Whether negotiating multilateral treaties, drafting resolutions at the United Nations, or shaping human rights policies, practicing international law often means working outside of the courtroom. Fletcher’s LLM program offers a singularly comprehensive approach to international law, setting you apart by contextualizing your legal studies within a multidisciplinary education in international affairs.
At Fletcher, you’ll study with global leaders who bring real-world law and policy experience in areas such as negotiation and conflict resolution, human security, trade and international business, migration, human rights, cybersecurity, and climate and energy. Uniquely embedded within a global affairs school, our LLM program offers unmatched legal depth and contextual breadth, helping you develop a profound and versatile foundation across disciplines—all in one academic year.
Designed for students from around the world, the LLM at Fletcher draws individuals with diverse backgrounds in law, civil society, the military, and the private sector. Here, you will go beyond what’s possible with a traditional law degree, gaining an interdisciplinary perspective on the promises and limits of legal frameworks and their role alongside other global solutions.
I joined Fletcher LLM looking for more than a narrow focus. I wanted a program that took law seriously but also left room for broader questions - about diplomacy, institutions, and governance. That balance made the experience intellectually rich and practically useful.
Learn to ask deeper questions – and pursue more complex answers – in Fletcher’s dynamic academic community of thinkers and advocates.
Study international humanitarian law with faculty immersed in the field, alongside peers who come from a legal or military background, or who have lived through international conflict as civilians. Learn to consider international problems – not just as lawyers – but from the perspectives of various stakeholders and constituencies affected by the legal context.
Through one-on-one faculty mentorship, professional support with the Office of Career Services, and a focused one-year degree, prepare for a career in government, the private sector, NGOs, IGOs such as the World Bank or the United Nations, or academia. Gain practical experience working on cutting-edge legal research with the Center for International Law and Governance. Advocate for human rights and present reports in Geneva and New York with the International Law Practicum.
Join high table discussions, where legal advocates, academics, and practitioners come together to discuss how to use law to address global challenges not just through litigation and doctrine but also through multilateral or bilateral agreements, formal and informal diplomacy, legislative change, executive action, or grassroots mobilization.
LLM students take a total of eight courses during their year on campus. Customize your degree through your coursework and capstone project.
The yearlong High Table Seminar series is a key feature of the LLM’s cohort model. LLM students convene for discussions with faculty and leading thinkers, policy makers, and practitioners in the field where they learn to consider issues from different points of view, gain exposure to the work others are doing in the field, and access networking opportunities.
Students work on a final, written capstone project, which evidences scholarly and/or professional analysis informed by the sustained and appropriate application of analytical methodologies. Students work with a faculty advisor and participate in a capstone retreat at the end of the year to present summaries of their theses, reflect upon their studies, and engage in discussion with legal practitioners and scholars.
Successful applicants meet one of the following requirements
Yes. Students may pursue a joint degree with Fletcher's Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) program. A joint LLM/MALD degree requires 5 semesters to complete.
Additionally, Fletcher partners with the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland to offer a joint LLM and Master in International Law (MIL) from St. Gallen. Students can begin the program at either institution and cross-count courses to fulfill all requirements.
No. Some states permit application to the bar by an applicant who does not hold a JD, if the applicant has taken a minimum number of credit hours in courses offered in a JD program in an ABA-approved law school and/or is qualified for the bar in a foreign jurisdiction. Rules for bar admission vary from state to state.
Fletcher’s LLM prepares students for careers in international law. Graduates practice law at the United Nations, in foreign ministries, and at embassies.
