We have put together this Web site in hopes of giving you as complete as possible a picture of our Law School and Graduate Program, and to answer all your questions.  If, however, after reviewing our site you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our Graduate Legal Studies Program consists of the Master of Laws (LL.M.) and Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) programs, as well as the Special Student program for attorneys who wish to continue their legal education without pursuing a degree. Every year the Law School enrolls approximately 200 graduate students from more than 50 countries.  These students choose CLS for its pre-eminence in many areas, including corporate law, law and economics, international and comparative law, jurisprudence, human rights, constitutionalism and intellectual property, to name just a few; for its world-renowned faculty, many of whose works our students have read prior to coming to Columbia; for the breadth and depth of its academic program and co-curricular offerings; and for its incomparable location - in short, for the Law School's unequalled global reputation.

Once here, our students discover the many other advantages CLS has to offer, including the flexibility of our programs.  The Columbia LL.M. is tailor-made to each student's academic and professional needs. There are no "tracks" - students can design their programs to include exactly what they need, and we allow them to apply up to 6 points of credit earned in other faculties of the University towards the degree requirements. While LL.M. candidates are not required to submit a thesis, they are allowed to write up to 8 points of independent research - sufficient to produce publishable work if they are so inclined.  While J.S.D. candidates are required to spend only one year in residence, they may (and, in fact, are encouraged to) stay for a second year.  Like LL.M. students, they too can enroll in courses in other faculties of the University and work with members of the other faculties either formally or informally.

Our graduate students are a vital component of the Law School community.  They are active in the student senate, student organizations and journals - to name just a few ways they are involved in student life at Columbia.  On the social side, we emphasize building a cohort among the graduate students, which means that we pay a great deal of personal attention to their needs. We hold frequent events for them; they all receive individual counseling on their academic programs; and they have dedicated staff to act as their advocates and interlocutors as needed.

The result of these features of the graduate program is that Columbia is a place where students interact with unequalled faculty, amongst highly accomplished students in their class; work extremely hard; are treated exceptionally well; and obtain a degree that represents the best that U.S. legal education can offer.

With warm wishes,

The Office of Graduate Legal Studies