Law, LLM

The LLM program is a one-year, full-time course of study in advanced legal topics designed primarily for lawyers trained outside the United States. Students select courses from an extensive curriculum of specialized courses and seminars at Penn Carey Law. Penn Carey Law grants a generalized LLM that allows each student to design his or her own curriculum and, in doing so, may choose to focus on a particular topic. LLM students take courses alongside upper-level JD students and are on campus for ten months including a five-week per-term program. 

Penn Carey Law LLM students are also eligible to enroll in the Wharton Business and Law Certificate, a custom designed program for Penn Carey Law LLM students taught by Wharton faculty and industry experts selected for their teaching skills, subject expertise and ability to offer applied concepts and examples to participants. All LLM students may participate in this program which runs concurrently with the LLM program.

LLM students may also have the opportunity to enroll in clinical programs focusing on Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property and Technology, International Human Rights and Immigration, and Mediation and to participate in academic journals including the Journal of International Law and Asian Law Review.

For more information: https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/grad/LLM.php

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2026 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

Curriculum

General Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive the LLM degree, a student must attend full-time for two academic semesters, taking no more than 17 and no fewer than 9 semester hours per semester, and complete the requirements of either the Course Track or the Thesis Track.

All students must receive the grade of “F with credit” in no more than four semester hours of coursework.

Credits earned in the summer program count toward the graduation requirements.

Course Track

Complete 24 semester hours, one of which can be earned as an associate editor on a journal. 

Thesis Track

Complete 24 semester hours, 17 of which are from courses and seminars; and satisfactorily complete a scholarly thesis, worth 7 semester hours, of high analytical quality suitable for publication in a law journal.

Energy, Security, and Human Rights Law

To earn the LLM Concentration in Energy, Security, and Human Rights, students must take a total of four courses from a pre-approved course list while pursuing the LLM degree at the Law School. You may take the Transnational Legal Clinic for credit toward the concentration, but it will be counted as only one of the four classes, even if taken for the full year. One-semester hour classes, taught by Bok VIPs, will count as half of a class.

For more information: https://www.law.upenn.edu/academics/llm-requirements.php

Requirements

Intellectual Property and Technology Law

To earn the Concentration in Intellectual Property and Technology Law, LLM students must take a total of four courses from a pre-approved list while pursuing the LLM degree at the Law School.

Two of these classes must be foundational classes offered by standing faculty (highlighted in yellow on the course list).

The additional two classes can be selected from the full list of courses approved for the concentration that are taught by both standing faculty and adjuncts.

LLM students may take the Detkin Intellectual Property and Technology Legal Clinic for credit toward the concentration, but it will be counted as only one of the four classes, even if taken for the full year. One-semester hour classes, taught by Bok VIPs, for example, will count as half of a class.

Requirements