Since 1986, Pace has offered a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree for lawyers in the field of Environmental Law. The LL.M. program has two tracks: one for lawyers educated at law schools in the USA and one for lawyers educated in law schools elsewhere in the world. Candidates for the LL.M. in either track may select from over 25 regularly scheduled courses. The Pace environmental law faculty are readily available for consultations with LL.M. candidates, and routinely include LL.M. candidates in all faculty colloquia and special lectures.

The LL.M. in Environmental Law has been of interest to attorneys, including recent J.D. graduates, with a diversity of backgrounds and career objectives. Lawyers enrolled in Pace’s LL.M. program have come primarily from four sectors: (1) attorneys employed as house counsel in corporations, particularly in the many corporate headquarters in the New York metropolitan area; (2) attorneys employed in municipal, state, and federal governmental agencies who are seeking career advancement in agencies which encourage continuing legal education; (3) attorneys seeking to make or enhance a career change from other legal practice into an environmental law practice; and (4) lawyers from around the world seeking specialization in international, comparative and American environmental law. To date, lawyers have earned the LL.M. from such countries as Argentina, India, Germany, Nepal, The Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Slovakia, Spain and The United Kingdom. Several have come to Pace on Fulbright, Muskie or Soros Foundation programs. In addition, a number of law graduates from other American law schools that did not have substantial environmental law specializations have chosen to continue their legal education immediately after law school by applying for this LL.M. program.

Attorneys awarded the LL.M. in Environmental Law are employed in full-time or substantial practices of environmental law with international, federal, state and municipal governmental agencies, in public interest law firms, as corporate house counsel, and in private law firms. The Pace LL.M. alumni are an important network of environmental law specialists worldwide, and participate actively in Pace alumni programs, including Pace’s attractive continuing legal education offerings in environmental law to maintain their specializations. There continue to be employment opportunities for attorneys with systematic training and specialization in environmental law. Virtually all of the international candidates for the LL.M. have returned to their home countries or joined international agencies to practice their environmental law specializations.

LL.M. Course of Study. Both American and international LL.M. candidates must complete twenty-four (24) credits with a grade point average of at least 2.67. Three courses are required of all candidates: Environmental Law Survey (3 credits), a survey of US federal environmental law; Environmental Law Practice and Skills (4 credits); and Administrative Law (3 credits). Candidates who have taken a comprehensive environmental law course as part of a recent J.D. degree may apply to waive taking the course in Environmental Law Survey. All the courses, except the clinical courses and Law Review editorship, are available to the LL.M. candidates as electives.

In addition, international candidates whose English language skills require further refinement must enroll in the Pace Summer Academic Program, and may take advanced language training at Pace University's English Language Institute.

LL.M. candidates must complete at least three courses or seminars requiring a major research paper, or may elect to prepare a Masters Thesis (6 credits), with special permission. The degree requirements are designed to be completed in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study in Pace’s Evening Division. They must be completed within three years.

Admission to LL.M. Candidacy. Admission to Pace’s LL.M. program is competitive. Not all applicants are admitted. Applications are judged on the strength of their academic preparation and the nature of their professional commitment to pursuing a career in environmental law. A faculty committee reviews each application and an interview may be required. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) demonstrating their proficiency in English.   (Please note that a TOEFL may be necessary to obtain a Visa in certain circumstances.) All applicants should plan to enter at the beginning of the Fall semester.