Mostly online Executive LLM, possible to be admitted without JD

Boston University offers a 20-credit hybrid Executive LLM in International Business Law. Two of the three required courses are only offered in the blended format. For the blended courses, two weeks on campus will be required. During those two-week periods, you can also complete the two required 1-credit colloquia that are offered during luncheons. If you already took Contracts and Corporations in a JD program, then there are elective courses that can be used as substitutes. Students have the option of completing one of the three fully online concentrations or creating their own plan using courses from multiple concentrations: International Taxation, International Environmental and Energy Law, and Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance.

BU occasionally admits highly-qualified candidates who have a bachelor's degree but no law degree. They look for related experience in a quasi-legal field (i.e. compliance, risk management, and contract management), strong academic credentials, and a work history that indicates one can contribute to and benefit from the Executive LLM.

https://www.bu.edu/law/academics/llm-masters-degrees/executive-llm-in-international-business-law/frequently-asked-questions/

 

A Master's degree with 20 credits? I always thought 30 credits was the minimum for such a degree.

Are there any other master's degrees with less than 30 credits?

 

Well --- yes, but they must be REALLY big credits! $3,171 each before $60 technology charge x 20 and another $60 per module. At that price, I'll wait for the 5-credit one to come out. Or maybe the 4...

From the site: "Airfare, laptops, course materials, and incidental expenses are not covered." I'd say, all in all, this is a $65K package. You can earn one of quite a number of Doctorates for considerably less. Or Masters' of course. Your money, your choice.

 

24 for an LLM is not unusual.

 

I looked - I saw a few Master's programs (Not LLM) that required 28 credits at USC. (Viterbi) And some of those had a 4-credit thesis tacked on bringing them to 32, Others didn't. Those were the lowest I found on short notice; I was looking at other than LLM. I guess LLMs are indeed a different breed, re: credit hour requirements . Thanks, Courcelles.

LLM - Taft University - 24 credits - Total Program Tuition - $11, 880. Different type of school, of course. But WHAT a difference in fees! $495 per credit. All distance ed., no flights etc. We have at least one member who was pretty happy with them, IIRC.

 

One difference. Taft requires a JD. Boston U. does not. (It's OK if you do hold one, of course.) I suppose there are other differences too. But for a 50K+ cost differential, I, for one, might be prepared to make some adjustments in my expectations. But - there's no LLM in my future, so... I don't have to. YMMV

 

The LLM is supposed to be a post-JD degree. To me, it's like a postgraduate certificate or specialist degree i.e. the EdS. There are Master of Theology (ThM) programs that are 24 credits. These are typically post-MDiv degrees.

 

I get that. All of it. And yes indeed - grad certs and some grad degrees share similarities, no. of credits and what's covered etc. But the two credentials are generally viewed and evaluated quite differently.

You say "My Master's is like a post-grad cert," and nobody in gen. pop. raises an eyebrow.
You say "My PG cert is like a Master's degree," and out come the knives - from the Master's grads.
And don't EVER say "YOUR Master's is like a PG Cert." It won't likely make you any friends.

Saying any of these in an interview is not likely a good job-getter, either.

 

Moooo.

 

Really only a couple good uses for the LLM :

1. Attorney getting a specialized LLM in Tax or some other field that would generate fees
2. Foreign lawyer getting a LLM to qualify for the state bar exam.

Otherwise the more "useful" degree would be a MSLS or MALS in Legal Studies.

 

3. Generate major additional revenue for the law school at minimal expense.

 

MOOOOOO!

 

Do Canadian cows go "moo"? How about Quebec cows?

 

One says "la vache mugit." Or the sound is written as "meuh." OK test over. Where's my LL.M.?

 

Your LLM? Uh...sure...let's see...oh, you need to borrow $85,000 in student loans and write us a check first. Thought we made that clear.

 

Cattle in my experience (as a genuine Westerner ) actually go something like "waah!" I don't know where the "m" sound came from.

 

I think it depends on the cow. Some definitely have more of a mmm sound instead of a www sound.

 

Out here next to Texas, they say, "Moo, y'all!"

 

On a plate - they don't say anything. (They might sizzle a bit, though...)