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University at Buffalo: School of Law
The University at Buffalo School of Law -- the only law school in the State University of New York system -- is a premier public law school situated on the campus of a flagship public university. As one of the oldest law schools in New York State, UB School of Law draws on 135 years of experience and innovation in legal education offering a variety of graduate law programs. Located in Buffalo, UB School of Law’s proximity to Canada provides access to a network of alumni engaged in cross-border legal practice and the opportunity to learn from practitioners on both sides of the border. And as New York State’s public law school, it has a mission to promote justice, to serve the public interest, and to cultivate socially responsible students, professionals, and lawyers who will be leaders in their areas of practice and fields of scholarship.
Advanced law students come to Buffalo to work closely with leading scholars in many areas of scholarly inquiry and practice: cross-border business transactions and trade, criminal law and procedure, environmental law, labor law, constitutional law, civil litigation, tax, human rights, intellectual property, and more. They come to work in clinical programs that make a difference in local communities at the same time that they are taught to be practice-ready lawyers. They come to immerse themselves in the language and foundations of United States and New York law. And they come to join a community that shares their enthusiasm for confronting the challenges of ensuring justice and fairness in the global practice of public and private law.
Degree Programs
The University at Buffalo School of Law offers five programs for students who already have a first degree in law.
The Two-Year J.D. for Internationally Trained Lawyers allows professionals who already have a first degree in law to earn a J.D. in two years rather than three. It provides a more thorough immersion experience in U.S. law and legal education than a one-year LL.M. program can provide. Admitted students take the first-year curriculum and are part of the incoming J.D. class. In the second year, students take mostly electives in research, classroom instruction, and experiential learning.
The Doctor of Juridical Science is the law school’s most advanced degree. It makes full use of their creative and interdisciplinary faculty to prepare students for careers as law professors, judicial and other public offices, as well as high-level policy positions in international organizations. In the doctoral dissertation, the successful J.S.D. student will produce an original, innovative piece of scholarship that makes a contribution to the understanding of law. The J.S.D. degree can typically be completed within three years – one year in residence of full-time study with coursework, followed by a period of research and writing (generally an additional one to two years).
The General LL.M. provides professionals with the flexibility to create a highly specialized course of study that draws on the School of Law's excellence in research, classroom instruction, and experiential learning. LL.M. students have access to nearly all of the courses offered at the law school and can spend their time focusing primarily on the wide range of subjects offered each semester (including those students who need an LL.M. to become eligible to sit for the New York bar exam). Students can engage in research, working closely with a faculty member on a master’s thesis or an independent study. And they can take advantage of the many opportunities to learn law and the legal profession through pioneering clinical programs, externships, and judicial clerkships. Admitted students receive one-on-one academic advisement in the selection of their courses to help them navigate through the range of course offerings and practical learning opportunities.
The Criminal Law LL.M. builds on the law school's strength in the interdisciplinary study of criminal law and the work of the Buffalo Criminal Law Center. The Criminal Law LL.M. was the first of its kind in the United States and continues to be one of the only such programs. This program has attracted lawyers and professors from all over the world who intend to teach, do policy work, or serve as prosecutors or judges in their home jurisdictions. Several Criminal Law LL.M. students in the past three years have had prestigious Fulbright scholarships. Criminal Law LL.M. students are advised by Professor Luis Chiesa, an internationally known criminal law scholar with extensive experience in Spain and Latin America.
The innovative Cross-Border Legal Studies LL.M. Program, one of the first of its kind in the United States, recognizes the increasingly global nature of legal practice and the need for skilled attorneys to guide clients through their cross-border interactions. Located just 20 minutes from Canada, the U.S.’s largest trading partner, the School of Law is uniquely situated to provide students with exposure to cross-border legal issues both inside and outside the classroom. A strong network of alumni based in Buffalo, New York and Ontario, Canada engage in a wide range of cross-border legal practice including trade, tax, immigration, real estate, and corporate and transactional work. These practitioners serve as community partners in the program and informal mentors to LL.M. students throughout the course of their studies. In addition, each student is assigned an academic advisor to provide one-on-one guidance throughout the program.
Contact
Office of Admissions
University at Buffalo School of Law
309 O'Brian Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260 USA
Phone: +01 716 645 2907
Email: law-admissions@buffalo.edu
Web: www.law.buffalo.edu/llm
Available courses
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