Asian Law Center

J.D. / LL.M. Concurrent Degree

As a UW Law student, you have the opportunity to participate in world-class J.D., Masters’ and Ph.D. level programs about the emerging problems of legal system reform and regulation in Eurasia, Northeast and Southeast Asia.

The Asian Law Center is a preeminent international center for the study of Asian, International, and Development Law. The Center has over 800 alumni who work as legal academics, lawyers, and judges in the United States, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Australasia. UW faculty are leading scholars in Asian, International, and Development Law. The Asian Law Center publishes Asian Law Abstracts (an electronic journal); Australian Journal of Asian Law; and a book series: Asian Law Series, UW Press and provides faculty support for the Pacific Rim Law and Policy Journal.

Where Can an Asian & Comparative Law LL.M. Take Me?

• Practice law in Asia, work for an NGO or in international development,  work on Asia-related transactions in the United States.
• Learn (or improve) a foreign language – be a legal professional who is ready for globalized practice.
• Develop ongoing friendships with lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and academics from across Asia and beyond.
• Finance your degree by becoming an Asian Law Center RA or getting help with scholarship funding to support language or LL.M. study.

Eligibility

Rising 3L students who aim to practice in Asia or who want to be recognized as experts in Asian Law:  Applicants must be proficient in an Asian language or a language in which original research on Asian law can be conducted.  Examples of European languages for research purposes include French, German, and Russian, where there is a link between legal sources and scholarship in these languages and the legal systems that the applicant wishes to study.  Proficiency for this purpose means a minimum level of reading, writing and speaking ability equivalent to the level reached after completing a third-year college course.

Application Procedures and Timeline

• In Spring Quarter of the 1L year, attend a scheduled Asian Law advising session and/or meet with Graduate Program Assistant Mie Murazumi murazumi@u.washington.edu.
• Draft an enrolment plan that adds the required additional 24 credits to your existing J.D. degree. (Note that the LL.M. degree is currently 36 credits, 12 of which are automatically fulfilled by your J.D. credits). The additional 24 credits typically require some combination of extra quarters, more credits each quarter, Summer Quarter study, and/or a Summer Quarter externship.
• Work out a plan to finance the 24 extra credits. This may include a Foreign Languages and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. The FLAS fellowships are administered through the Jackson School of International Studies, and can cover either Summer programs or full-year programs of language and area studies.  Asian and comparative law courses count as studies courses for this purpose.  Law students are eligible for the fellowship and there is special provision for awards to graduate students in professional schools, including law.  To apply for the FLAS in the Autumn Quarter of your 2L year, you will need a study plan and a strong reference letter from one of your law professors. (Questions about FLAS should be addressed to: jsisinfo@u.washington.edu. )
• Plan the 2L year with courses that will only count toward the J.D. (Exceptions are where course(s) that you wish to count as LL.M. study are only offered in your 2L year)
• Plan the 3L year and beyond to include courses that will count towards the LL.M.
• Apply for admission to the LL.M. program in December of your 2L year.  Application procedures are the same as for external applicants (link to “LL.M. How to Apply” page) Your contact point is Graduate Program Assistant Mie Murazumi murazumi@u.washington.edu or gradlaw@u.washington.edu.