American Law (LLM)

The American Law track in the LLM program at the University of Oregon School of Law is designed for international lawyers who want to gain a deeper understanding of American law and the American legal system. The program is intended to provide students with the tools they need to practice law in a global context, with a particular emphasis on the United States.

The program consists of a series of courses that cover various areas of American law, including constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal law, contracts, and torts. Students are also required to take a legal writing course to help them develop their writing and analytical skills.

In addition to the required courses, students have the opportunity to take electives in a wide range of subjects, including environmental law, intellectual property, business law, and human rights.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate the knowledge and ability necessary to practice substantive and procedural law and understand the dynamic processes through which law is created, developed, and changed by completing an organized program of courses in a selected specialization.
• Employ sound and articulate legal reasoning to identify, research, and analyze legal problems.
• Communicate effectively with clients, decision-makers, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Recognize the responsibility of lawyers to serve as informed and professional leaders.
• Appreciate the critical role that lawyers play in ensuring meaningful access to the legal system, promoting the just application of its laws, and serving their clients and the community.
• Learn how lawyers work together by demonstrating team lawyering skills, managing conflict, and forging relationships.
• Additional outcomes for students on the two-year pathway: \ • Students develop advanced proficiency in legal English, including reading, writing, and comprehension skills specific to the legal profession.\ • Students acquire a foundational understanding of the American legal system and its principles.\ • Students master legal research and writing, demonstrating the ability to conduct legal research and articulate legal arguments effectively.\ • Students gain comparative and international legal analysis skills, understanding the global context of law.

American Law Requirements

Only for students without a doctor of jurisprudence (JD) degree.

One-Year Program (Two-Year Program Second Year)

Additional Requirements

• Master of laws students must complete a written comprehensive paper or project in connection with one of the required courses.
• Students in the general American Law major will enroll in JD courses necessary to meet the requirements to sit for the bar in a particular jurisdiction or based on their individual academic and professional career goals.
• Students enrolled in the two-year program must successfully complete the following sequence of required courses:

Two-Year Program First Year

• Prior to the second year, students will be required to successfully demonstrate a level of English language proficiency at or above the standard minimum English proficiency requirements for graduate admission to the University of Oregon on the TOEFL, IELTS, an assessment by AEI, or other method accepted by the University of Oregon. Students in the two-year pathway who do not meet the University’s general graduate-level English language requirement within two years of matriculation are not eligible to continue in the LLM program.