News Archive

Four years ago the law school launched its Master of Laws (LL.M.) program with ten students from seven countries. In the fall term 2005-06, the school has seventy LL.M. students, from seventeen countries, enrolled in five tracks: American Law for Foreign Lawyers; International & Comparative Law; Health Law, Policy & Bioethics; International Human Rights Law; and Intellectual Property Law. The faculty advisors for these specialized tracks are Professors Jeff Grove, Frank Emmert, Larrie Wilkins, George Edwards and Kenny Crews, respectively.

This year the school inaugurated its Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) program; only about 15% of American law schools offer this terminal degree in law. Our four S.J.D. candidates hail from Italy, Canada, South Korea and Saudi Arabia and hold LL.M. degrees from the University of Utah, Osgoode Hall of York University, Washington and Lee University and Southern Methodist University. Professors Dan Cole, Kenny Crews, Nicholas Georgakopoulos and Jim Nehf serve as their dissertation advisors.

According to Professor Jeff Grove, the school’s first Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, “in only four years our graduate programs have enjoyed remarkable growth in size, scope, diversity and quality. Our foreign students bring the world to IU Law- Indy, and as graduates they become ambassadors for our school in countries around the globe. We may be as well-known in China as we are in Peoria. Our domestic LL.M. students also develop specialties that prepare them for the next stages of their professional lives.”

Ms. Cathy Beck, a specialist in English as a Second Language (ESL) has designed a Legal English component for foreign LL.M. students, which is perhaps unique among American LL.M. programs. For non-native English speakers, Beck conducts a mandatory two to three week intensive Legal English course in August, prior to the beginning of law classes. In addition to the intensive course, individual and group instruction is available to students throughout the academic year. Beck also works closely with the school’s legal writing faculty who teach the course, Legal Analysis, Research and Communication for LL.M. Students. The goal is to give LL.M. students the greatest chance for success and distinction in their academic program.

The LL.M. program is staffed by the director, Ms. Claire Grove (who also works with the S.J.D. program), the assistant director, Ms. Miki Hamstra and Legal English coordinator, Cathy Beck. The Program Center, with offices, classroom space and a student lounge is located in Canal Square at Vermont Street Plaza, directly across West Street from Inlow Hall.