The Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program is specifically designed to prepare internationally trained lawyers for the challenge of global practice. During the first year of study, this comprehensive program immerses students in the intricacies of the US legal system and teaches students how US lawyers are trained to analyze legal questions and advocate on their clients’ behalf. Through rigorous coursework, engaging discussions, and hands-on experiences, students develop critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and legal research skills. They gain proficiency in legal writing, oral advocacy, and negotiation, enabling them to effectively communicate and advocate within the American legal context and beyond. Additionally, the program fosters an appreciation for ethical considerations and the broader societal impact of the law.
In the second year of study, the Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program provides fundamental and advanced training in intellectual property and information law with an emphasis on the core doctrines of copyright, patent, trademark, information privacy, and unfair competition, with expansive electives in such areas as digital technology and electronic networks, biotechnology, cybersecurity, entertainment law, and technology commercialization.
The program faculty includes the School of Law’s full-time professors and experienced practitioners from Boston’s boutique firms and technology companies, who bring practical experience to the classroom.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the US legal system.
- Demonstrate an ability to use legal authority and perform legal analysis.
- Demonstrate proficiency in legal English, in both written and oral communications.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the core doctrines of intellectual property and information law.
Customized Curriculum
Students in the Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program will be advised by the Director of the Two-Year LLM program during their first year of study. During the second year of study, students will receive academic advising from the Director and/or Associate Director of International Graduate Programs.
Because students have an additional year to improve their legal English skills, the Two-Year LLM program will enroll students with English language exam scores of 85 TOEFL / 5.5 IELTS. However, only incoming Two-Year LLM students with an English language exam score of 100 TOEFL or 7 IELTS will be eligible to enroll in a bar elective offered in the two-year program. Two-Year LLM students with an English language exam score lower than 100 TOEFL / 7 IELTS will automatically be enrolled in the spring in International Contracts and Negotiations (2 units).
The Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program will require the successful completion of at least 23 units in the first year and at least 24 units the second year. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.3 to graduate. Students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.3 after the first year of study are subject to dismissal from the program.
The program will be offered in residential format only. Students will be able to complete the program in four terms, or two years of full-time study, with the option to begin the program in either the fall (September) or spring (January) term.
First-Year Required Courses
- LAW AM 700 Introduction to American Law (2 units)
- LAW AM 704 Legal Research and Writing Seminar for LLMs (2 units)
- LAW LE 650 US Legal Discourse (6 units)
- LAW LE 651 Academic Skills for US Law Studies (3 units)
- LAW LE 653 Legal Reasoning and Analysis (6 units)
- LAW LE 655 Persuasive Legal Advocacy (2 units)
- LAW SL 697S Academic Skills for the International Lawyer (0 units) (2-week summer course)
First-Year Elective Courses
- LAW AM 701 Professional Responsibility for International LLMs (2 units)
- LAW AM 702 Property for LLMs (2 units)
- LAW AM 703 Evidence for LLMs (2 units)
- LAW AM 709 Fundamentals of US Constitutional Law for LLM Students (2 units)
- LAW AM 710 Criminal Law for LLMs (2 units)
- LAW AM 715 Essential Bar Skills (2 units)
- LAW AM 813 Contract Law Practice for LLM Students: Understanding the US Lawyer’s Perspective (2 units)
- LAW AM 815 Corporations for LLMs (4 units)
- LAW LE 652 Introduction to US Legal Culture (2 units)
- LAW LE 661 International Contracts and Negotiations (2 units)
- LAW TX 901 Federal Income Tax I (2 units)
- LAW TX 902 Federal Income Tax II (2 units)
Second-Year Requirements
- Professional Skills Lab Colloquium (0 units)
- At least three of the following courses:
- LAW AM 790 IP for LLMs (4 units) OR LAW JD 857 Intellectual Property (4 units)
- LAW AM 797 Law and Technology: Select Topics for LLMs (3 units)
- LAW AM 911 US Practice of Copyright and Trademark for LLMs (3 units)
- LAW AM 978 IP Rights and Commerce in the Global Cloud for LLMs (2 units)
- LAW JD 776 IP Workshop (3 units)
- LAW JD 780 Trademark and Unfair Competition (3 units)
- LAW JD 792 Cybersecurity Law (3 units)
- LAW JD 870 Patent Law (3 units)
- LAW JD 929 Copyright (3 units)
- LAW JD 956 Information Privacy Law (3 units)
- At least 5 units from additional core courses or specified elective courses:
- LAW AM 702 Property for LLMs (2 units)
- LAW AM 795 IP Licensing in the Global Marketplace for LLMs (S) (3 units)
- LAW AM 796 IP & the Digital Age (S) (3 units)
- LAW AM 813 Contract Law Practice for LLM Students (2 units)
- LAW JD 673 Law and Algorithms (3 units)
- LAW JD 733 Intellectual Property Law Research (1 unit)
- LAW JD 770 Creative & Innovative Economies (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 787 Transactional Simulation: IP Counsel for New Music Streaming Service (3 units)
- LAW JD 791 Law & Regulation of Online Platforms (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 793 Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants (2 units)
- LAW JD 813 Contracts (4 units) OR LAW AM 812 Contracts for LLMs (4 units)
- LAW JD 822 Advanced Privacy Law (3 units)
- LAW JD 839 First Amendment (3 units)
- LAW JD 849 Privacy, Security, and Technology (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 900 Economics of Intellectual Property Law (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 905 Entertainment Law (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 933 Patent Trial Advocacy (3 units)
- LAW JD 934 Information Risk Management (S) (2 units)
- LAW JD 939 Patent Prosecution (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 949 Free Speech and the Internet (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 953 Digital Evidence Use in Law Enforcement (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 964 Patent Litigation (3 units)
- LAW TX 955 Taxation of Intellectual Property (2 units)
- Elective courses:
- LAW AM 701 Professional Responsibility for LLMs (2 units) OR LAW JD 984 Professional Responsibility (3 units)
- LAW AM 702 Property for LLMs (2 units)
- LAW AM 706 Effective Writing: The Lawyer’s Craft (LL) (S) (3 units)
- LAW AM 707 Advanced Legal Writing for LLM Students: The Essentials for Bar Exam Writing and Beyond (S) (3 units)
- LAW AM 719 Transactional Contracts: Drafting and Analyzing Transactional Agreements under US Law (for foreign-trained LLM students) (3 units)
- LAW AM 785 International Due Diligence for LLMs (2 units)
- LAW AM 795 IP Licensing in the Global Marketplace for LLMs (S) (3 units)
- LAW AM 796 IP & the Digital Age (S) (3 units)
- LAW AM 797 Law and Technology: Select Topics (LLM) (S) (3 units)
- LAW AM 813 Contract Law Practice for LLM Students (2 units)
- LAW AM 814 Introduction to the Uniform Commercial Code: Sale of Goods and Secured Transactions (2 units)
- LAW AM 816 Negotiating Complex Commercial Contracts (LLM) (S) (3 units)
- LAW AM 892 Legal Interviewing and Client Counseling for LLMs (3 units)
- LAW AM 893 Effective In-House Counsel (LLM) (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 671 Antitrust and High-Tech Markets (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 673 Law and Algorithms (3 units)
- LAW JD 674 IP & the Life Sciences (3 units)
- LAW JD 683 Compliance in Financial Services Companies (2 units)
- LAW JD 708 Innovation, Technology, and the Law (2 units)
- LAW JD 719 The Language of Law (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 733 Intellectual Property Law Research (1 unit)
- LAW JD 748 International Economic Law and Climate Change (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 770 Creative & Innovative Economies (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 778 Introduction to Risk Management and Compliance (4 units)
- LAW JD 779 Digital Civil Liberties (3 units)
- LAW JD 783 Transaction Simulation: Int’l Business Collaboration (3 units)
- LAW JD 788 Contract Drafting (3 units)
- LAW JD 791 Law & Regulation of Online Platforms (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 792 Cybersecurity Law (3 units)
- LAW JD 793 Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants (2 units)
- LAW JD 795 Problems in Anti-Discrimination Law (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 801 Administrative Law (4 units)
- LAW JD 802 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 812 Transaction Simulation: Pharma/Biotech Collaboration for Drug Development (3 units)
- LAW JD 813 Contracts (4 units) OR LAW AM 812 Contracts for LLMs (4 units)
- LAW JD 816 Corporations (4 units) OR LAW AM 815 Corporations for LLMs (4 units)
- LAW JD 822 Advanced Privacy Law (3 units)
- LAW JD 829 (3 units), LAW JD 831 (4 units), OR LAW AM 703 Evidence (2 units)
- LAW JD 838 Antitrust Law (4 units)
- LAW JD 839 First Amendment (3 units)
- LAW JD 842 International Business Transactions (3 units)
- LAW JD 849 Privacy, Security, and Technology (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 856 Health Law (4 units)
- LAW JD 886 Law and Sports (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 900 Economics of Intellectual Property Law (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 905 Entertainment Law (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 907 Representing Life Sciences Companies: Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Devices (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 911 The Courts & the LGBT+ Movement (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 913 Hospital Law (2 units)
- LAW JD 918 Compliance and Risk Management in Global Commerce (4 units)
- LAW JD 927 International Law (4 units)
- LAW JD 933 Patent Trial Advocacy (3 units)
- LAW JD 934 Information Risk Management (S) (2 units)
- LAW JD 939 Patent Prosecution (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 949 Free Speech and the Internet (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 953 Digital Evidence Use in Law Enforcement (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 956 Information Privacy Law (3 units)
- LAW JD 964 Patent Litigation (3 units)
- LAW JD 995 Art Law: Law, Art, and Artifacts (S) (3 units)
- LAW JD 997 Introduction to Analytic Methods for Lawyers (3 units)
- LAW LA 997 Bench-to-Bedside: Translating Biomedical Innovation from the Laboratory to the Marketplace (3 units)
- LAW TX 944 Structuring Intellectual Property Ownership (2 units)
- LAW TX 955 Taxation of Intellectual Property (2 units)
- LAW TX 989 Taxation and Regulation of Cryptocurrency (S) (2 units)
- QST HM 717 Drugs, Devices & Diagnostics: New Challenges, Strategies, and Execution (3 units)
- QST SI 852 Starting New Ventures (3 units)
- QST SI 871 Strategies for Bringing Technology to Market (3 units)
No Thesis Requirement
The Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program is classroom—not research—focused. As such, there is no thesis requirement, though students will likely write one or more lengthy research papers in the seminars they take. We make available writing coaches to help students organize and structure academic writing projects and improve expressive skills.
Special Programs
Pro Bono Program
Students can dedicate their legal skills and expanding knowledge to address unmet legal needs in the Boston area, throughout the United States, and around the world.
LLM Discovery Series
Students take part in visits to Boston-area law firms, corporations, government agencies, and courthouses where alumni introduce them to the broad range of real-world practice settings in America.
Professional Skills Lab
A one-and-a-half-day interactive program focusing on developing core professional competencies, practical skills, and long-term career management tools.
Outside the Classroom
A full menu of extracurricular activities connects students with fellow LLM and JD classmates, the city of Boston, and the beauty of New England.
After the Program—and Beyond
Career Paths
While many students know their future plans prior to completing the LLM program, some return to their former employers, and others begin internships before joining their home country’s bar. Many other graduates leverage their BU Law degrees to find new positions in their home countries, often by participating in the International Student Interview Program (ISIP) that takes place each January in New York—BU Law is one of the few schools invited to participate. A smaller number of students find permanent work in the United States.
Internships in the US
Curricular Practical Training
One unique feature of the Two-Year LLM program is its incorporation of Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which provides students on F-1 visas with invaluable opportunities to gain practical work experience in the second year of study. CPT allows students to engage in internships, externships, or other work placements that align with their academic and career goals. By working alongside legal professionals in real-world settings, students can apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their first year of coursework to tackle complex legal issues, hone their professional judgment, and develop a deep understanding of the practical application of American law. This hands-on experience not only enhances students’ legal acumen but also helps them build a professional network, gain exposure to different areas of law, and make informed decisions about their future career paths. The inclusion of CPT in the Two-Year LLM program offers students a unique advantage in their journey to becoming well-rounded legal practitioners. Students will be required to hold weekly check-ins with a designated faculty member and complete a short reflection piece as part of the CPT opportunity.
Optional Practical Training
Graduates of the Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law program may seek to stay in the United States for a period of time after graduation—as permitted under visa regulations—to obtain practical work experience in a firm, company, or other organization. As an internationally trained LLM graduate, finding short-term, postgraduation work in the United States can be challenging, but it is not impossible; each year some students secure positions in the US for up to a year and beyond.
Throughout your time at BU, you will be guided and supported by a full-time associate director for professional development dedicated solely to LLM career issues. The associate director will assist you in identifying opportunities, preparing for interviews, and presenting yourself to the US legal market. Many LLM students find internships through connections from their home countries; you are encouraged to arrive in the United States with a list of connections to explore if you want to pursue an internship after Commencement.
Taking a US Bar Exam
Many Two-Year LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Law students have the goal of passing a US state bar exam. While the Two-Year LLM program is not specifically designed to prepare students to take a state bar exam in the United States, the program’s flexible curriculum will enable you to design a course of study leading to a high-level understanding of the US legal system. The Director and Associate Director of International Graduate Programs are available to meet with students to design a study plan that balances bar preparation with other areas of interest.
Each state has its own rules regarding the eligibility of internationally trained lawyers to sit for the bar exam; you should visit the American Bar Association’s website to learn about the requirements in each state. The current rules in New York, Massachusetts, and a handful of other states allow certain LLM students to sit for the exam under specified conditions. Each year, a majority of LLM students take the New York or Massachusetts bar exam after Commencement.
