Program Requirements
** Availability of this program is subject to relevant courses being offered in a given year. **
The 45-credit LL.M. program, non-thesis option, in Comparative Law complements previous legal education through specialized graduate-level coursework and in-depth research. It enhances expertise in selected areas of legal scholarship and offers an opportunity to write a supervised, substantial, and publishable paper in an area of interest.
Candidates must remain in residence for three terms. The third term is devoted to the Research Project, usually taken in the summer of the first year, meaning that students usually complete their program within one calendar year. If the research project is not completed in this time, students must register for additional sessions as needed. All degree requirements must be completed within a maximum of three years of the date of first registration.
Research Project (15 credits)
The non-thesis option requires a substantial supervised research project during the third term of registration, a 15,000-word paper, assessed by the supervisor on a pass-fail basis, and typically completed in the Summer.
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CMPL 655 Research Project 1 (15 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : A major research paper on a current topic.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: This course is only open to students registered in a non-thesis Master's program in the Faculty of Law.
Required Courses (12 credits)
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CMPL 600 Legal Traditions (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Examination of the concept of a legal tradition, including elements of particular legal traditions, their philosophical foundations, their implementation through institutions, and their influence on one another.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: Restricted to students in the Institute of Comparative Law. Other students by permission only.
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CMPL 610 Legal Research Methodology 1 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Legal research methodology, including electronic legal research and the formulation of research plans.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Sheppard, Colleen (Fall)
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CMPL 610, CMPL 610D1/D2 prior to 202109.
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CMPL 611 Legal Research Methodology 2 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Legal research methodology, including electronic legal research and the finalization of research plans.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Sheppard, Colleen (Winter)
Prerequisite: CMPL 610
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CMPL 610, CMPL 610D1/D2 prior to 202109.
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CMPL 641 Theoretical Approaches to Law (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Introduction to a variety of theoretical approaches to legal scholarship.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Antaki, Mark; Rosenblum, Darren (Fall)
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LAWG 601 Communication 1 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Law General : Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Abram, Zachary (Fall)
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LAWG 602 Communication 2 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Law General : Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Abram, Zachary (Winter)
Prerequisite(s): LAWG 601.
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
The remaining 18 credits (or fewer if more credits are earned for the research project) are chosen from among Faculty offerings at the 500 and 600 levels.
Additional Research Project Courses
With the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), students may take up to an additional 3 credits of research project courses by completing one or both of:
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CMPL 656 Research Project 2 (2 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Annotated bibliography that critically assesses five relevant secondary sources for the student鈥檚 research Project and an additional 3,000 words for the research project.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: CMPL 655 and/or permission of Associate Dean (Graduate Studies).
This course is open to students in the LL.M. (Non-Thesis Option), within the Faculty of Law (general program) or within the Institute of Camparative Law. Special permission from Associate Dean of Graduate Studies is required, to be granted only in cases where it is impracticable for a student鈥檚 course selection to add up precisely to 30 credits.
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CMPL 657 Research Project 3 (1 credit)
Overview
Comparative Law : Annotated bibliography that critically assesses five relevant secondary sources for the student鈥檚 research Project.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: CMPL 655 and/or CMPL 656 and/or permission of Associate Dean (Graduate Studies).
This course is open to students in the LL.M. (Non-Thesis Option), within the Faculty of Law (general program) or within the Institute of Camparative Law. Special permission from Associate Dean of Graduate Studies is required, to be granted only in cases where it is impracticable for a student鈥檚 course selection to add up precisely to 30 credits.
