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Each year, thousands of legal professionals from around the world come to the US for advanced legal training. They often choose to attend a Master of Laws programme or LLM — for good reasons.
Interactive classes, professors who are practitioners and judges, and the chance to learn by doing and cross disciplines contribute to this. If you’re from outside the US, you’ll gain an insight into the country’s legal system, enabling you to prepare to practise law in the US or add a global edge to your CV. What’s more, many of these programmes are located in vibrant and multicultural cities.
One such institution is Widener University’s Delaware Law School, which combines world-class legal education with a location in the heart of the “Corporate Capital of America” — Wilmington, Delaware. Major cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are two hours away. Philadelphia is accessible within 30 minutes.
Wilmington is not just a hub for Fortune 500 companies; it’s the birthplace of American corporate law. Over 50% of these giants are incorporated here, and the Chancery Court, solely dedicated to corporate disputes, sits right at your doorstep.
For over 50 years, Delaware Law has been the only law school in the state, cultivating a deep-rooted connection with the Chancery Court, renowned for handling complex corporate disputes. This translates into invaluable opportunities for students, including attending judge-led lectures, observing trials, and participating in educational events, directly immersing them in corporate law.
Widener University Delaware Law School grads excel with practical experience in a dynamic legal environment, benefiting from strong training and a close-knit Delaware Bar community. Source: Widener University Delaware Law Schoo
The discussions and debates on campus are just as rich. The school’s LLM programmes are a top choice among foreign-trained attorneys. Each year, they draw students of all backgrounds — and not only those who can afford it.
The Scholarship for International Leaders awards high-achieving, international students for their merit and need. It covers tuition, but not the costs of housing, transportation, books, travel or other expenses, for selected scholars who have demonstrated academic excellence and contributions to business, compliance, or other legal practices. LLM applicants must have completed a first degree in law from a non-US law school that fulfils the academic requirements for the practice of law in that country.
In-depth training in your current specialised area of practice
Whether your passion lies in corporate law, human rights, or mastering the US legal system, Delaware Law School has an LLM programme with a concentrated speciality tailored to you.
With over one million companies incorporated in Delaware, the LLM in Corporate Law and Finance gets you immersed in corporate law and finance and gaining firsthand exposure to leading courts and law firms shaping the industry. This LLM delivered by the Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law equips you for success in the global marketplace.
Open to US and foreign-trained attorneys, the programme is where you’ll build valuable connections with peers worldwide, enhancing your career potential or preparing you for further study. Exceptional candidates who hold this LLM can progress to the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) in Corporate and Business Law or Health Law programme to pursue advanced study, research and writing. “I strongly believe that the SJD programme at Delaware Law School is one of the best in the US due to its highly organised and structured processes as well as well-educated and experienced professors,” says SJD graduate Abdullah Altayar.
Whether you’re pursuing an LLM or SJD, you can join the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, a student-edited publication recognised for its insightful analysis of complex legal issues. It’s a great addition to your CV as you’ll get to engage with prestigious authors, contribute your own research, and gain valuable publishing experience.
The LLM in American Legal Studies equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the bar exam and pursue legal practice in the US. The curriculum includes mandatory courses in LLM American Legal System, Research, Writing and Analysis, and Professional Responsibility, as well as foundational or bar-tested courses, such as Contracts, Criminal Law, Federal Income Tax, Torts, Administrative Law and Wills and Trusts. International students who have received their legal training abroad must also complete these courses LLM Research, Writing, and Analysis and LLM American Legal System.
Like other programmes here, these are led by respected professionals from all types of practice and once included Joe Biden, who served as an adjunct professor for 17 years before assuming the role of Vice President.
The faculty consists of respected professionals from various legal spheres, including former prosecutors, public defenders, attorneys from law firms, major corporations, and more. Source: Widener University Delaware Law School
Delaware Law’s Dignity Law Institute offers the only programme of its kind in the US, an LLM in Human Rights and Dignity Law. This specialised programme focuses on the inherent dignity of all people and equips students with the skills to advocate for their fundamental rights. As a student in this programme, you get to take part in the Dignity Rights Clinic, collaborate with JD students on real-world cases, and gain valuable experience working alongside the American Civil Liberties Union.
In fact, in the last two years, students have worked with incarcerated individuals, assessing dignity impacts and developing legal claims with the American Civil Liberties Union. This semester, some focused on solitary confinement, while others advocated for refugees before the United Nations Committee Against Torture.
Delaware Law School creates a welcoming and supportive environment for international students. International Jurist magazine has recognised the school’s efforts, ranking them on the Honor Roll for best student experience in 2023. This recognition echoes the experiences of many international students, like Matias Leite and Ines Cesbron, who came to the US with the goal of taking the bar exam. Both first studied in Delaware as part of their dual degree with the Catholic University of Lille, before later returning for a full LLM in American Legal Studies to take a US bar exam.
Since joining, they’ve been invited to Halloween parties and Thanksgiving celebrations, to name just two. “We live on campus so it’s easier to make friends and go out with them or just to study together,” says Cesbron.
Click here to learn more about Widener University Delaware Law School.
