The LLM in U.S. Law & Policy Online offers internationally trained lawyers and law graduates a flexible, fully online pathway to confidently navigate the U.S. legal system without putting their careers on hold. Through a dynamic, practice-focused curriculum, students build a strong foundation in U.S. law while sharpening legal analysis and other essential skills to achieve their career goals. 

The program also supports those pursuing California Bar Exam eligibility, providing a pathway toward becoming a licensed attorney in California, subject to individual evaluation and state requirements.

12-month curriculum

Designed for working professionals

100% online

students and professor posing for a group photo
Why Choose McGeorge
  • Study on your schedule, 100% online: Earn your degree remotely from anywhere in the world. Learn anytime, anywhere.
  • Bar-aligned curriculum: Take online courses, including Professional Responsibility and other California bar–related subjects, preparing you for eligibility and success. 
  • Connected learning: Engage with faculty and peers through virtual office hours, mentorship and collaborative online activities, with full remote access to library and academic support resources. 
  • Personalized guidance: Receive individualized academic advising to design a course plan aligned with your bar goals and career aspirations. 
  • Global community: Join a vibrant academic network and connect with McGeorge’s alumni of legal professionals worldwide from diverse practice areas.
LEARN WITH AMERICAN JD STUDENTS
Study U.S. Law in Action

Students in the LLM in U.S. Law & Policy Online engage in the same rigorous coursework as U.S. law students, learning alongside them in a collaborative, supportive environment. This ensures that internationally trained lawyers gain the same practical insights, skills and understanding of U.S. law as their American peers, while contributing their own global perspectives to class discussions.

students in classroom
students at the state capitol
CUSTOMIZE YOUR FOCUS AND CAREER PATH
Build a Degree Around Your Goals

With a flexible 24-unit curriculum, you can tailor your coursework to match your professional interests—whether that’s business law, intellectual property, criminal justice or environmental law. Faculty guidance helps you shape a program aligned with your career ambitions.

Curriculum

Students follow a personalized course plan to complete the 24-unit program, building a strong foundation in U.S. law while tailoring their studies to their individual academic and career goals.

  • Semester Format:
    • Fall and Spring semesters – 15 weeks long
  • Time Commitment per credit unit:
    • One hour per week interacting with professors and classmates
    • Two hours per week reading and studying
  • Introduction to Legal Analysis: This course will teach students how to read, interpret and apply U.S. legal texts while developing critical thinking and reasoning skills essential for success in law practice and study
  • Legal English: This course will introduce the language, terminology and writing conventions of U.S. law, building the skills needed to communicate clearly and effectively in professional and academic legal settings.
  • Contracts: Learn the principles of contract formation, performance and enforcement, developing skills to analyze and draft agreements under U.S. law.
  • Business Organizations: Explore the structure, governance, and legal responsibilities of businesses in the U.S., including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies.
  • Employment Law: Introduction to the legal framework governing the workplace, including hiring, discrimination, wages, and termination.
  • Evidence: Study the rules and principles that govern the admissibility of evidence in U.S. courts, preparing to evaluate and present information effectively in legal proceedings.
  • Professional Responsibility: Examine the ethical duties and professional standards that guide lawyers in the U.S., including conflicts of interest, confidentiality and professional conduct.
  • Survey of Intellectual Property Law: Overview of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, focusing on how the law protects innovation and creative works. 
  • Wills and Trusts: Understand the legal rules for creating and managing wills and trusts and learn how to plan and transfer assets in accordance with U.S. law.
  • For additional foundational classes, explore our academic schedule here.

“The U.S. Law and Policy online LLM program gave me the flexibility to continue working while gaining a strong understanding of U.S. law. The academic advising and bar-focused support were invaluable in helping me navigate the path toward the U.S. Bar.”

—Bishoram Guragai, current student 

“McGeorge’s online LLM program offers a robust curriculum not commonly taught in civil law systems, particularly in core common law skills like legal analysis and IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion). Learning IRAC has given me a clear framework to better advocate for clients.” 

—Kalou Loui Tea Due, current student 

Meet with an Advisor

Contact Us

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McGeorge LLM & JSD Programs
916.739.7019 graduatelaw@pacific.edu

3200 Fifth Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95817