Executive LL.M. Program and Curriculum

Academics
Executive LL.M. Program and Curriculum

Join a program as agile and ambitious as you are.

At Columbia Law School, what we teach is informed by what’s happening in the world. The forces changing global business require expert legal professionals as innovative as the products and services offered by their clients.

Earn your LL.M. degree in six months through our intensive program designed to minimize time away from home and work.

Be part of an intimate cohort of accomplished lawyers with sophisticated international practice experience.

Develop the skills to be a leader in the evolving field of global business law through our transformative Leadership and Management series.

Learn from the world’s top corporate law faculty in small classes, gain an expert foundation in U.S. business law, and acquire the professional skills you need to stay nimble and innovative.

Join an exclusive network of the world’s brightest lawyers, and benefit from the resources and support of your fellow alumni throughout your career.

Learn more about the program below.

Program Design
One Degree, Two Pathways
Curriculum
Degree Requirements

The Executive LL.M. has both online and in-residence components, requiring a total of 24 credits. Dates below are tentative for 2025.

Online Spring Semester: February 21 - May 19

Introduction to American Law and/or Two Elective Courses (Regulation of the Digital Economy | IP in the Digital Age)

Introduction to American Law is required for students without a law degree from the U.S. (JD or LL.M.)

Both elective courses are required for students with a law degree from the U.S. (JD or LL.M.) and optional for those without

Classes generally meet on Zoom 1 time each week for 2-3 hours in the morning New York Time

The online classes are dynamic, specially designed hybrid taught courses, meaning the instruction and coursework include both live class meetings as well as independent work. During each course, you will engage with your professor during live classes, watch pre-recorded lectures, participate in discussion boards with your classmates, and complete readings and assignments independently.

On-Campus Summer Residency: May 23 – August 15

Take five (5) on campus classes: 4 electives and the required Colloquium
Typically, courses are taught in blocks with each block lasting six weeks
The elective classes scheduled for 2025 include International Business Transactions, Deals, ESG, Social Impact Investing, and Corporate Responsibility, International Commercial Arbitration, A Hands-On Approach to Mergers and Acquisitions, Business Organizations and Behavioral Perspectives on Law and Public Policy.

A key component of the Executive LL.M. is the intensive, 12-week Summer Residency. The Global Business Law Colloquium, a course offered only in connection with the Executive LL.M., runs over the course of the Residency and focuses on Lawyer Leadership as well as Financial Statement Analysis, both of which are essential for lawyers practicing today.

In addition to classes, curated events are organized during the Residency for the Executive LL.M. students. Past events have included a Broadway show and Yankees game.

Online Fall Semester: August 22 – October 1

Professional Responsibility in Global Business
Classes generally meet on Zoom 2 times each week for 2 hours in the morning New York Time

The Executive LL.M. degree is awarded in October.

Students are invited to return for the Columbia University graduation ceremony the following May.

Columbia Law School offers both a full academic year LL.M. and an Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law. Trying to decide which is right for you? Consult the table below for key information on both programs.

	Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law	LL.M. Program (full academic year)
Degree Earned	Master of Laws	Master of Laws
Total Credits	24 credits	24 credits
Program Length	Seven months (four months online, three months on campus)	10 months on campus
Program Calendar	Take two or three online courses in February and April, followed by a 12-week on-campus Summer Residency (May through August). Complete your study with one additional online course in September.	Complete the entire program in residence on campus (August through May).
Weekly Schedule	Online courses: Blend of live lectures and self-directed work. Summer Residency: Two five-week blocks, each followed by one week of study and assessment. In each block, students attend classes Monday through Friday.	Full-time enrollment over two semesters, with fall term start; follows the August-May academic calendar and schedule.
Academic Focus	The program’s courses, programming, and training all reflect a focus on global business law.	General program of study. You can take a wide range of courses in both the private and public spheres, with the option to focus on a particular area of law.
Required Courses	Introduction to American Law (3 credits) OR Two Law Elective Course for U.S. Law Degree Holders (6 credits) Colloquium (4 credits)	Introduction to American Law (2 credits) Legal Research and Writing (2 credits) You must also complete one LL.M. Writing Project (a substantial research paper). For details, see the LL.M. Degree Requirements and Rules.
Electives	17 credits Choose from a number of elective courses, such as Negotiations, Business Organizations, and Mergers and Acquisitions. The curriculum and structure do not allow for courses to be taken outside of the Law School.	20 credits Choose from hundreds of courses, from corporate to human rights and public international law, as well as many experiential offerings, including externships, clinics, workshops, and simulation labs. You can also take classes in other graduate divisions of the University.
Career Services	Dedicated Career Management Team Access to Columbia Law School job database Residency events that connect you to CLS alumni Several career-focused events throughout the Summer Residency	Regular access to career counselors and programs through the Office of Career Services, Social Justice Initiatives, and Careers in Law Teaching Program Participation in LL.M. Interview Program Access to Columbia Law School job database
Bar Exam Eligibility	The Executive LL.M. does not qualify graduates to sit for the NY State Bar Exam, but students may be eligible to take other state bar exams.	Successful graduates of the LL.M. Program may be eligible to take the NY State Bar Exam, as well as other state bar exams.
Entering Class Size	Approximately 25-40 students	Approximately 300 students
Employment During Program	You may maintain full-time employment during the online portions of the program. The Summer Residency requires full-time attendance.	You may not maintain full-time employment during the program, but may work part-time on campus.
Student Life	Take classes only with your cohort. Participate in social events, receptions, and career workshops tailored specifically for the Executive LL.M. cohort during the Summer Residency period.	Take classes with both LL.M. and J.D. students. Participate in journals and student organizations, clinics, externships, supervised research, pro bono projects, and other experiential learning opportunities. You can also serve as research assistants to faculty and take advantage of programs, speakers, and other events on campus throughout the academic year.
Housing and Meals	There are a number of housing options for students during the summer residency, including campus housing sublets, off-campus sublets, and short-term corporate rentals. Housing, meals, and most course materials are not included in the tuition and fees.	On-campus housing is available for LL.M. students in apartment shares, studios, one-bedroom apartments, and dormitory-style housing. Housing, meals, and most course materials are not included in the tuition and fees.
Professional Qualifications/ Admissions Criteria	Designed for mid-career lawyers with approximately five years of professional experience.	Designed for students with at least one year of professional experience after earning their first law degree.
TOEFL Score Requirement	TOEFL iBT (Test Center / Home Edition): 105 Overall Score —IELTS (Test Center / Online): 8 Overall Score	TOEFL iBT (Test Center / Home Edition): 105 Overall Score —IELTS (Test Center / Online): 8 Overall Score
Tuition and Financial Aid* *Tuition only, additional mandatory fees apply	$83,860 Financial assistance is available from Columbia Law School. There may also be external sources of funding available. For more information, see Tuition and Fees.	$81,888 Financial assistance is available in the form of scholarships and institutional loans. For details, see Fellowships and Scholarships.
Living Costs* *Individual budgets may vary	$9,624	$28,867

The Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law provides students with a strong foundation in U.S. business law, which plays a key role in cross-border transactions, as well as the opportunity to study specialized aspects of international business transactions that closely relate to business law practice.

The program’s required courses explore the fundamentals of U.S. law with a focus on those subjects frequently encountered in business practice.

The following courses are required as part of the Executive LL.M.*:

Introduction to American Law (Professors David Schizer, Kellen Funk, Christina Ponsa-Kraus)
Required for students without a U.S. degree in law (JD or LL.M.)
Law Elective Course: 2025
Required for students with a U.S. degree in law (JD or LL.M.)
Regulation of the Digital Economy (Professor Anu Bradford)
IP in the Digital Age (Professor Hillel Parness)
Colloquium in Global Business Law (Professor David Schizer) Required for all ELLM students

*Courses and professors are subject to change

The elective courses allow students to tailor their studies to a particular aspect of international business law.

Elective Courses for 2025:

Business Organizations
Deals
A Hands-On Approach to Mergers and Acquisitions
International Commercial Arbitration
Behavioral Perspectives on Law and Public Policy
AI Tools Shaping Legal Practice
International Business Transactions

Students will make their 4 elective choices at the start of the program.

The Colloquium in Global Business Law is focused on Financial Statement Analysis, a favorite course for students and a key skill for business lawyers, as well as Lawyer Leadership where we seek to build the people skills that are critical to a lawyer's success as a manager and business parter to clients.

To earn the Executive LL.M. degree in Global Business Law, you must:

Earn 24 points of academic credit. Academic point credit is earned through satisfactory completion of a course with a grade of C or better.

Satisfactorily complete the following required courses:

Introduction to American Law (online; 3 credits) or Law Elective Course
Colloquium in Global Business Law (4 credits)

You must successfully complete Introduction to American Law or Two Law Elective Courses in order to attend the Residency. One final online classes are completed after the Residency. The rest of the 24 required credits will be satisfied by electives taken on campus during the Residency.

Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 2.67 (B-) or better, or a preponderance of B-or-better grades. If you fail more than one course, your candidacy will be terminated automatically and you will not earn the degree. Executive LL.M. students are not eligible for academic honors.

Executive LL.M. candidates are expected to complete their degree coursework during the February-October program period.

Executive LL.M. Program and Curriculum

Related Links

Online Spring Semester: February 21 - May 19

On-Campus Summer Residency: May 23 – August 15

Online Fall Semester: August 22 – October 1

The Executive LL.M. degree is awarded in October.

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