Accelerated Summer LLM Program

Deadline – January 17, 2012
Apply Online | Paper Application (pdf) | Instructions | Supplemental Forms

Program Overview

The Accelerated Summer LLM (ALLM) program is a 15-week degree program that will bring together law graduates from diverse non-U.S. jurisdictions to study at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. ALLM students will spend the summer (May through mid-August) studying the legal issues relating to business law, with particular focus on transnational matters. The ALLM program is interested in attracting candidates with experience in practice or other settings, who bring an appreciation of their home country’s legal system, as well as an interest in learning in a truly global setting. Potential candidates include law graduates working in law firms, the judiciary, business organizations, government, non-profit organizations and NGOs, and others interested in the governance of business organizations. Applicants to the ALLM degree program must hold a first degree in law from a university or college whose law degree requirements are comparable to Northwestern's.

The Accelerated Summer LLM program is intended for candidates whose personal or professional obligations limit their ability to spend an entire year studying in the United States in a traditional LLM program. ALLM students earn an LLM degree in an intensive 15-week summer session comprising in class course work (two 6-week sessions), online coursework, as well as two exam periods (1 1/2 weeks each).

Specifically designed for graduates of non-U.S. law schools working in their home countries, the ALLM program emphasizes the importance of the role of the lawyer as a strategic advisor in business. Classes will involve lively discussions, with problems and case studies as well as the use of leading educational technologies.

Antonio Grillo Neto of Sao Paolo, Brazil was among the students from the first Northwestern Law ALLM class. He stated that his experience was invaluable, both personally and professionally, citing that the program prepared him to be a better attorney in his home country.

"This program was so well-organized and the professors had a special ability to make the learning process effective in such a short time. I was continually challenged intellectually and forced to push myself to the next level," said Grillo Neto, who has worked as a lawyer and legal consultant in Brazil for 13 years. "While we took in a lot of information and material in a short period of time, there was a wonderful support system at the Law School that made the whole experience manageable."

Courses are taught by full-time Northwestern Law faculty, and students will attend class daily. There will be sufficient time to prepare for class, as well as to engage in professional development and social activities with classmates and others. In addition, students will have time to enjoy the city of Chicago.

Chicago is home to many world-class law firms and multinational corporations, and we will draw on these resources to expose students to the ways in which transnational issues related to law arise outside the classroom. Regular discussions with practitioners and business executives will facilitate bridging classroom discussions with the real world.

For general inquiries, please e-mail the Accelerated LLM Program at allm@law.northwestern.edu.

Admissions Information
Curriculum, Course Topics, and Timeline
Tuition and Living Expenses
Frequently Asked Questions