear from our recent Executive LL.M. alumni here.

J.S.D.
Columbia Law School also offers the Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.).  This degree provides opportunity and encouragement for distinguished scholarship through advanced seminars and colloquia, facilities for independent research, and the advice and guidance of members of the Faculty of Law. 

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the University to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

Columbia Law School is renowned for the intellectual rigor of its curriculum and the groundbreaking scholarship of its faculty. Drawing strength from the vast interdisciplinary resources of our distinguished research university—and the global stage of New York City—our students complete their legal training ready to engage the world’s most challenging issues across borders, jurisdictions, subject matters, sectors, and industries.

Columbia Law School’s interdisciplinary faculty pursues innovative work that expands the understanding of the law and influences the global community. Their research also challenges students to think critically about their roles in addressing complex legal issues.Over 30 research centers and programs reflect the wide range of expertise encompassed by our faculty. Our centers and programs draw upon rigorous faculty scholarship to explore foundational, emerging, and interdisciplinary areas of the law. They convene policymakers, judges, business leaders, and academics from across the globe, and provide students with opportunities to work directly with faculty and experienced research professionals.

Applications for admission to our 2024-2025 LL.M. Program and 2024 Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law and all supporting documents must be submitted through LSAC.  The application deadline for both programs is December 1, 2023.  

Tuition and Fees for the LL.M. Program for 2023-2024 are:

Tuition and Fees for the Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law for 2023* are:

*The final budget for 2024 will be posted in early 2024

The Law School is part of Columbia University's main campus, which occupies over 30 acres in Manhattan and is surrounded by Morningside, Riverside, and Central Parks. With a beautiful campus in the Morningside Heights neighborhood, the Law School offers both the intimacy and vitality of a college town while also being steps away from vast cultural, culinary and professional offerings.