by Denisse Romero
Imagine yourself working at the Hague, fighting for human rights, drafting a multinational business contract or defending immigrants facing deportation. The field of international law is now more important than ever with globalization, trade agreements, and human rights policies affecting the lives of millions of people around the world. Can you imagine the infinite possibilities that a degree in international law offers? If you have already made up your mind about pursuing this field, then take a look at the top ten law schools for international law in the USA. They have been chosen based on their academic reputation, commitment to the field of international law, research centers and institutes, study abroad opportunities and exchange agreements with international law faculties.
The tuition rates stated on this article are believed to be accurate for the school year 2013-2014.
10. University of Virginia
“Virginia is justly famous for its collegial environment that bonds students and faculty”
| Location: | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| International Centers, Programs and Institutes: | Center for National Security LawCenter for Oceans Law and Policy
International Human Rights Law Clinic Immigration Law Program |
| Study Abroad Opportunities: |
Joint degree from University Paris 1 Pantheon – Sorbonne Law School and Sciences Po/Paris. UVA offers exchange programs with the following universities: University of Auckland (New Zealand) Bucerius Law School(Germany) University of Melbourne (Australia) University of Nottingham(England) Tel Aviv University Law School (Israel). |
| Tuition/Year: | $47,900 (Residents) $52,900 (Nonresidents) |
| Website: | http://www.law.virginia.edu |
9. Yale University
“Yale Law School is one of the world’s premier law schools.”
| Location: | New Haven, Connecticut |
| International Centers, Programs and Institutes: | China Law CenterGlobal Constitutionalism Seminar
Center for International Human Rights Latin America Annual Seminar Middle East Legal Studies Seminar The Honesty and Trust Project (Eastern Europe) Yale Center for the Study of Globalization |
| Study Abroad Opportunities: | Fellowship at the American University in CairoFellowships in International Human Rights
International Court of Justice at the Hague Internship/Clerkship Yale Law School Fellowship at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (The Hague) Ruebhausen South Asia Teaching and Research Fellowship |
| Tuition/Year: | $52,400 |
| Website: | http://www.law.yale.edu |
8. University of Texas
“Students at UT Law enjoy the best of many worlds, and they emerge with a spectacular education.”
| Location: | Austin, Texas |
| International Centers, Programs and Institutes: | Immigration ClinicTransnational Worker Rights Clinic
Center for Human Rights Institute for Transnational Law International Moot Court Competitions Lozano Long Institute for Latin America Studies |
| Study Abroad Opportunities: |
Semester in London at the University of London The following universities participate in semester abroad programs with UT Law: Australian National University (Australia) University of Melbourne (Australia) University of New South Wales (Australia) University of Sydney (Australia) University of Leiden (Australia) University of Siena (Italy) University of Torcuato di Tella (Argentina) University of Pais Vasco (Spain) Bucerius Law School (Germany) Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) Universidade Federal do Para (Brazil) Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile. |
| Tuition/Year: | $33,162 (Residents) $49,244 (Nonresidents) |
| Website: | http://www.utexas.edu/law |
7. University of Michigan
“A diverse body of talented students whose cooperative spirit helps bring out the best in faculty and student alike.”
| Location: | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| International Centers, Programs and Institutes: | Center for International & Comparative LawProgram in Refugee & Asylum Law
Program for Cambodian Law and Development European Legal Studies Program Chinese Legal Studies Japanese Legal Studies Program South Africa and Geneva Externship Programs |
| Study Abroad Opportunities: |
Semester study abroad agreements currently exist with the following Universities. Amsterdam Law School (The Netherlands) University of Paris II (France) University College London Katholieke University in Leuven (Belgium) Bucerius Law School in Hamburg (Germany) European University Institute in Florence (Italy) Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law (Israel) Waseda University Law School in Tokyo (Japan) Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI) in Geneva Students may also create their own semester study abroad arrangements, approved by the Law School, and in recent years have done so with the University of Copenhagen, ITAM in Mexico City, the University of Hong Kong, and ICADE, Comillas, in Madrid, Spain. |
| Tuition/Year: | $49,540 (Residents) $52,540 (Nonresidents) |
| Website: | http://www.law.umich.edu/ |
6. Duke University
“A community of students and scholars located in the center of one of the country’s greatest research universities.”
| Location: | Durham, North Carolina |
| International Centers, Programs and Institutes: | The Global Law WorkshopCenter for International and Comparative Law
LLM Degree for Foreign Law Graduates |
| Study Abroad Opportunities: | Duke Law offers two international summer institutes:The Duke-Geneva Institute in Transnational Law (Switzerland) and the Asia-America Institute in Transnational Law (Hong Kong)
Duke Law has exchange programs with: Austral University (Argentina) Portuguese Catholic Universtiy (Portugal) Bocconi University (Italy) Universite Pantheon-Assas (Paris II – France) Bond University (Australia) University of Cape Town (South Africa) Bucerius Law School (Germany) University of Copenhagen (Denmark) ESADE Law School (Spain) University of Geneva (Switzerland) ITAM (Mexico) University of Heidelberg (Germany) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) University of Hong Kong National University of Singapore University of Melbourne (Australia) Peking University (China) University of Sydney (Australia) Waseda University (Japan) Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. |
| Tuition/Year: | $52,620 |
| Website: | http://www.law.duke.edu |
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Hello, this thread has been undoubtedly helpful, thanks. Im a nigerian and i’d like to have some info about scholarships in one of these top us law schools, im a graduate of law in nigeria and I’d like to practice as an international lawyer and later proceed to work in the world court. I need advise on how to go about my vision. Thanks.
The tuition figures in this article are completely wrong. $37,000 for Harvard Law? No. Harvard is about 49,000 for tuition alone. There are others that are incorrect, mostly lower than what they are in reality.
Thanks for the comment Amy. Tuition figures increase every year (unlike some salaries), and we need to update our figures for 2013. In the meantime, you can research 2013 tuition expenses by directly visiting the websites for the schools mentioned on this article. Good luck!
i am looking forward o studying law and i need your advice
I would recommend the top US law schools to have an exchange programme with Leiden University at The Hague, Netherlands where judges, prosecutors, and legal officers of the tribunals teach. Their knowledge & experience are invaluable most especially on things that transpired during investigation and trial. The students also get a lot of theory of law and litigation practice, supervised by the officials of the court themselves who are known for specific skills and cases.
I need information about Law & Human right & Humanities graduate studies in USA & Europe.
can you e-mail me more information about duke universaty & yale universaty
Hi jc. All the information you need is on their websites. If you require further information, I recommend that you contact these universities directly – look for their Admissions email information.