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Published August 14, 2014 This content is archived.
Continuing to develop its presence in global legal education, the UB Law School has announced a new program for international students who want to earn two master of laws degrees — one in Buffalo and one in Lyon, France — in one year.
The double LLM program, scheduled to begin this fall, is in conjunction with the private Catholic University of Lyon (Université Catholique de Lyon, or UCL) in east-central France. Students will enroll in UCL’s master of laws program in international business law and study there during the fall semester, then come to Buffalo for the spring semester as part of the law school’s general LLM program. The Buffalo segment begins with an intensive January course that introduces students to the U.S. legal system. At the end of the spring semester, they graduate with a master of laws degree from each institution.
The program builds on the strengths of both schools, not least of which is their locations. Lyon is in the heart of Europe, providing students with easy access to international and European institutions. Situated on the international border with Canada, Buffalo is at the crossroads of an internationally ranked research university and a vibrant midsize legal community.
Students in the program will benefit from exposure to different perspectives on law. With only a handful of exceptions, LLM students at UB Law take classes with students in the JD program and have access to nearly all of the law school’s curriculum. In addition, students will gain the valuable experience of living and studying in both France and New York, and begin to learn how to network across professional communities in the global marketplace.
The double LLM program builds on the UB Law School’s existing programs for international students, including general and criminal master of laws programs and a program in which internationally trained lawyers can earn a JD in two years. All law students at UB also enjoy study-abroad opportunities, including those in Thailand, New Zealand and Glasgow, Scotland.
“Buffalo has long been a center for innovative, international legal education and we are most pleased to build on this tradition with Lyon,” says UB Law Dean Makau Mutua. “It will be a wonderful and valuable experience for students.”