If you are planning to study in a General LL.M. program in 2022-23, you have likely already started thinking about your Fall 2022 courses. Being able to take so many courses can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re used to all or almost all of your law courses being selected for you in your first law degree. While Specialized LL.M. programs may have a more focused selection of offerings, “the world is your oyster” when it comes to General LL.M. programs.
Some points to consider below. I recommend that you speak with your network and your law school to choose the schedule that best positions you for success!
Many General LL.M. students are balancing two competing goals: (1) taking bar-tested subjects and (2) taking courses that will be helpful for post-graduate employment. For example, taking Torts, Criminal Law, and Property will help as you prepare for a bar exam, but may be 50% of your LL.M. in subjects that may not be as helpful if your goal is to work in corporate law.
In addition, students are thinking about which professors to take (e.g., perhaps for your Business Associations course, you have two options: a full-time professor is a leading scholar in that field or a lawyer and adjunct professor who hires students). If your school has multiple sections for the same course, you may want to think about which professor would be the better option for your specific goals.
Throw in the complications of trying to take courses on the 1L schedule and 2L/3L schedule (often with course overlaps), and the times courses are offered, and it can all be quite complex. The reason: 1L students at many/most schools are basically on their own schedule (some schools allow 1Ls to pick an elective/electives, especially in the second semester). So the Contracts course you really want to take may be at the same time as the Corporations course, because 1Ls won’t take Corporations and 2Ls/3Ls won’t take Contracts.
And on top of all that, you are trying to determine how many courses to take. Do you focus on a small number of courses and concentrate your energy on those, or do you take as many courses as you’re allowed to for a broader exposure to coursework. This can be even more complex if you’re on block tuition rather than paying per credit and want to get the best “deal” possible.
Finally, in a two-semester LL.M. you are unlikely to be able to take every course you want. Even as a J.D., I wasn’t able to take every course I wanted in my 2L and 3L years! It’s crucial to prioritize. You also want to see if any courses in your second semester will have a prerequisite or co-requisite requirement and either fulfill that requirement or see if you can waive out if it. And check to see if a course is offered both semesters or only one semester during your studies.
Beyond Non-JD 