BE THE LAWYER YOU WANT TO BE
School of Law
2023 / 24
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Advanc e the common good
The University of St. Thomas School of Law’s one-year LL.M. in U.S. Law degree program offers an insider’s view of the American legal system through its innovative curriculum, distinguished faculty and award-winning mentoring program. Our program can be tailored to align with career goals and provide opportunities to focus on a particular area of law, such as global and comparative law, intellectual law, business law or corporate law. St. Thomas prepares individuals to practice law in a global context. Our program fosters professional development and a commitment to serve clients, the legal profession and the common good.
We don’t just train students for the real world. We train them to build a better one.
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St. Thomas’ LL.M. program will make you grow. Faculty members, staff and students will not only provide you with a relevant understanding of U.S. law but will change your purpose as a lawyer. After this experience you will think, act and work, all for the common good. - José Miguel García Rodríguez ‘16 LL.M., Colombia “ Best LL.M. Program, International Jurist, 2023 “ How is the St. Thomas School of Law different? First, this is a collaborative community. We provide an innovative law school experience where students are supportive, not competitive. Additionally, our faculty are approachable, not stuffy. And our mentors, alumni and donors are fierce advocates for our graduates and their success. Our case for collaboration
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Share your voice
We aren’t afraid to speak openly about social justice, and we also aren’t afraid to discuss the most important contemporary topics in an open, civil way. Truth comes from that. -St. Thomas Law Professor Mark Osler
Explore new perspectives
Who we are All Are Welcome Here
We are a law school founded in the Catholic intellectual tradition, which means we welcome students of all faith traditions, nationalities, races, ages and genders, and we create opportunities for you to deepen your purpose and explore who you are. We’re here to help you find your place in a bigger story. Our Classrooms Are Open to Debate Engaged and civil debate about the important issues of our time is a hallmark of our community, allowing us to tackle themes in the classroom that may not be covered in traditional legal education. Here, your views are respected. We are intentional about building an inclusive and diverse law school that is oriented toward cultivating a strong sense of belonging and support within our school and promoting justice in our world.
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A cutting-edge curriculum
We’re committed to educating well-rounded lawyers, and among the strengths of our program is a catalog of courses that can be tailored to fit your professional aspirations. The faculty and staff at St. Thomas Law will support you in selecting the courses that fit best with your personal and professional goals.
Required Courses Lawyering Skills for LL.M. Students LL.M. Mentor Externship
Ethical Leadership in Organizations Federal Income Taxation Information Privacy and Data Protection Law Immigration Law Intellectual Property International and Comparative Intellectual Property International Anti-Corruption Law International Human Rights International Law Mergers and Acquisitions Negotiation Patent Law Representing Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Sales Secured Transactions Securities Regulation Taxation of Business Entities Topics: Regulation of Disruptive Innovation
Elective Courses Accounting for Lawyers Administrative Law Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Bankruptcy Business Associations Comparative Constitutional Law Compliance Programs: Design, Operation & Performance Conflict of Laws Contracts Corporate Governance
Cybersecurity: Managing Risk Employment Discrimination
Employment Law Environmental Law
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We practice what we teach
At St. Thomas, you will be taught by and can work side-by-side with scholars who are making an impact on policy and research initiatives. We don’t avoid controversial issues—we inspire our students to make a difference .
Bringing Empathy to the Law Lawyers have the potential to bring about a more just and inclusive society when they utilize restorative justice practices within our courts and communities. This is the driving idea behind St. Thomas Law’s Initiative on Restorative Justice and Healing (IRJH), which was launched in fall 2021, to educate law students and the legal community Professor Wulf Kaal is the global leader in blockchain innovation in law and corporate governance. He places law students on the front line to answer crypto inquiries and has helped make powerful connections that have led to additional opportunities. Global Dispute Resolutio n Professor Mariana H.C. Gonstead is leading efforts to establish dispute resolution across the developing world. Law students work alongside Professor Gonstead as part of her International Dispute Resolution Research Network — a community of experts, stakeholders about restorative practices. Bitcoin in the Classroom and academics from all corners of the globe dedicated to dispute prevention and resolution.
Catholic Thought, Law and Public Policy The Murphy Institute, co-directed by Professor Greg Sisk, explores the various interactions between law and Catholic thought on topics ranging from workers’ rights to criminal law to marriage and family. It develops curricular resources, facilitates scholarship and engages the community through events and policy analysis. Free Exercise and Expression Professor Robert Kahn has worked to relate his scholarship to the broader world and human dignity. He is the author of “Holocaust Denial and the Law: A Comparative Study.” His subsequent research has focused on hate speech directed at Muslims (including the Danish cartoons), defamation of religions, pandemic mask bans, cross-burning and memory laws. for Scholarly Impact. In 2021, St. Thomas Law was ranked among the top 25 law schools in the nation for scholarly impact. #23
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A professional mentor for every law student
We believe the law is about relationships. It is a social profession. That’s why a hallmark of our law school since our founding has been our award-winning Mentor Externship Program, which focuses on being immersed in the U.S. legal system through connections with members of our legal community. Through Mentor Externship, you will be matched with a legal professional aligned to your interests or our curriculum. You’ll gain
experience, develop relationships and learn to navigate the U.S. legal field while earning academic credit. Tommie Connections Around the World More than 2,500 law alumni add value to our St. Thomas Law community, giving back to our students through mentoring, coaching moot court teams, offering career advice and networking, and working and volunteering in the community alongside you.
#2 St. Thomas Law has been ranked as a top school in the country for practical training since 2014, in part because of our Mentor Externship Program. (National Jurist 2023)
1,700+ lawyers and judges have served our students as mentors
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Having the opportunity to learn from attorneys or judges in a different system is very valuable because the studies go beyond the classroom. The Mentor Program provides hands-on experiences where we cannot only learn from the mentors, but also provide insight and knowledge from our practice to them. It is a very rich interchange of knowledge. - Mónica Sánchez Garita ‘22 LL.M., Costa Rica
120,000 Tommies give you a huge network of alumni working around the world in fields from business to engineering to social work and the sciences.
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The University of St. Thomas School of Law is dedicated to supporting you in your career goals, ensuring you have the professional tools needed once you graduate. The Office of Career and Professional Development understands the complexities of the legal employment market for LL.M. in U.S. Law students, and offers the following services: - Optional Practical Training (OPT) education and support - Resume/cover letter development and review - Individual career counseling - Mock interview sessions - Networking skill development and support - LinkedIn profile evaluation Prepare for a return to your practice
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GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL Jorge Daniel Calderón Sánchez ‘16 is a technical secretary for the Secretary General of the Government of Sinaloa in Mexico. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Luis Serrano Molinos ‘19 is a lawyer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Chile.
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR Paula Duro Ridruejo ‘16 from Spain is an advisor with the European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) in Belgium. MERGERS & AQUISITIONS, CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE Denisse Gutierrez Rayo ‘18 is a lead advisor for Calibre Mining Corporation in Nicaragua.
It’s our attorneys’ privilege to create change
CORPORATE COUNSEL Damini Sharma ‘16 is senior counsel for Clean Harbors India. INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT Enrique Soriano García ‘15 is an international trade consultant at Track Global Solutions in Spain. UNIVERSITY LECTURER Dr. Samuel Woldemariam ‘16 from Ethiopia is a professor at the Newcastle Law School in Australia.
Students don’t come to St. Thomas Law to play it safe. As graduates, many of our alumni are leaders who take on life’s most critical issues. They are the evidence that your St. Thomas law degree can help you achieve your wildest dreams, making a lasting impact on the clients and communities you serve in the process. We aren’t above the law, but we do hold it to a higher standard.
My work focuses on promoting transatlantic security in Central and Eastern Europe by working with lawmakers, conducting research and influencing policy both in the U.S. and abroad. My work is quite varied on any given day—from working on a big research project about the future of defense technology to planning a major virtual event for NATO.
- Krista Viksnins ‘20 J.D., Transatlantic Defense and Security, Center for European Policy Analysis, Washington, D.C.
Credit: Akeem Anderson,
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@Artistik.Flowz on Instagram
Engage in student life You can join any of our 35+ active student organizations led by an engaging team of student government leaders, including: • Employment and Labor Law Association • Latinx Law Student Association • Student Intellectual Property Law Association • Environmental Law Society • Business Corporate Law Society • Law Soccer Club
Events and Activities St. Thomas Law hosts symposia and other events throughout the year for all students to attend. Events just for LL.M. students are also offered, including gatherings at professors’ homes. In addition, programming and social events are also offered through the St. Thomas Office of International Students and Scholars.
Beyond the classroom
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#5 Minnesota is fifth in a ranking of best
U.S. states. U.S. News & World Report
The Twin Cities isn’t just a great community to be a law student. It’s a great place to live. We have the perfect blend of natural beauty and urban sophistication — times two. While the law school is situated in downtown Minneapolis, its neighboring city, St. Paul, is home to our other University of St. Thomas campus. Each city has its own unique character, restaurant and arts scene, professional sports teams, parks, trails and museums to explore. The Twin Cities: A vibrant community
Minnesota is home to 15 Fortune 500 companies.
#1 Minnesota is the top state for young prof e ssionals. SmartAsset, 2022
#3 Minneapolis ranks third in the U.S. for its public parks. The Trust for Public Land ParkScore®, 2023 #1 Minneapolis is the most bikeable large city in the nation. Walk Score, 2021
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St. Thomas Law works to foster an environment where each student feels connected, is supported and understands the importance of making wellness a professional priority. Wellness in Practice The Wellness in Practice student organization provides resources and promotes wellness, balance and collegiality among classmates. The group also organizes fun events that bring bouncy castles and therapy dogs to the atrium and provide smoothies during study breaks. Center for Well-Being The Center for Well-Being, which has an office on the Minneapolis campus, provides holistic and integrated services across four areas: health services, counseling and psychological services, health promotion and resilience, and violence prevention and awareness.
St. Thomas Law was one of the first schools in the country to sign the ABA’s Well-Being Pledge in 2019.
Make a case for your health
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An LL.M. Degree within reach
Every law school gives the impression that they teach you the things you need to learn to join the legal industry as an attorney, but I actually found everything I saw on the St. Thomas website to be true. Learning law through the experience of eminent attorneys and scholars is indeed a great experience. - Kirti Rana ‘15 LL.M., India
St. Thomas Law believes internationally-trained lawyers bring an important perspective and knowledge to our school community, and that they play a critical role in carrying out our mission to advance the common good when they return to their home countries.
We also know studying abroad will have a big impact on your life, including your finances. Our goal is to make an exceptional American legal education affordable for top lawyers from around the world. All applicants are considered for scholarships. Students don’t need to submit a separate application..
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Contact
Ready to apply? Be part of our unique community. Apply today. Admission Process
The University of St. Thomas School of Law Admissions Committee thoroughly reviews every application to understand the strengths, skills and unique potential of each prospective student. All information you submit is considered, and we encourage you to be thorough and straightforward. We want to make sure that St. Thomas Law is a good fit for you and that you are a good fit for St. Thomas Law. The LL.M. in U.S. Law application cycle runs early September to May 31. Apply online through University of St. Thomas Graduate Admissions or the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and pay no application fee. You must submit: A completed application A personal statement A resume or CV All postsecondary transcripts (evaluation required for international institutions) Proof of English proficiency At least two letters of recommendation
We would like to get to know you and give you a firsthand virtual look at St. Thomas Law. Make an appointment and take the opportunity to learn more about the application process, faculty, student life, areas of study and more. To set up a virtual appointment, please contact us via the email and phone number below.
@ustlawmn
lawschool@stthomas.edu (651) 962-4895 law.stthomas.edu/llm-us-law
@ustlawmn
facebook.com/ustlawmn
“University of St. Thomas School of Law”
The University of St. Thomas is an equal opportunity educator and employer. St. Thomas does not unlawfully discriminate, in any of its programs or activities, on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. stthomas.edu/eostatement
The University of St. Thomas is registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions.
Contact information for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education is: 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108-5227 Phone: (651) 642-0567 Toll Free: (800) 657-3866 Fax: (651) 642-0675 www.ohe.state.mn.us
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School of Law
1000 LaSalle Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403, (651) 962-4895, law.stthomas.edu/llm-us-law
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