Graduate Programs

LLM students in Gerber Glass Hall

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Graduate programs at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University offer students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their chosen areas of law, while at the same time learning the skills necessary to put their new knowledge to work. 

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law offers leading Master of Laws (LLM) programs in environmental law and comparative legal studies. Within these two programs, students may choose from among several specializations according to their particular interests and goals.

JD candidates may enroll in a dual JD/LLM program in environmental law, in which they can earn the LLM degree in as little as one additional semester.

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is accredited by the American Bar Association and the New York State Department of Education. All LLM programs and the SJD program have received acquiescence from the American Bar Association.

a student

L.L.M. Environmental Law

Our L.L.M. in Environmental Law is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top environmental law programs in the United States. Students may choose from over 40 environmental courses offered each year, and may participate in ongoing political, economic and social research conducted by our internationally renowned faculty. Within the L.L.M. in Environmental Law, students may choose optional specializations in Global Environmental Law, Climate Change Law or Land Use and Sustainable Development Law.

a student

L.L.M. in Comparative Legal Studies

The LLM in Comparative Legal Studies welcomes non-US trained lawyers seeking greater knowledge of US law and the US legal system. The program begins with an introduction to US legal principles and methods which builds on the student’s experience in his or her home jurisdiction. Following this introduction, students may choose courses in specialized areas of US law, including public or private international law, intellectual property, dispute resolution, business transactions or international human rights. They may also choose an optional specialization in International Business Law.

a student

S.J.D. Program in Environmental Law

Aspiring legal scholars and teachers may apply to the highly competitive S.J.D. Program in Environmental Law. The SJD, or Doctor of Juridical Science, is a research-oriented degree program intended to guide new scholars through the process of writing and publishing a doctoral dissertation that creates original knowledge in a specific area of environmental law.

a student

Visiting Scholar Program

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University welcomes visiting scholars from around the world. Visiting scholars are selected from a group of applicants including prestigious law professors, researchers, legislators, judges, civil servants and others. During their visit, which may be anywhere from a few weeks to one year, they conduct specialized legal research as a member of our academic community.

Graduate Program Brochure

Welcome Message

Welcome to the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and our graduate programs!

Our mission in offering these graduate programs is to provide students with the tools necessary for professional success, whether in the practice of law, public service or academia.

At the Law School, we are especially proud of our L.L.M. in Environmental Law. Our law school was one of the first in the United States to develop a comprehensive, integrated curriculum in environmental law, and our faculty in this area is recognized at the worldwide level. The LLM program is just one expression of our commitment to ensure the sustainability of our natural and built environments. The program prepares our graduates to address the scientific, economic and political forces that shape environmental law, and to work for outcomes that balance often competing interests in the protection of our natural surroundings and promotion of intelligent and sustainable development.

The L.L.M. in Comparative Legal Studies is designed especially for students who received their legal education outside the United States. It allows them to increase their general knowledge of U.S. law and the U.S. legal system, while at the same time having the opportunity to explore an advanced field of law. After introducing U.S. common law traditions, the program focuses on how the US legal system fits within a comparative and international legal framework. Globalization of the legal profession in recent years makes it even more important for international lawyers to have a working knowledge of the U.S. system, in order to effectively work on behalf of clients in an increasingly transnational legal environment.

Finally, the S.J.D. program in Environmental Law is intended to prepare the next generation of environmental law researchers, scholars and teachers. Students in the S.J.D. program work closely with their faculty supervisors as they write a publishable dissertation, which they must defend before a faculty panel as the final step in completing their doctorates. Admission to this program is highly competitive.

At the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, our professors and staff are dedicated to preparing you for your life’s work in the law. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in the United States and around the world, as practicing lawyers, public officials, scholars, or in non-governmental organizations.

Contact the Graduate Program

If you have a question about admission to a Pace Law graduate program please e-mail llm@law.pace.edu.

Faculty

Diana Ramirez

Associate Director of Graduate Programs and International Affairs

Faculty

Achinthi Vithanage

Associate Director of Environmental Law Programs

Faculty

Jason J. Czarnezki

Associate Dean of Environmental Law Programs and Strategic Initiatives

Faculty

Katrina Fischer Kuh

Haub Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law

Meet Our Alumni