Students who decide to pursue an LLM concentration in one of our areas of excellence may earn a separate certificate in addition to their diploma. We now offer LLM specialization certificates in five major areas: business and commercial law, conflict resolution, environmental law, international and comparative law, and ocean law and policy. We provide our LLM students with solid training in U.S. legal analysis. During the fall semester, all students take Introduction to American Law, a special course that emphasizes the distinctive aspects of the American legal system and approach to legal issues. In the spring semester, we offer an optional Legal Research and Writing course designed to train international students in American legal analysis and writing. LLM students may also enroll in first-year courses such as Contracts and Civil Procedure, which serve as a useful, in-depth introduction to key areas of U.S. practice.To gain a comparative understanding of the importance of law and legal institutions in the U.S., and the role of lawyers and the judiciary in the American legal system,To master fundamental skills in American legal research, legal analysis, and legal reasoning, To learn to communicate an understanding of U.S. legal issues effectively both orally and in writing,To develop expertise in a specialized area of U.S. or international law through successful completion of an organized program of courses in a selected specialization.