University of Washington, Seattle - UW School of Law

General Law LL.M.
Our General Law LL.M. is a customizable course of study for domestic and international students that offers great flexibility to pursue courses that suit their professional interests and personal aspirations. While some of our students have significant professional experience and are seeking to enhance or change practice sectors, others are seeking additional credentials to launch their career or to qualify for a bar examination in one of the U.S. jurisdictions (e.g., Washington or New York) that admit foreign-trained lawyers. Students in the General Law program take classes alongside J.D. and other LL.M. students, and select from our extensive course offerings based on their personal interests and career goals. Students may pursue cross-cutting and interdisciplinary studies or focus their studies in a particular substantive area, such as labor and employment law, dispute resolution, Native American law, criminal justice system, constitutional and administrative law, or the American legal system in general.

Asian & Comparative LL.M.
Students in the U.S. who wish to learn legal systems and cultures of East Asia, as well as international students who wish to learn U.S. law and conduct comparative studies, choose the Asian & Comparative LL.M. program. It is a challenging program that builds professional competence in the substantive laws of one or more Asian jurisdictions and develops comparative legal research and writing skills. Students in this track complete a sequence of Asian and comparative law courses, general law courses, and a major legal research and writing project. After graduation they pursue legal careers in Asia, Europe, or in the U.S., focusing on Asia-related transnational work. Some graduates become legal academics or pursue policy-related careers.

Global Business Law LL.M.
Our Global Business Law LL.M. is designed for students who wish to focus on U.S. and international business law courses, as well as practice-oriented courses that simulate global transactions. The law school provides a large selection of courses, including international contracting, international trade, and international business transactions. Graduates pursue legal careers as global business lawyers, entrepreneurs, or government lawyers responsible for economic policy and regulation.

Health Law LL.M.
The demand for attorneys with highly specialized knowledge in the growing and increasingly complex area of health law continues to expand in the U.S. and around the world. Our health law curriculum is one of the largest in the U.S. that intersects with the UW's internationally and highly ranked schools of medicine, public health, and public policy. Many of our Health Law students enhance their practical skills and real world knowledge through externships and/or an internship with one or more organizations in our large and dynamic medical and global health communities.

Intellectual Property Law & Policy LL.M.
Intellectual Property law is no longer for patent specialists. In today's world, intellectual property law touches everything from stem cell lines, medicine, and electronic toothbrushes to garments, card games, and footballs (both kinds). This program provides students with intensive education and training focused on emerging intellectual property legal issues relating to technological innovation in all fields. The University of Washington is located in one of the premier IP-producing regions in the world. Scientists, computer programmers, aerospace engineers, medical researchers, singers, and writers are all here, developing things that they hope will change the world. UW is right in the mix, providing leadership to encourage innovation.

In addition, our partnership with the Technical University of Dresden, Germany provides many opportunities for students to explore complex intellectual property issues with a global perspective.

Sustainable International Development Law LL.M.
The Sustainable International Development (SID) Law LL.M. provides lawyers with the tools to promote social change and a sustainable future for people and the planet. Through an innovative and hands-on approach, this program provides students with the skills needed to face the international development challenges of the 21st century. The SID LL.M. has a robust course curriculum focusing on five main areas: (1) rule of law, governance, and human rights; (2) law as a tool of poverty alleviation; (3) rights of indigenous peoples and communities; (4) global environmental protection; and (5) corporate responsibility and sustainability.

Graduates of this program will be equipped to work within the organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, the United Nations Development Program, corporations and private consulting firms, and leading nongovernmental organizations.

Taxation LL.M.
The Graduate Program in Taxation offers a range of courses and flexibility to study everything from sophisticated international business transactions to estate planning. Courses are taught by distinguished faculty and experienced practitioners in the Pacific Northwest, and they provide LL.M. students with the fundamental knowledge, tools, and skills to be outstanding tax professionals. In addition, our Federal Tax Clinic allows students to represent clients in real disputes with the IRS. Classes are generally scheduled in the late afternoon or evening to accommodate students who work while earning their degree.

Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) Program
Our M.J. program is a nine-month, cost-effective, graduate degree designed for non-lawyers who seek a fundamental understanding of law to help them recognize and respond to the complex legal and regulatory issues in their professional lives. M.J. students come from all cross sections of the work force and areas of study, bringing diverse perspectives, experiences, and professional goals. From new and recent graduates to mid-level managers and professionals seeking a career change, M.J. students are integrated with other law and graduate students at the UW, creating an enriching and dynamic learning environment. All students take three foundational courses which may be followed by an area of specialization in employment and human resources law, environmental regulation, tax law, health law, intellectual property law and policy, sustainable international development law, indigenous rights, and technology law.

University of Washington Quad

The University of Washington is ranked No. 10 in the world--No. 2 among US public universities--according to the 2018 US News Global Universities Ranking. Our impact on individuals, our region and the world is profound--whether we are launching young people into a boundless future or confronting the grant challenges of our time through undaunted research and scholarship. Recently named among the most innovative law schools from the National Jurist, the UW educates more than 54,000 students annually. We turn ideas into impact and transform lives and our world. For more about our impact visit here.

So what defines our students, faculty, and community members? Above all, it's our believe in possibility and our unshakable optimism. It's a connection to others near and far. It's a hunger that pushes us to tackle challenges and pursue progress. It's the conviction that together we can create a wold of good. Join us on this journey.

William H. Gates Hall

As one of the nation's top public law schools, we meld a traditional focus on the rule of law with a modern approach to solving problems and doing good. We actively encourage students to explore their passions and equip them with the intellectual tools and hands-on legal experience they need to work in any field they choose.

Our Classes
The law school classes are uniquely designed to team JD and LL.M./Ph.D. students and visiting scholars in the same classroom often in teams working on practical problems. The unique mix of U.S. and international students in one program also provides a valuable reciprocal learning environment.

Bar Examination Preparation
Our LL.M. programs are designed to support those international students interested in taking a bar exam in the United States. We encourage students desiring to take a bar exam to work closely with our dedicated academic support advisor specific for LL.M. students. Students receive individualized support throughout the bar examination process. UW also provides a 4-credit bar preparation course created to give our international students advance preparation in four subject areas and to teach bar exam strategies.

Student & Career Services
Our dedicated faculty and staff provide professional development coaching, recruiting opportunities, electronic job-search tools, and many other programming. Many of the events and activities are planned to create and promote new relationships among attorneys, alumni, and UW School of Law students. The center believes it can serve its mission through core values of integrity and mutual respect, teamwork, superior competence, open and honest communication, and confidentiality.

The University of Washington School of Law offers a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1. Our LL.M. students have access to some of the brightest minds in the world. Members of our faculty are distinguished scholars, leaders in their fields, respected practitioners, and dedicated educators. Faculty areas of specialization include: labor law, tax law, international and comparative law, environmental and water law, family law, real property law, business and entrepreneurial law, commercial law, constitutional law, sex and race discrimination law, American Indian law, intellectual property law, health law, among many others. In addition, there are several faculty members specifically interested in questions of legal history, legal philosophy, and law and social science. These interests are reflected in the school's curriculum.

Set in an amazing urban center, the University of Washington School of Law is located in one of the most innovative and livable regions of the United States. Thanks to the dynamic nature of business in Seattle, our students have the opportunity to network with, and learn from, top practitioners in startups, law firms, NGOs, and global corporations such as Amazon, Boeing, Costco, Expedia, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nordstrom, Starbucks, Weyerhaeuser, and Zillow.

With a mild climate, Seattle combines the amenities of a big city--a diverse population, lively nightlife and a prospering economy--with family-oriented neighborhoods, cozy coffee shops and an abundance of outdoor recreation.

Pick from hundreds of activities happening around Seattle each week: live music and theater, film festivals, triathlons, gallery exhibits, lectures and professional sports events, to name a few.

You can kayak Lake Washington from campus, take a ferry to a nearby island or drive 45 minutes to a mountain ski and snowboard area. UW offers a modern recreation facility, waterfront activities center, biking paths, running trails, court sports and the thrill of rooting for the Huskies.

Each year more than 100 LL.M. students across the globe join the University of Washington School of Law in the entering classes of our LL.M. programs. It is our goal to lead in the delivery of professional legal education by preparing students for the challenge of practice in the 21st century, and by producing influential scholarship dedicated to the development of law, legal institutions and policies that advance justice throughout the nation and the world.

With over 50 student organizations, 4 student-run journals, and over 700 student organizations at the university level, our LL.M. students are part of the fabric of the University of Washington student community.