Fordham 2022 Brochure

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Master U.S. Law in the Heart of New York City: Graduate, International, and Non-Degree Programs

LL.L./M.S.L./S.J.D. abbreviations typography

Join our collaborative community—where intellectual curiosity, professional craft, and commitment to service are prized—and take your career to the next level.

Situated in New York City, a global center of business, law, and culture, Fordham Law School attracts individuals from around the globe who are driven to move our profession, society, and world forward. We typically draw students from more than 40 countries annually to our LL.M., M.S.L., S.J.D., and short-term professional development programs.

Our curriculum combines a foundation in enduring legal principles, outstanding opportunities for real-world training, and exposure to emerging theories, techniques, and technologies. With multiple degree and non-degree programs to choose from, you will have the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge in any number of legal disciplines.

As a member of the Fordham Law community, you will connect with students and program participants from the U.S. and around the world and have access to our global alumni, who are known for their energy and commitment to our community.

With New York City’s abundant professional opportunities to expand your network and further your professional goals, Fordham Law is an incomparable choice to advance your legal education.

law.fordham.edu/international

Contents

LL.M. Program

Areas and Specializations

Why an LL.M. at Fordham Law?

Scholarships

Making the Most of Your LL.M.

Alumni Network

LL.M. Application Process

Other Degree Programs (M.S.L. and S.J.D.)

Short-Term Professional Development Programs

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Fordham Law professors smile and pose for a photograph together

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LL.M. PROGRAM

In today’s global society, legal professionals must have an international outlook as well as a distinctive area of expertise.

Fordham Law’s nine LL.M. degree programs offer the opportunity to specialize in fields that are evolving as the law, economy, technology, and times demand. The breadth of offerings in each concentration is matched only by the enthusiasm and experience that our professors bring to the classroom.

Receive your LL.M. degree in any of these specializations:

Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law
Corporate Compliance (also available online)
Fashion Law
Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law
International Business and Trade Law
International Dispute Resolution
International Law and Justice
Real Estate Law
U.S. Law (also available online)

Our dual concentration option allows students to earn an LL.M. in any two specializations by studying one additional semester of full-time study (or the part-time equivalent).

Areas and Specializations

Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law

Students in the LL.M. program in Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law acquire a sophisticated appreciation of corporate structure, an understanding of the laws relating to capital markets and financial institutions, and genuine insights into the goals and strategies of U.S. executives and business lawyers. In this program, students are required to enroll in two foundational courses on corporate law and banking law, and can choose from a broad array of elective courses on areas such as bankruptcy, competition law, corporate finance, corporate governance, corporate tax, cross-border insolvency, mergers and acquisitions, and securities regulation and enforcement.

law.fordham.edu/llm/bcf

Corporate Compliance

Our LL.M. program in Corporate Compliance—offered both in-person and online—introduces students to a rapidly emerging and increasingly global field that is central to financial services and businesses across all sectors. Students explore the role of in-house compliance counsel, the elements of effective compliance programs (including risk assessment, policies and procedures, training and communication, controls, and culture), and the impact of compliance programs on the prosecution of white-collar crimes. The core classes in this program are Introduction to Corporate Compliance and Compliance Risk Assessment. Students also take either International Financial Crime or Anti-Money Laundering and choose from a wide variety of related classes that cover key compliance risk areas such as corruption, money-laundering, privacy and cybersecurity, and antitrust. Corporate Compliance students learn skills that are essential for any compliance professional and leave the program prepared to respond effectively to new and complex regulatory demands, from blockchain and cryptocurrencies to the emerging regulation of ESG disclosures.

law.fordham.edu/llm/compliance (in-person)
law.fordham.edu/llm/complianceonline (online)

Fashion Law

LL.M. students in the Fashion Law program study with distinguished faculty members that include both academics and industry insiders in New York City, a capital of the world’s fashion industry. Students explore what we have defined as the four pillars of fashion law: intellectual property; business and finance, including areas such as investment, employment law, and real estate; international trade and government regulation, including sustainability, privacy, and issues related to wearable technology; and consumer culture and civil rights. Students will take core classes, such as Fashion Law, the Fashion Law Capstone/Thesis, and choose from a wide range of electives. Students also gain direct access to events and networking opportunities available through the nonprofit Fashion Law Institute, based at Fordham Law. Established with the assistance of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, it is the world’s first center dedicated to the law and business of fashion.

law.fordham.edu/llm/fashionlaw

Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law

The LL.M. program in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law combines the classic study of intellectual property rights with the rapidly evolving field of information technology law. Students learn fundamental and advanced intellectual property rights issues in copyright, patent, and trademark law, and learn about issues that lie at the heart of today’s digital information society, such as cybercrime, e-commerce, information privacy law, and internet law.

law.fordham.edu/llm/ipit

International Business and Trade Law

The LL.M. program in International Business and Trade Law prepares students to meet the challenges of an increasingly global economy by giving them the knowledge and training needed to handle complex transactions that define the current legal and business environment. Students choose from among core courses such as International Law, International Business Transactions, and International Trade Regulation, as well as a range of elective courses such as Competition Law, International Taxation, Litigation Management for the International Lawyer, Advising the Global Commercial Client, U.S. Contract Law, International Arbitration, and Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions.

law.fordham.edu/llm/ibt

International Dispute Resolution

Fordham’s LL.M. program in International Dispute Resolution focuses on the ways that international disputes are resolved, including traditional litigation as well as alternative methods of dispute resolution, which are growing rapidly as a preferred method of resolving disputes between parties in public and private international law matters. This program offers students the opportunity to explore how disputes are played out in the international arena. Foreign students will also develop an appreciation for the particular characteristics of the U.S. litigation model. Core classes include Alternative Dispute Resolution and Litigation Management for the International Lawyer. Electives explore the myriad dimensions of traditional and alternative forms of dispute resolution.

law.fordham.edu/llm/idr

International Law and Justice

The LL.M. program in International Law and Justice offers students the opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of human rights protection and promotion on international, regional, and domestic levels. Students enroll in International Law and choose additional coursework designed for those who work or intend to pursue a career in the public sector. This LL.M. program was created under the auspices of Fordham Law’s Leitner Center for International Law and Justice, one of the largest and most dynamic human rights programs in the nation. The Center’s Vivian Leitner Global South LL.M. Scholars Program offers generous scholarships and stipends to enable select graduate students from the Global South to enroll in this program.

law.fordham.edu/llm/ilj

Real Estate Law

The Real Estate LL.M. program provides students with a deep foundation in real estate law and practice, including subjects such as real estate transactions, real estate finance, condos and coops, residential and commercial leasing, and land use, as well as the opportunity to explore important related areas such as environmental law, corporate law, commercial law, and tax. The program is intended for those interested in deepening their understanding of real estate law or opening up new career opportunities and takes advantage of the rich array of real estate-related programming across the University.

law.fordham.edu/llm/realestate

U.S. Law

The LL.M. in U.S. Law—offered both in-person and online—offers students the flexibility to develop a curriculum in U.S. law topics that suits their particular needs and interests. This degree is designed for students who have received their primary legal education outside of the U.S. and who want to gain a general understanding of U.S. law or to focus on a specialization not already offered.

law.fordham.edu/llm/uslaw (in-person)
law.fordham.edu/llm/uslawonline (online)

Why an LL.M. at Fordham Law?

Full-time and flexible part-time options for busy professionals
Begin your studies in August or January
Faculty members that include some of the country’s most prominent and engaging legal scholars
Option to earn a second specialization by staying for a third semester
Nine areas of specialization
Dynamic and diverse community of students from more than 40 countries
Excellent opportunities for practical training and professional growth, from externships to participation in our clinics, centers, and institutes
Professional opportunities, including networking with lawyers from corporations, law firms, and NGOs, and judges from the U.S. and around the world
A global Fordham Law alumni network with over 60 chapters in the U.S. and around the world

“

Graduating from Fordham Law has been one of the most pivotal moments in my career. The pedigree of professors, the program, and the students were beyond what I could have ever imagined when I first applied. My experience doing the LL.M. program was transformative and I will always treasure those moments and the lessons learned. I feel privileged as well for all the great friendships that I was able to create. Fordham Law has a community like no other. As a foreign lawyer, Fordham Law provided the perfect bridge to enter the U.S. market powerfully.

Alejandro Cremades (Spain) LL.M. ’09, Serial Entrepreneur & Best-Selling Author

“

Choosing Fordham Law was one of the best professional decisions I have made. I met brilliant professors, a supportive alumni community, and classmates that became close friends in New York. Fordham opened the door to internships and job opportunities I had only dreamed about.

Yas Sanchez-Hereira (Philippines) LL.M. ’18, Associate General Counsel, NYC Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications (New York); Of Counsel, Gulapa Law (Manila and New York)

HEAR FROM MORE ALUMNI

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Scholarships

Fordham Law offers a variety of merit-based scholarship programs that recognize extraordinary achievement and help you finance your LL.M. degree.

Feerick, Treanor, and Martin Scholarships

The Feerick, Treanor, and Martin Scholarships are named in honor of former Fordham Law School deans who contributed enormously to the development of our LL.M. programs: John D. Feerick, William Michael Treanor, and Michael M. Martin. The scholarships are awarded annually to exceptional applicants to the full-time program who are found to possess character traits embodied by one or more of these great leaders. The scholarships provide funding equal to 100 percent of the LL.M. tuition. The deadline for applications is February 1.

Fordham Law Graduate Student Scholarships

Graduate student scholarships are partial scholarships awarded to select LL.M. applicants based on merit. Such scholarships are awarded at the sole discretion of the admissions committee during its review of completed applications. To be considered, check the box on your application under the section “Additional Information” stating that you wish to be considered for a Graduate Student Scholarship. Priority consideration is given to those with applications completed by February 1 (fall admission) and September 21 (spring admission).

Joel Reidenberg Scholar

Professor Reidenberg was the Stanley D. and Nikki Waxberg Chair, Professor of Law, and the Founding Academic Director of the Center on Law and Information Policy at Fordham Law School. He was a leading scholar in both information privacy and information technology law and a beloved member of the Fordham law faculty for 30 years. The Joel Reidenberg Scholar is an LL.M. student who has demonstrated excellence in the field of information technology, data privacy, or intellectual property law, and who reflects Professor Reidenberg’s pioneering spirit and deep commitment to the field. This person will be awarded a scholarship in the amount of $10,000. To be considered, check the box on your application under the section “Additional Information” stating that you wish to be considered for the Joel Reidenberg Scholarship. Priority consideration is given to those with applications completed by February 1.

Roger Goebel Scholar

Professor Roger Goebel was a pioneering scholar of European Union law in the United States and founder of the Center on European Law at Fordham Law School, where he served on the faculty for nearly 35 years. The Roger Goebel Scholar is an LL.M. student who has demonstrated excellence in the field of European or corporate law and who manifests the intellectual and scholarly curiosity of Professor Goebel. This person will be awarded a scholarship in the amount of $10,000. To be considered, check the box on your application under the section “Additional Information” stating that you wish to be considered for the Roger Goebel Scholarship. Priority consideration is given to those with applications completed by February 1.

Short-Term Professional Development Programs Reimbursement

Fordham Law will reimburse the full amount of program fees for some of our short-term professional development programs for students who enroll in one of our LL.M. programs within two calendar years. This includes our Summer Institute, semester-long Legal English Institute, Summer Compliance Institute, and Advanced Corporate Compliance Institute. Reimbursement will be applied toward LL.M. tuition. In order to qualify, students must successfully complete the corresponding professional development program.

The Vivian Leitner Global South LL.M. Scholars Program

Fordham Law offers a scholarship through the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice that is restricted to a select few highly qualified LL.M. candidates from developing countries in the Global South who are pursuing a course of study focused on international human rights. The scholarship waives tuition for the LL.M. in International Law and Justice. Additionally, candidates unable to secure alternate funding may be eligible for a stipend covering living expenses for the duration of the LL.M. program. The deadline for applications is February 21.

How to Apply

Instructions on how to apply for scholarships, as well as information about the cost of attendance and financial aid, are available on our website, where you will also find a select list of external scholarships available to LL.M. applicants.

law.fordham.edu/llm/scholarships

Making the Most of Your LL.M.

As an LL.M. student at Fordham Law, you will have access to our broad curriculum and accomplished faculty and you will be able to tap into an extraordinary range of intellectual activities, networking opportunities, and professional resources.

Our Curriculum

Specialized Curriculum and Training for Foreign-Trained Students

For students who have received their primary law degrees outside the U.S., we offer a host of programs designed to help ease the transition to U.S. legal study, including Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Process; Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession; U.S. Contract Law; Legal Writing and Research for LL.M. Students; Fundamental Lawyering Skills; and drafting and negotiation courses. LL.M. students also have access to the Fordham University Writing Center and Fordham University’s Institute for American Language and Culture.

Thinking About Sitting for the New York Bar Exam?

All of our LL.M. programs can be used to supplement a first law degree to meet the requirements of the Rules of the New York Court of Appeals for foreign-trained lawyers to sit for the New York State Bar Examination.

Externships

The Graduate Externship Program gives LL.M. students the opportunity to engage in for-credit externships with a wide variety of host organizations, including law firms, corporate legal and compliance departments, nonprofit organizations, and courts and government organizations. Such placement experiences are intended to enrich the educational experience students receive in the Law School’s doctrinal courses. They also promote students’ professional development by assisting them in integrating legal theory with hands-on skills and professional values.

Alumni Network

We are immensely proud of our alumni community of esteemed lawyers, judges, entrepreneurs, and public servants. This vibrant and loyal network reaches across the globe, and includes more than 60 national and international chapters and delegates from the cities and regions listed below.

National

Chapters and Delegates

International

Chapters and Delegates

California
Los Angeles
San Francisco Bay Area
Connecticut
Florida
Miami
Greater Palm Beach County
Naples
Georgia
Atlanta
Illinois
Chicago
New England
New Jersey
New York
Albany
Nassau/Suffolk Counties
Westchester/Putnam Counties
Oregon
Portland
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Texas
Houston
Washington, D.C.

Africa
Argentina
Armenia
Austria
Vienna
Belgium
Brussels
Brazil
Croatia
Chile
China
Beijing
Hong Kong
Shanghai
Czech Republic
Prague
France
Paris
Germany
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Munich
Greece
Athens
Hungary
Budapest

Iceland
India
Ireland
Dublin
Israel
Italy
Milan
Naples
Palermo
Rome
Salerno
Turin
Japan
Tokyo
Jordan
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
Amsterdam
Norway
Oslo
Romania
Bucharest
Serbia
Singapore

South Korea
Spain
Barcelona
Switzerland
Basel
Zurich
United Arab
Emirates
Dubai
United Kingdom
London

National

Chapters and Delegates

California
Los Angeles
San Francisco Bay Area
Connecticut
Florida
Miami
Greater Palm Beach County
Naples
Georgia
Atlanta
Illinois
Chicago
New England

New England
New Jersey
New York
Albany
Nassau/Suffolk Counties
Westchester/Putnam Counties
Oregon
Portland
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Texas
Houston
Washington, D.C.

International

Chapters and Delegates

Africa
Argentina
Armenia
Austria
Vienna
Belgium
Brussels
Brazil
Croatia
Chile
China
Beijing
Hong Kong
Shanghai
Czech Republic
Prague
France
Paris
Germany
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Munich

Greece
Athens
Hungary
Budapest
Iceland
India
Ireland
Dublin
Israel
Italy
Milan
Naples
Palermo
Rome
Salerno
Turin
Japan
Tokyo
Jordan
Luxembourg

Mexico
Netherlands
Amsterdam
Norway
Oslo
Romania
Bucharest
Serbia
Singapore
South Korea
Spain
Barcelona
Switzerland
Basel
Zurich
United Arab
Emirates
Dubai
United Kingdom
London

law.fordham.edu/chapters

LL.M. Application Process

ELIGIBILITY

Foreign-Trained Applicants
Foreign-trained applicants are eligible to apply to the LL.M. program if they hold a degree from a recognized foreign law school, law faculty, or law department that meets the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in that country. For most international applicants, an undergraduate degree in law, such as an LL.B., is sufficient. If additional education after the LL.B. or other first degree in law is required to practice law in your country, please contact our office at llm@law.fordham.edu to determine eligibility. Alternatively, admission to practice law in any jurisdiction may be used to meet our eligibility criteria.

U.S. Applicants
U.S.-trained applicants are eligible to apply to our LL.M. program if they hold a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

Other Degree Programs

Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.)

Fordham Law’s M.S.L. provides non-lawyers interested in corporate compliance or fashion law with a legal grounding to advance their careers.

M.S.L. in Corporate Compliance

Students seeking the M.S.L. in Corporate Compliance gain a sophisticated understanding of the role of the corporate compliance office. They learn about issues specific to some of the more heavily regulated industries, including banking and financial services. The M.S.L. in Corporate Compliance is offered both in-person and online.

law.fordham.edu/msl/compliance (in-person)
onlinelaw.fordham.edu (online)

M.S.L. in Fashion Law

Fashion industry professionals and entrepreneurs will develop their legal literacy while studying with academics and industry insiders in New York City, a capital of the world’s fashion industry.

law.fordham.edu/msl/fashion

Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)

For aspiring academics, our highly competitive S.J.D. program is designed to provide a rigorous course of study and mentorship that supports the development of leading legal scholarship.

law.fordham.edu/sjd

Short-Term Professional Development Programs

Fordham Law’s Office of International and Non-J.D. Programs offers a series of short-term professional development programs to support both U.S. and foreign-trained legal professionals and students. For the most up-to-date offerings, please visit our webpage.

law.fordham.edu/shorttermprograms

LEGAL ENGLISH INSTITUTE

January—May and August—December

The semester-long Legal English Institute provides foreign-trained lawyers and students with the unique opportunity to study the foundations of U.S. law and the U.S. legal system while developing legal English and lawyering skills and building their global networks. In-person and online options are available.

For more information:
law.fordham.edu/lei
lei@law.fordham.edu

SUMMER INSTITUTE

July—August

Launched in 2007, the Fordham Law Summer Institute in New York City provides foreign-trained legal professionals and students with an introduction to the U.S. legal system and various topics of U.S. law that are most important for lawyers in today’s global economy. The program also includes opportunities for participants to learn about the LL.M. degree, to gain an understanding of U.S. legal practice, and to expand their professional networks. Typically, the program welcomes participants from more than 20 countries from around the world. International students may seek credit from their home institutions.

For more information:
law.fordham.edu/summerinstitute
summernyc@law.fordham.edu

PRE-LAW INSTITUTE

July—August

The Pre-Law Institute was launched in 2015 primarily for U.S. college-level students and graduates who are considering law school, but it is open to anyone. Taught by Fordham Law full-time and adjunct faculty in a light Socratic style, students are introduced to the foundational courses of a J.D. program, professionalism, and the law school experience. Students are eligible to receive U.S. college credit for the program or choose a less expensive non-credit option.

For more information:
law.fordham.edu/prelaw
prelaw@law.fordham.edu

Academy for the Advancement of Women in Law: RISE–Resilient, Inspired, Strategic, Empowered

September—November

This program is designed to empower women lawyers to fulfill their leadership potential, learn important leadership skills and strategies, and advance their careers and the profession as a whole. Participants will join a network of professionals committed to advancing women’s leadership in law. This program is designed for women lawyers who want to empower and advance themselves professionally, and male allies who want to help advance a more diverse and inclusive profession. It is open to all.

For more information:
law.fordham.edu/rise
lawexeced@law.fordham.edu

STRUCTURAL ISSUES IN LAW FIRM MANAGEMENT

January or February—May

This program brings together leaders from top law firms and companies from around the world to discuss best practices for law firm management. This program pulls back the curtain on what it means to be a law firm partner and the role of partners in law firms. The program is open to all, but is most highly recommended for senior associates, counsel, partners, and non-lawyer leaders at law firms.

For more information:
law.fordham.edu/lfm
lawexeced@law.fordham.edu

SUMMER COMPLIANCE INSTITUTE*

June

In our Summer Compliance Institute, you will learn from expert faculty about the major regulatory frameworks governing corporations in the United States, how corporate compliance programs can protect companies against legal and reputational risks, and how a culture of compliance creates value for companies, investors, and other stakeholders. This program is aimed at anyone who would like to learn the basics of corporate compliance. It is open to and beneficial for those in or outside of the U.S. with or without a law degree.

For more information:
law.fordham.edu/summercomplianceinstitute
PCEC@law.fordham.edu

ADVANCED CORPORATE COMPLIANCE INSTITUTE

Fall

This program uses an engaging case-study approach to immerse students into compliance crises that tripped up successful companies and explore what they tell us about constructing durable and effective compliance programs today.

For more information:
law.fordham.edu/ACCI
PCEC@law.fordham.edu

Certificates of Completion

All short-term professional development program participants meeting attendance and program requirements are eligible to receive a certificate of completion. Some programs also offer continuing legal education (CLE) credit.

*Fordham Law will reimburse the full amount of the program fees for participants who enroll in our LL.M. program within two calendar years of completing the Legal English Institute, Summer Institute, or Summer Compliance Institute. Reimbursement will be applied toward LL.M. tuition. Program fees for Summer Compliance Institute and Advanced Corporate Compliance Institute will also be applied to anyone who enrolls in the M.S.L. in Compliance program within two calendar years of program completion. Housing, transportation costs, books, and other expenses will not be reimbursed.