University of Washington School of Law

Introduction

• The Vision: To shape and define just and sustainable laws and policies through scholarly discovery, ethical advocacy, inspired teaching, and generous public
  service. The University of Washington School of Law aspires to be the best public law school in the nation and one of the world’s most respected centers for interdisciplinary legal studies.
• The Mission: To serve as and to educate our students to be leaders for the global common good. Our students are asked to rethink and defend their conceptions of the law and its relation to social problems. Students are often surprised to learn that their principal objective is not to “learn the law” but rather to develop the intellectual tools and skills necessary to work as professionals. They gain experience in analyzing cases, statutes, and other legal materials, thereby learning the structure and operation of the legal system.

LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization

The University of Washington School of Law has eight masters programs, and our students have the opportunity to take advantage of our collaborative arrangements with the university’s technology transfer program and environmental, engineering, medical, and public policy schools. The law school also has strong ties with our vibrant and thriving legal, software, bioengineering, government, and nonprofit communities, including organizations such as Starbucks, Microsoft, Amazon, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Allen Brain Institute, PATH, and many others. We offer our students an opportunity to learn at a top law school with students from all over the world and enjoy the many benefits of going to school in Seattle.

Asian and Comparative Law LLM

Students in the United States who wish to learn legal systems and cultures of East Asia, as well as international students who wish to learn United States law and conduct comparative studies, choose the Asian and Comparative Law LLM program. It is a challenging program that builds professional competence in the substantive laws of one or more Asian jurisdictions and develops comparative legal research and writing skills. Students in this track complete a sequence of Asian and comparative law courses, general law courses, and interested students may pursue a major legal research and writing project. After graduation they pursue legal careers in Asia, Europe, or the United States, focusing on Asia-related transnational work. Some graduates become legal academics or pursue policy-related careers.

• Application deadline: February 15 (international applicants); May 1 (US applicants)
• Application fee: $90
• Transcripts from LLM CAS accepted
• Up to 10 students participate in this program each year
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the Asian Law Center website or contact gradlaw@uw.edu.

General Law LLM

The general law track is a customizable course of study for domestic and international students whose interest areas do not entirely fit into one of the specialized tracks. It provides students with the flexibility to take the courses they want in pursuit of their professional interests and personal aspirations. Some of our students have significant professional experience and are seeking to enhance or change practice sectors. Other students are seeking additional credentials to launch their career or to qualify for a bar examination in one of the United States jurisdictions (Washington or New York, for example) that admit lawyers trained outside of the United States. LLM students in the General Law program take classes with JD and LLM students in other programs, and select from our extensive course offerings based on their personal interests and career goals. Students may pursue cross-cutting and interdisciplinary studies or focus their studies in a particular substantive area, such as labor and employment law, dispute resolution, Native American law, criminal justice system, constitutional and administrative law, or the American legal system in general.

• Application deadline: February 15 (international applicants); May 1 (US applicants) 
• Application fee: $90
• Transcripts from LLM CAS accepted
• Approximately 20–25 part-time students participate in this program each year
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the Graduate Program in Taxation website or contact lawtax@uw.edu.

Global Business Law LLM

Students in this program focus on US and international business law courses, as well as practice-oriented courses that simulate global transactions. The law school provides a large selection of courses, including international contracting, international trade, and international business transactions. Graduates pursue legal careers as global business lawyers, entrepreneurs, or government lawyers responsible for economic policy and regulation.

• Application deadline: February 15 (international applicants); May 1 (US applicants)
• Application fee: $90
• Transcripts from LLM CAS accepted
• Approximately 20 students participate in this program each year
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the Global Business Law LLM website or contact gradlaw@uw.edu.

Health Law LLM

The demand for attorneys with highly specialized knowledge in the growing and complex area of health law continues to expand in the United States and around the world. Our health law curriculum includes over 20 courses. It is one of the largest in the United States and new courses are added regularly so our students gain practical knowledge on today’s cutting edge issues. Our health law professors are very accessible experts in their fields and our students also enjoy the benefit of learning from our highly experienced adjunct professors, who practice law in the subject areas that they teach. Our Health Law LLM students also have the opportunity to take classes at the University of Washington’s internationally known schools of medicine, public health, and public policy.  Most of our students enhance their practical skills and real world knowledge through our very successful externship and internship program. This also allows them to make valuable contacts and obtain strong references. Highly personalized career coaching and personal introductions are one of the many strengths of our program. 

• Application deadline: February 15 (international applicants); July 1 (US applicants). Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Application fee: $90
• Transcripts required: LLM CAS accepted
• Approximately 8–15 students participate in this program each year
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the Health Law LLM website or contact hlthlaw@uw.edu.

Intellectual Property Law and Policy LLM

Intellectual property law is no longer just for patent specialists. In today’s world, intellectual property law touches everything from stem cell lines, medicine, and electronic toothbrushes to garments, card games, and footballs (both kinds). This program provides students with intensive education and training focused on emerging intellectual property legal issues relating to technological innovation in all fields. The University of Washington is located in one of the premier IP-producing regions in the world. Scientists, computer programmers, aerospace engineers, medical researchers, singers, and writers are all here, developing things that they hope will change the world. UW is right in the mix, providing leadership to encourage innovation.

• Application deadline: February 15 (international applicants); July 1 (US applicants)
• Application fee: $90
• Transcripts required: LLM CAS accepted
• Approximately 25 students participate in this program each year
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the Intellectual Property Law and Policy website or contact iplaw@uw.edu.

Sustainable International Development Law LLM

The Sustainable International Development (SID) LLM program provides lawyers with the tools to promote social change and a sustainable future for people and the planet. Through an innovative and hands-on approach, this program provides students with the skills needed to face the international development challenges of the 21st century. The SID LLM program has a robust course curriculum focusing on five main areas:

• Rule of law, governance, and human rights
• Law as a tool of poverty alleviation
• Rights of indigenous peoples and communities
• Global environmental protection
• Corporate responsibility and sustainability

Graduates of this program will be equipped to work within organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, the United Nations Development Program, corporations and private consulting firms, and leading nongovernmental organizations.

• Application deadline: February 15 (international applicants); May 1 (US applicants)
• Application fee: $90
• Transcripts from LLM CAS accepted
• Approximately 25 students participate in this program each year
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the Sustainable International Development website or contact uwsidlaw@uw.edu

Taxation LLM

The Graduate Program in Taxation offers a range of courses and flexibility to study everything from sophisticated international business transactions to estate planning. Courses are taught by distinguished full-time faculty and experienced practitioners in the Pacific Northwest, and they provide LLM students with the knowledge, tools, and skills to be outstanding tax professionals. In addition, our Federal Tax Clinic allows students to represent clients in real disputes with the IRS. Classes are generally scheduled in the late afternoon or evening to accommodate students who work while earning their degree.

• Application deadline:
  • International applicants: February 15 (for fall quarter only)
  • US applicants: July 1 (fall quarter); November 1 (winter quarter); February 1 (spring quarter)
• Application fee: $90
• Transcripts required: LLM CAS accepted
• Approximately 30 full-time and 30 part-time students participate in this program each year
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the Graduate Program in Taxation website or contact lawtax@uw.edu.

Master of Jurisprudence (MJ)

The Master of Jurisprudence program is a nine-month, graduate-degree program designed to provide recent graduates and experienced professionals with a strong personalized education in the law. Students learn to recognize and respond to legal and regulatory issues in their chosen field, while taking most of their courses with UW law and LLM students. Areas of specialization include, but are not limited to, Employment and Human Resources law, Health law, Intellectual Property law, Technology Policy, Environmental Regulation, Finance and Tax Policy, Sustainable International Development, and Indigenous Rights.

• Application deadline: February 15 (international applicants); July 1 (US applicants)
• Application fee: $85 (application available only through the UW Application System)
• 20–25 students participate in this program each year
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the MJ website or contact mjgrad@uw.edu.

PhD in Law (PhD)

The PhD in Law program prepares graduates for global leadership in the judiciary, academia, business, and government. Since 1966, the PhD program has offered a select number of diverse students the opportunity to attain their highest professional aspirations and career goals in a preeminent center for interdisciplinary legal studies. UW Law offers a global focus and innovative approach to integrating legal scholarship within the humanities and social sciences, medicine and global health, business and technology, and environmental and public policy. Our graduate students receive individualized attention from exceptional faculty and staff.

• Application deadline: January 15
• Application fee: $85 (application available only through the UW Application System)
• Transcripts from LLM CAS accepted
• Approximately 5-7 applicants are admitted each year, with a total cohort of approximately 25 students
• Tuition

For more information, please visit the PhD in Law program website or contact phdlaw@uw.edu.

Our Faculty

The University of Washington School of Law offers a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. Faculty areas of specialization include labor law, tax law, international law, environmental and water law, family law, real property law, laws concerning business organization, commercial law, constitutional law, the law of sex and race discrimination, American Indian law, intellectual property, and health law. In addition, there are several faculty members specifically interested in questions of legal history, legal philosophy, and law and social science. These interests are reflected in the school’s curriculum.

Our Classes

The law school classes are uniquely designed to team JD and LLM/PhD students and visiting scholars in the same classroom and often in teams working on practical problems. The unique mix of US and international students in one program also provides a valuable reciprocal learning experience.

Bar Examinations

Our LLM programs are designed to support those international students interested in taking a bar exam in the United States. We encourage our students desiring to take a bar exam to work closely with our dedicated academic support advisor. Students receive individualized support throughout the bar examination process. UW also provides a four- credit bar preparation course created to give our international students advance preparation in four subject areas and to teach bar exam strategies.

Student Services and Organizations

There are 43 registered student journals and organizations, and over 700 student organizations at the university level. Of particular interest to LLM students are the Washington International Law Journal, the International Law Society, Technology Law Society, Student Health Law Organization, and the Business Law Association.

Student and Career Services

Student and Career Services provides professional development coaching, recruiting opportunities, electronic job-search tools, and various events. Many of the events and activities are planned to create and promote new relationships among attorneys, alumni, and UW School of Law students. The center believes it can serve its mission through core values of integrity and mutual respect, teamwork, superior competence, open and honest communication, and confidentiality.

Enrollment

Each fall, an entering class of about 180 JD students and 150 LLM students begins the study of law. The high number of applications received each year allows the School of Law to select an exceptional student body. Our students are academically sound and culturally diverse. Their educational and professional backgrounds create a stimulating intellectual atmosphere.

Physical Facilities

William H. Gates Hall houses all classrooms; a student lounge; a café; locker areas; the Marian Gould Gallagher Law Library; and faculty, administration, and student organization offices.

Library

The Marian Gould Gallagher Law Library houses a collection of 700,000 volumes, establishing it as one of the largest university law collections on the West Coast. Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg, HeinOnline, LegalTrac, and CCH are a growing part of the library’s broad-based access to information resources. A highly trained staff of 26 facilitates access to a wide variety of legal and interdisciplinary information needs and services. Law students have access to our spectacular study spaces and can easily borrow materials from the 17 other libraries of the University of Washington and most universities and colleges in the Northwest.

Housing

The university offers housing in residence halls, apartments, and family housing. In addition, the Housing & Food Services Office maintains lists of rental houses, apartments, and boarding houses in the neighborhood.