LLM Program in International Human Rights

The LLM Program in International Human Rights (IHR LLM) provides an in-depth study of the norms and mechanisms of international human rights law and international criminal law.  A signature feature of this program is the strong sense of community that develops each year among the IHR LLM class, whose members come from throughout the world and bring with them rich and diverse experiences working to advance human rights in their home countries. 

 The small size of the IHR LLM program assures that students also benefit from a close working relationship with the faculty of Northwestern’s Center for International Human Rights, all of whom have extensive experience in the field of human rights.  IHR LLMs have access to the full range of programs presented by the Center for International Human Rights.  In particular, many IHR LLMs participate in an IHR clinic class, where they have the opportunity to work alongside fellow students and CIHR faculty on human rights cases or projects from within the U.S. or around the world.  On occasion, IHR LLMs have had the chance to participate in advocacy at the UN in Geneva as part of their clinic work.

Individuals who wish to complete the LLM Program in International Human Rights must apply specifically to that program by checking the appropriate box on their application for admission. It is anticipated that most applicants to this program will already have completed a JD or first degree in law in their home countries. 

Core and Elective Courses

Three core courses (listed below) fulfill 8 of the 20 required credits for the LLM in International Human Rights. IHR LLM students must earn an additional twelve credits related to international human rights law or international criminal law, including at least one of the elective courses (listed below) in the International Human Rights Law Program. The remainder of these twelve credits can be gained either via additional program electives or, after prior consultation with and approval by Professor Arimond, via another relevant course offered by the Law School. Likewise, in lieu of a core course that the student has already completed with a satisfactory grade in prior legal studies, a student may take another relevant course offered by the law school after prior consultation with and approval by Professor Arimond. In exceptional cases, elective courses that would have the student exceeding the required 20 credit hours may be taken after prior consultation with and approval by Professor Arimond.

For more information on the program courses, view the Current Course Listings.

Fall Semester

Core Courses

• International Human Rights I (3 credits) 
• Human Rights Advocacy: Legal Analysis and Writing (3 credits)
• Human Rights Colloquium (1 credit) 

Electives

• Nation Building: International Human Rights Law in Transitional Societies  
• A New World Order: the Role of the United Nations in Advancing a Rule of Law and Individual Human Rights

Spring Semester

Core Courses

• International Criminal Law (3 credits) 
• Human Rights Colloquium (1 credit)

Electives

• International Human Rights: Differing Perspectives in Europe, the Americas, the U.S. 
• The Law of War/International Humanitarian Law
• International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic
• International Children's Rights Advocacy
• International Human Rights Law and Practice
• Health and Human Rights
• Corporate Compliance and the Social Mandates
• Graduate Thesis (4 credits)
  International Human Rights LLM students engage in intensive, supervised research and produce a thesis of substantial length and high quality. Students propose topics in the field of international human rights law or international criminal law for approval by the supervising professor and prepare at least one initial draft for review prior to finalizing the thesis.

Additional Human Rights-Related Electives within the Law School

In addition to the above-listed courses offered by the faculty of the Center for International Human Rights, every year a number of additional courses related to international human rights or international criminal law are offered as part of the general Law School course offerings. While the offerings change from year to year, the following courses, are representative of the kinds of courses offered:

• Refugees and Asylum
• International Environmental Law
• Women, Children, Gender and Human Rights

Language Proficiency

All students must be proficient in English, as demonstrated by a score of 100 or above on the TOEFL or 7.5 or above on the IELTS. Qualified applicants whose scores fall below these thresholds may be admitted conditioned on the completion of LEAF, our summer Legal English Program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

A limited number of Northwestern University fellowships, based on merit and financial need, may be awarded to applicants or negotiated with third party funders. However, not enough funds are available for all qualified students in need. Applicants are strongly encouraged to investigate other sources of support, including employers and government agencies, scholarship funds, and family and personal funds. A scholarship application will be made available after an offer of admission has been made.  Scholarship decisions are made in early February.

For further information, please contact Professor Bridget Arimond, Director of the LLM in International Human Rights Law, at b-arimond@law.northwestern.edu.