School of Law
Queens Campus
Overview
The LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice (TLP) is designed to train foreign attorneys in the rapidly expanding cross-border practice of law, to educate global attorneys within the New York City legal community ― the center of global legal practice ― and to enhance non-native English speaking attorneys’ skills in practicing law in English, the lingua franca of the global legal profession.
- Train foreign attorneys in the rapidly expanding cross-border practice of law. All TLP students receive an in-depth education of transnational practice. In addition to the capstone Transnational Legal Practice courses, our students take courses focusing on the increasing legal interconnectedness of the world. In addition to learning the law in traditional lectures, TLP students learn the law by engaging in supervised simulations meant to mimic transnational practice.
- Educate global attorneys within New York City. TLP students benefit from St. John’s location in New York City. Our TLP students are able to attend events focused on transnational practice at the New York City Bar Association, attend panels at major conferences like International Law Weekend, and visit the United Nations. We also bring esteemed practitioners onto campus to provide real-world insight to our students.
- Enhance non-native English speaking attorneys’ skills in practicing law in English. The TLP program places a strong emphasis on communicating in legal English, and works with non-native English speakers to enhance these skills. TLP students take specialized courses focused on legal research, writing, and analysis. They also present during role play simulations and work on weekly writing assignments to improve their English. Our students leave TLP with an enhanced ability to work in English.
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Dual Diploma: LL.M. in International Trade and Investment Law/LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice
St. John’s University School of Law and Lyon Catholic University Law School offer a dual LL.M. International Trade & Investment Law/LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice program starting in September. The program, entirely taught in English, is designed specifically for students interested in working in international trade, customs, and investment positions. Topics include regional trade agreements (NAFTA, CAFTA, TPP), EU trade law, trade and development, TRIPs agreement, trade preferences, international banking regulation, and bilateral investment treaties.
The students will spend the Fall semester in Lyon (France) from September to December, and the Spring semester in New York City (U.S.A.) from January to May. This gives the unique chance to be immersed in two distinct linguistic, cultural and legal contexts.
All students enrolled in this track receive a dual diploma (an LL.M. in European and International Trade and Investment Law by Lyon Catholic University and an LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice by St. John’s).
For more information, please click here.
Pathways to the Profession
Every student entering the Transnational Legal Practice LLM Program comes from a different background, has a different area of academic interest, and has a different plan for post-graduate opportunities. With that in mind, TLP offers four Pathways, allowing students within the same program to focus on different areas of transnational practice.
Cross-Border Transactions
The Pathway designed specifically for students interested in working in private practice with a focus on corporate law. Topics in this Pathway include project development, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, global corporate compliance, cross-border employment law, international competition (antitrust) law, and cross-border IP licensing.
International Trade & Investment
The Pathway designed specifically for students interested in working in international trade, customs, and investment positions. Topics in this Pathway include regional trade agreements (NAFTA, CAFTA, TPP), EU trade law, trade and development, TRIPs agreement, trade preferences, international banking regulation, and bilateral investment treaties.
Public International Legal Practice
The Pathway designed specifically for students interested in working at the United Nations, an international organization, a non-governmental organization, or a government agency focused on international law. Topics in this Pathway include public international law theory, treaties, international courts and tribunals, the law of international organizations, statehood and recognition.
Transnational Dispute Resolution
The Pathway designed specifically for students interested in working in litigation, investor-state arbitration or international commercial arbitration, and international mediation. Topics in this Pathway include mediation of armed conflict, peace processes, investment-state arbitration, dispute settlement in international organizations, and the settlement of territorial disputes.
Admission
Admission to the LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice LL.M. program at St. John’s School of Law is selective and based upon excellence in prior legal studies. Evidence of academic scholarship as well as professional achievements will be considered. The LL.M. Program is designed to have a limited enrollment in order to enrich the quality of the experience for each LL.M. candidate.
Eligibility
Any American or foreign law school graduate holding a first degree in law (J.D., LL.B. or equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school or a foreign law school recognized in the country where founded and located.
English Proficiency Tests
Because of the nature of the LL.M. Program in Transnatioanl Legal Practice, it is essential that all students have a high level of comprehension and oral and written expression in the English language. Foreign graduates (other than students from Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom) are required to have taken the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test prior to applying.
Learn more about these requirements on the Office of Graduate Studies site.
English for American Law School
English for American Law School is an intensive four-week summer course designed for students entering St. John’s LL.M. programs who are not native English speakers. The course’s aim is to familiarize these students with the U.S. legal system and its vocabulary, thereby enabling them to participate more effectively in their studies in the LL.M. Program.
LLM in Transnational Legal Practice Application
The LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice program is designed to provide advanced practice and subject-matter instruction to recent U.S. and foreign law graduates and young practictioners seeking to expand their careers in transnational practice.
Apply to the LL.M. Program in Transnational Legal Practice
Prospective LL.M. students may apply to the program online.
Please read all instructions carefully before submitting your application:
Read the full list of application requirements on the Office of Graduate Studies site.
For additional information about program admission, please contact us.
Courses
Required Courses:
- Introduction to TLP (1 credit)
- Transnational Legal Practice I (3 credits)
- Transnational Legal Practice II (3 credits)
- TLP Legal Writing I and II (5 credits) (Students with exceptional English language ability may be able to place out of these classes)
Foundational Courses (students must select at least one of the following courses):
- International Law (3 credits)
- International Business Transactions (3 credits)
- International Litigation & Dispute Resolution (3 credits)
- International Trade Law (2 credits)
Electives (below is a sample of some of the most popular electives for TLP students):
- Business Organizations (4 credits)
- Colloquium in Law: International Law (2 credits)
- Commercial Arbitration (3 credits)
- Comparative Law (3 credits)
- International Commercial Arbitration (2 credits)
- International Criminal Law (2 credits)
- International Finance (3 credits)
- International Human Rights Law (3 credits)
- Introduction to U.S. Law I (2 credits)
- Law & Religion: International and Comparative Perspectives (3 credits)
- Other courses suited to your individual interests (1 to 4 credits)
If you prefer, you can design your own course of study incorporating required and elective courses suited to your professional needs or personal interests across a range of specialties, including for example intellectual property, bankruptcy, taxation, criminal law or comparative law.
Contact Us
The St. John’s School of Law faculty strongly supports the LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice program, with some of our most experienced and highly regarded tenured faculty members teaching both core and elective courses.
Our Faculty
Margaret E. (Peggy) McGuinness
Director, LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice
Professor of Law
J.D., Stanford Law School
Kathryn Piper
Adjunct Faculty
UC Hastings College of the Law
To learn more about the LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice program faculty, please contact us.