Center for International Law
LLM in International Business & Trade Law
Position yourself for a successful international legal career with our LLM in International Business & Trade Law. Optimized to provide degree candidates with a solid foundation in the rules, regulations, and legal approaches underlying international business and trade law, our LLM program offers enhanced marketability by building on Chicago's legal, business, and trade resources.
Our curriculum combines coursework, skills training, and research developed to meet the needs of a changing world and marketplace. Courses are taught by leading U.S. academics and international and trade law practitioners who have international practices and who know the cutting-edge issues involved in trade, investment, and regulation.
Requirements
LLM in International Business & Trade Law candidates may select between a track in International Business Law or International Trade Law and must complete 30 credit hours in order to earn their degree. In addition to the required credits specified for each track, candidates will earn the remaining credits to fulfill their degree requirements by selecting elective courses from the list below. In addition to the required courses for their track, foreign-licensed attorneys must complete 5 required credits in U.S Commercial Law and Lawyering Skills and will earn the remaining credits by selecting elective credits from the list below. Degree candidates must graduate within 5 years with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Please read the Time Limits on Degree Completion Policy.
Students who matriculated prior to August 16, 2019, are subject to degree requirements in place when they first enrolled, provided they complete those requirements within the time limit for degree completion and do not interrupt their enrollment without formal approval. Degree requirements in effect prior to August 2019 are available on eCommons; students should consult their degree audit for further information.
Center Resources
Proposed Schedule
Degree candidates pursuing the LLM in International Business & Trade Law should consult with the Center to plan a specific degree program tailored to their needs. LLM in International Business & Trade Law candidates must complete their degree within five years.
Curriculum
Degree candidates may choose to pursue a track in International Business Law or International Trade Law. The related required courses for each track, along with additional requirements for foreign-licensed attorneys, are outlined below.
Track 1: International Business Law
International Business Law candidates must complete the following required courses to fulfill IBT LLM requirements.
- International Business Transactions (IBT 716/JD 190, 3 Credits)
- Multinational Corporations Law (IBT 730, 3 Credits)
- International Banking & Finance Law (IBT 735, 3 Credits)
- Compliance with International Anti-Bribery Conventions (IBT 729, 2 Credits)
Two of the following courses:
The following course:
Track 2: International Trade Law
International Trade Law candidates must complete the following required courses to fulfill IBT LLM requirements.
- U.S. Customs & Import Law (IBT 700, 3 Credits)
- International Trade Law (IBT 702, 3 Credits)
- Administrative Law (IBT 703, 3 Credits)
- Homeland Security (IBT 717, 2 Credits)
One of the following courses:
Both of the following courses:
*Adjustments to the required curriculum may be made with the approval of the Director.
- Administrative Law (IBT 703, 3 Credits)
- Admiralty Law (IBT 712, 2 Credits)
- Advanced Legal Research: International Law (IBT 790/JD 058, 1 Credit)
- Aviation Law (IBT 747/JD 253, 2 Credits)
- Business Aspects of Immigration Law (IBT 725, 2 Credits)
- Compliance with International Anti-Bribery Conventions (IBT 729, 2 Credits)
- Current Issues in International Business & Trade (IBT 751, 1-3 Credits)
- Derivatives Law (IBT 777/JD 777, 2 Credits)
- Drafting International Business Arrangements (IBT 733, 2 Credits)
- European Union Business & Investment Law (IBT 760, 2-3 Credits)
- Global Investment Law (IBT 741, 2 Credits)
- Homeland Security (IBT 717, 2 Credits)
- IBT Externship (IBT 763, 1 Credit)
- Independent Research (IBT 791, 1-3 Credits)
- International Antitrust Law (IBT 744, 1-2 Credits)
- International Banking & Finance Law (IBT 735, 3 Credits)
- International Business Transactions (IBT 716/JD 190, 3 Credits)
- International Commercial Dispute Resolution (IBT 720/JD 198, 2 Credits)
- International Economic Development Law (IBT 770, 2 Credits)
- International Employment Law (IBT 789, 1-2 Credits)
- International Joint Ventures (IBT 714, 2 Credits)
- International Sales & Carriage of Goods (IBT 709, 1-2 Credits)
- International Secured Transactions (IBT 710, 1 Credit)
- International Trade Law (IBT 702, 3 Credits)
- Law and Practice before the U.S. Court of International Trade (IBT 706, I Credit)
- Legal Ethics in International Practice (IBT 749, 1-2 Credits)
- Masters Class (IBT 799, 1 Credits)**
- Practicum in IBT Law (IBT 795, 1-4 Credits)
- U.S. Export Law (IBT 750, 1-2 Credits)
- U.S. Free Trade Agreements (IBT 766, 2-3 Credits)
**Candidates may earn credit for each section of the Masters Class they complete.
Please review each course description to determine what prerequisites apply.
