LL.M. Courses
Course descriptions and a Summer 2016 course schedule are available on our website, but please keep in mind that class dates and times are subject to change.
The following core curriculum courses are required for the LL.M. degree:
- Fundamentals of US Law (2 units, taken during the first summer)
- Legal Research & Writing (2 units total, taken during the first summer)
Summer courses are listed here. In March we will request from you your course selections.
Academic Advice
Our Executive Director Amelia Miazad, Director of Advising Deborah Schlosberg, and Associate Director of Advising Anya Grossmann are familiar with the academic experience of law school. They are available to provide you with academic advice throughout your studies at Berkeley Law.
Study Groups
Forging relationships with other students is also very important. Some students find it useful to engage in substantive discussion in the form of study groups, which are self-designated collections of students (the actual number varies) who get together on a regular basis to work on their classes. These groups differ in structure and function; they range from formal to very informal and focus on a range of tasks, from discussing class material to producing outlines and going over practice exams. Some study/discussion groups focus on one class; others tackle all the substantive subjects. You do not have to form or join a study group; many students do not. The important thing is to find a way to actively engage with the substantive material you are learning.
Grades
LL.M. students are graded on a curve. Under the curve, the top 20 percent of the class will receive grades of High Honors (HH), the next 30 percent will receive grades of Honors (H) and the remaining 50 percent will receive grades of Pass (P). In addition to these grades, students who do not meet the threshold requirements for the class may receive grades of Pass Conditional/Substandard Pass (PC), or No Credit (NC). If a student receives an NC, the units for that course are not counted towards the LL.M. degree. It is very rare for students to receive PC or NC grades.
Final Exams
Many of your coureses will culminate in a final exam, although some instructors may assign papers in addition to or instead of exams. Law school exams are a unique experience and require skills you can learn but may not have practiced before. We will provide you with the opportunity to take exam taking workshops early in the term to prepare you for the exam taking experience.