LDI and Emory Law School Launch a New LLM Program in Law and Development

Press release from Emory University, July 5, 2015
(http://law.emory.edu/news-center/releases/2015/07/emory-law-llm-specialization-in-law-and-development.html#.VZpZHkb773h)

“Emory Law is pleased to announce the creation of a new LLM specialization in law and development to address the increasing global demand for lawyers who understand development issues, particularly economic development.

To meet this demand, Emory Law is offering in collaboration with the Law and Development Institute a new LLM specialization in law and development. The new LLM specialization will be ideal for a wide range of professionals and students who wish to understand the important relationship between economic development and law, legal frameworks, and institutions. Among others, these include public officials serving in areas connected with economic development, private sector professionals (including international development consultants and those working for development-related NGOs), and students who wish to develop expertise in this increasingly important area. The new program will also be an ideal initial step for those who wish to pursue an SJD degree in the field of law and development.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in activities of the Law and Development Institute, an international network of scholars and professionals promoting the study and practice of law and development, including international conferences, development projects, and academic publications.

The resources within arm�s reach of Emory Law make it ideally situated to offer this new specialization in law and development. On the Emory University campus alone, the academic programs and initiatives of the Laney Graduate School’s Master’s in Development Practice (MDP), the Global Health Institute, the Institute for Developing Nations, and other university departments offer an incredibly rich environment for study and practice. Beyond the campus, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Carter Center, CARE International, and other world-renowned development institutes and programs that call Atlanta home create further opportunities for students’ educational and professional development.

Prospective students interested in the law and development specialization should apply through the Emory Law LLM application process, indicating their interest in the law and development specialization. All applicants will be considered for merit scholarships, based on the strength of their overall application, including their academic qualifications, professional experience, and language proficiency.

If admitted to the LLM program, students pursuing the law and development specialization must�in addition to all other degree requirements�complete the foundational course Law and Economic Development: Theory and Practice (3 credits). In addition, they must take at least one of the following courses: Development Economics (3 credits) International Trade Law and Policy (3 credits) Law and Development: Social and Political Perspectives (3 credits), and Political Economy of Development Practice (3 credits).
Students will also have the opportunity to prepare a substantial research paper on a law and development topic of their choice.”