For International Law School Graduates | 2011-2012
An Invitation From the Dean
Dear Prospective Graduate Student,
Thank you for your interest in Hofstra Law’s LL.M. program in American Legal Studies.
As an LL.M. student at Hofstra Law, you will gain an in-depth understanding of American law in a global context. We have created an LL.M. program specifically designed to prepare lawyers from around the world to learn how to navigate transactions and serve clients when the laws of multiple nations are involved.
Our distinguished faculty and challenging curriculum will test your intellect, while our pioneering skills programs will equip you with the tools needed for real-world practice. Our international focus will expose you to the impact of U.S. law on global transactions and legal developments, while our supportive faculty, administrators and students welcome you into a unique new community. With many of the world’s leading law firms, international corporations and media headquarters as well as one of the largest court systems on the East Coast only a 40-minute train ride away, LL.M. students are provided a close-up view of the U.S. legal and business world from the comfort of a secure suburban home base.
The Hofstra Law experience will prepare, challenge and inspire you to make an impact both in your LL.M. studies and in the practice of law. This brochure provides some of the information you will need to know about our vibrant school, passionate professors and collaborative students. In the heart of Long Island, at the edge of New York City, Hofstra is a special place to study law.
I hope you are inspired to learn more.
Nora V. Demleitner Dean and Professor of Law
LL.M. in American Legal Studies
About the Program
Hofstra Law School has designed the LL.M. program in American Legal Studies for graduates who received their law degrees outside the United States and seek to gain a profound understanding of and exposure to U.S. law and its practice. This program provides important knowledge and valuable credentials that allow students to accelerate their career path, whether they are returning to their home country or entering the U.S. legal field.
Hofstra LL.M. candidates benefit from being fully integrated members of the Law School student body because they take classes with American and international students who are pursuing a U.S. Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Hofstra Law takes care to match each student with an academic adviser to recommend a customized course of study that best suits the student’s professional needs.
Hofstra LL.M. students, who have hailed from more than 40 different countries, are well-equipped to manage and navigate the field of law across many nations. Students who successfully complete the LL.M. program also gain the skills needed to help them qualify to take and pass the New York state bar examination.
The LL.M. Experience
Hofstra LL.M. students gain an in-depth understanding of the American legal system in a global context. During the academic year, students are exposed firsthand to the practice of law through visits with attorneys, local courts and other legal institutions. These visits allow students to better comprehend the U.S. legal system and interact with highly experienced attorneys and other legal professionals.
From Across the Globe
Students in this program have included law graduates from more than 40 foreign countries, including:
“Whether Hofstra graduates choose to provide legal counsel at a transnational level, run a business in the global marketplace, set policy, seek justice or offer legal services to local communities, Hofstra Law courses prepare them to meet any challenge and follow any path.”
— Dean Nora V. Demleitner
The Benefits of a Hofstra Law Education
Cutting-Edge Curriculum
As one of only a few U.S. law schools to require Transnational Law as a first-year course, Hofstra Law is at the forefront of the changing realities of legal practice. This innovative course allows students to put their studies into a broader context by exploring the relationship between international law, foreign legal systems and the American legal system. With more than 200 upper-level course offerings, students can explore practically any area of law, and they can craft an individualized course of study.
Hofstra Law’s advanced curriculum helps to develop well-trained and highly employable professionals. In fact, a survey of law firms in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut conducted in 2009 by the Hanover Research Council revealed that compared to graduates from other law schools Hofstra Law graduates received an overall higher including business knowledge, communication skills, advocacy skills and general workplace skills.
Internationally Renowned Faculty
Hofstra Law School’s full-time faculty consists of nearly 50 nationally and internationally recognized scholars who represent diverse fields. Faculty members have clerked for U.S.
leadership and been politically active in their communities, and they are recognized leaders in clinical and skills training. Faculty publications reflect a wide range of interests and expertise,
offers help with visas and health insurance, as well as access to a large community of international students from more than 70 countries.
“Teaching lawyers whose native language is not English and whose native legal system is neither adversarial nor precedent-based is a highly exciting and rewarding experience.”
— Professor Juli Campagna
ongoing participation in important scholarly debates of the day and significant contributions to the study and teaching of law. The faculty’s open-door policy fosters an accessible and collegial environment and reflects professors’ engagement with their students.
Academic Support
As full members of the Law School community, Hofstra LL.M. candidates have access to a range of services and opportunities to help them achieve success in several ways, from academic success during law school and passing the bar exam to pursuing a rewarding professional career.
Library and Information Technology
Students take classes in a stateof-the-art building that includes a trial courtroom-classroom where they can view and critique their trial practice through the use of advanced audiovisual equipment. The Deane Law Library contains more than 560,000 volumes and is equipped with two computer labs and workstations throughout. A wireless network exists throughout the school, which allows laptop access to the network (Internet, email, LexisNexis and Westlaw) from anywhere in the building. Many lectures and speaker events are available via iTunes U, YouTube and webcast.
law reform committees, received awards for scholarship and leadership in legal education and community
The Law School also partners with Hofstra University’s Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs to provide international students assistance and support during their time at Hofstra. The office
Academic Advisers
Julian Ku | Professor of Law | B.A., J.D., Yale University
and corporate law. His main research interest is the intersection of international and domestic law. He has recently published articles on the constitutional aspects of foreign relations in the Yale Law Journal, the Supreme Court Review and Constitutional Commentary. He also is a co-founder of the renowned international Distinguished Lecturer in Law at the East China University of Political Science
in 2002, he clerked for Judge Jerry Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and as an Olin Fellow and Lecturer in Law at the University of Virginia Law School. He also practiced as an associate at the New York City law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, specializing in litigation and arbitration arising out of international disputes.
Richard K. Neumann, Jr. | Professor of Law | B.A., Pomona College; Dipl., University of Stockholm; J.D., American University; LL.M., Temple University
Professor Neumann teaches courses in contracts, transactional lawyering, legal interviewing, counseling and negotiation, pretrial litigation, federal courts and trial techniques. He is the author of the textbook Legal Reasoning and Legal Writing and the co-author of the first edition of the ABA Sourcebook on Legal Writing Programs. He has served on several committees of the American Bar Association’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, as well as a number of ABA site-inspection teams. In 2009, Professor Neumann received the Legal Writing, Reasoning and Research Section Award from the Association of American Law Schools for significant lifetime contributions to the field of legal research and writing. He was also recognized in 2009 by the Burton Foundation for his “Outstanding Contributions to Legal Writing Education.”
Administrative Adviser
Jeffrey A. Dodge | Assistant Dean for Global Initiatives & Multicultural Affairs | B.A., University of California, San Diego; J.D., Hofstra University Room 307 (516) 463-0417
Blog: legallyglobal.blogspot.com
Dean Dodge serves on the senior administrative team to advance the Dean’s goals in the international and multicultural programs area. His office oversees study abroad programs, faculty and student exchange opportunities, the American Legal Studies LL.M. program and, generally, the internationalization of the law school environment.
Global Initiatives & Multicultural Affairs Office
The Office of Global Initiatives & Multicultural Affairs (GIMA) was created to nurture and cultivate globalization as an institutional value and educational priority at Hofstra Law. This office oversees all current international programs at the school, including study abroad, student exchange and the American Legal Studies LL.M. GIMA is responsible for the creation of international centers abroad, new models for faculty and student exchange relationships, affiliations with international organizations, development of international rule of law programs and cultivation of international internship opportunities.
The Hofstra Law Community
Hofstra Law School is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools. For more than 40 years, the school has provided its graduates an education rich in the theory and skills needed to become outstanding lawyers, business executives and community leaders. Hofstra Law seeks to attract motivated students and outstanding faculty scholars who uphold its philosophy, described by two simple phrases: “Be excellent in the classroom” and “Make a mark in the field of law.”
Hofstra Law’s community is made up of about 1,100 students, nearly 50 full-time faculty members and more than 9,900 law school alumni who work together to create an atmosphere of intellectual excitement, personal support and cooperative learning.
“Be excellent in the classroom” and “Make a mark in the field of law.”
Professional Career Services
The Office of Career Services (OCS) provides a wide range of services to facilitate the career and professional development of Hofstra Law students, including helping them find employment in the private and public sectors. OCS provides individual career and professionaldevelopment counseling, educational programming, mock interviews, an extensive online employer database and comprehensive oncampus interviewing. OCS’s team of experienced career counselors are available to assist students with all presents panels and programs that offer valuable career insight and foster networking opportunities with practicing attorneys and Hofstra Law alumni. OCS has helped Hofstra LL.M. students obtain positions with private law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, and
A Student-Centered Community Hofstra Law takes pride in having a diverse and vibrant student body, active both in and outside of the classroom. LL.M. students at Hofstra Law participate in organizations ranging from professional and affinity groups to intramural sports. With more than 40 student organizations to choose from, including the Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association, International Law Society, International Moot Arbitration Team, Latino/a American Law Students Association and South Asian Law Student Association, students pursue their extracurricular passions through leadership and engagement at Hofstra Law and in the broader community. Organizations plan guest speakers, panels, charity fundraisers and community-building events. The International Moot Arbitration Team has won several awards in the Willem C. Vis moot competitions
that are held annually in Vienna and
and leaders find Hofstra Law’s organizations to be a wonderful resource for social and professional networking.
Centers and Institutes
Both nationally and internationally recognized, Hofstra Law’s centers and institutes allow students to work with recognized scholars and increase their understanding of legal issues through research, debate and the exchange of knowledge. Students can often work closely with scholars at the various centers and institutes, as well as take advantage of their academic resources to not only deepen their legal knowledge but also distinguish themselves in a competitive professional landscape.
Student Profile: Monika Wsolek, LL.M. ’12
and the Law
Conflict Transformation
Law and Public Policy
Legal Ethics
Study of Mass Torts
and Technology
A native of Poland, Monika Wsolek has had little problem extending her legal career in the United States. Wsolek knew she would pursue medicine or law eventually — her mother and brother work in medicine, while her father, sister and
served the legal field — but her inclination for research and writing ultimately guided her to a legal career. “People think law is about as important,” she explains. “People them understand it.”
While Wsolek was getting her
Academy Faculty of Law in Poland, she learned that her father’s application for her U.S. green card had been approved. To meet the program’s requirements, Wsolek traveled and worked each summer in the U.S. and eventually learned of Hofstra Law’s master’s program through the legal community.
When Wsolek started classes in August 2010, she was initially “shocked” by the Socratic method of teaching that so many American law schools follow. “In Europe, you sit and listen in class,” she says, “but here, you must listen and then explain legal issues to the entire class. It’s very stressful, but much more meaningful.”
But her transition did not take long, and Wsolek feels part of the school community. She also audits classes beyond her required courses to get more from her experience. She believes that Hofstra Law’s faculty adds to this experience: “Professors are very approachable. In Poland, the teachers are not lawyers; they are academics who impart knowledge, but they don’t interact with students. At Hofstra Law, professors are always available to talk.”
Degree Requirements
The LL.M. program in American Legal Studies requires completion of 24 credits, which may be taken full time in one academic year or part time in two academic years. Fulltime students must finish their LL.M. degree in two semesters and take 12 to 15 credits each semester. Part-time students must finish their LL.M. degree in four semesters at most, taking two to three courses each semester.
LL.M. degree candidates are required to take a two-credit course on the U.S. legal system before fall classes start. There is no fee for this course. Students are also required to take a graded Legal Writing and Research course, which gives them an important understanding of the structure of U.S. legal documents and teaches them how to communicate effectively in the professional language used by American lawyers.
Students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.2 out of a possible 4.0 to receive the LL.M. degree.
Students seeking to take the New York bar examination must also complete a two-credit course in professional responsibility and at least six credits of Multi-State Bar Exam.
Curriculum Options
The Hofstra Law LL.M. in American Legal Studies affords you the flexibility to design a curriculum that meets your professional needs. Many LL.M. students choose to focus their study in a specialized area of law — corporate, biomedical and health, securities and financial services regulation, international and comparative law, and intellectual property law, among others. Hofstra Law’s proximity to New York City and our active alumni network, which includes distinguished practitioners, means that classes are taught by recognized experts and active leaders in their respective areas of the law.
The more than 200 upper-level courses at Hofstra Law allow you to plan, in concert with an academic adviser, a program of study that will equip you with and annual conferences at Hofstra Law, opportunities to immerse yourself in specialized study are plentiful.
Course Offerings
Hofstra Law offers a wide and diverse range of courses. The courses listed below are arranged by general topics. Many courses apply to two or more areas of specialization. Not every course is offered each semester.
Advocacy/Litigation /Alternative Dispute Resolution
Use of Expert Witnesses
Oral Argument in Trial Courts
International Connections
Juli Campagna
Assistant Professor of Legal Writing
B.A., Mundelein College
M.A., University of Illinois
LL.M., The John Marshall Law School
Professor Campagna has worked internationally for 30 years. Before attending law school, she was a translator and taught English as a Second/Foreign Language in business and academic settings around the world. Her legal practice focused on cross-border transactions. She has taught in law schools, law firms and Asia and Latin America. She is former chair of the International and Foreign Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and current vice chair of the ABA’s Mexico Committee. She speaks and presents widely on topics related to teaching lawyers from
International Connections
Vern R. Walker
Professor of Law and Director of the Research Laboratory for Law, Logic and Technology
B.A., University of Detroit
M.A., Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
J.D., Yale University
Professor Walker teaches courses in scientific evidence, torts, administrative law and European Union law. He has been a consultant to private and governmental institutions in both the U.S. and Europe. As director of Hofstra Law’s Research Laboratory for Law, Logic and Technology, he and his team of researchers — in collaboration with peers at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa — are using advanced software and Internetbased technologies to explore logical analysis of the underlying patterns of reasoning in legal decisions, and especially the fact-finding portions of those decisions.
Estate Planning
Health Law
Regulation
Family Law
Professionalism
Legal Issues Affecting Minors
Family Court Review Seminar
Development and Commercialization
Technology
Doctor-Patient Relationship
Intellectual Property Law
and Policy
Advocacy
Incompetent Adults
Seminar
International Law
Governmental Law and the Legislative Process
Seminar
U.S. Law Specialization
Your professional needs might best be met through a program of study that provides a traditionally broad overview of American law, offering the opportunity for intense preparation in advance of the New York state bar examination, for which LL.M. degree recipients with a foreign J.D. are eligible to sit. Below is
matter covered on New York’s bar examination, from which you can, with an academic adviser, put together a curriculum that builds on your legal training and enhances your
Student Profile: Val Hoxha, LL.M. ’12
Even before enrolling at Hofstra Law, Val Hoxha experienced the school’s strong sense of community. While attending an admitted students reception, she noted feeling a “lawyerly vibe” and was struck by her personal interaction with Dean Demleitner and faculty members. She adds, “It was a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere — something that can be hard to find in New York, which is sometimes known for being so aggressive.”
Originally from Albania, Hoxha has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University and work experience in the U.S. banking industry. She also studied law at that her Hofstra Law classes “have really given me greater perspective,
particularly on the compliance work I was doing.”
Hoxha believes that Hofstra Law’s vision for international students is excellent, and she recommends the school as a first choice for other international students: “It has all the benefits of other law schools — talented professors, helpful staff, geographic ease — but in a more convenient and financially viable way. It is an amazing experience that will open so many doors.”
For her part, Hoxha feels that Hofstra Law has changed her life, including how she thinks of her career and how she communicates. She adds, “I know that a Hofstra Law education will definitely help me in the long run wherever I go.”
Applying to the Program
Applications for admission must be submitted using Hofstra Law School’s official application, available online at law.hofstra.edu/llmadmissions, through the Law School Admissions Council (www.lsac.org) or by contacting the Office of Enrollment Management at (516) 463-5916. The $75 application fee is waived for those who submit their application online, which is strongly encouraged. To apply online to the LL.M. program in American Legal Studies, sign up with the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (llm.lsac.org). For application procedures, details on program options, deadlines and other requirements, visit law.hofstra.edu/ LLMAdmissions.
Application Review Process
The Admissions Committee takes an integrated approach when reviewing applications. The committee considers the rigor of each candidate’s undergraduate education, law school credentials, demonstrated commitment to public service, work and leadership experience, and any other pertinent information. International applicants to the LL.M. program in American Legal Studies are required to submit a TOEFL score of least 600 on the paper-based test or 100 on the Internet-based test. Foreign-educated applicants must also send their official law school transcripts with certified English translations. Certified translation services may be arranged through World Educational Services, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, or the LSAC LL.M. Credential Assembly Service.
Financing a Legal Education
Financial Aid for International Students
Students enrolling at Hofstra Law School who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents, and who are therefore ineligible for federal aid programs, are expected to cover the cost of their legal education on their own. Private loans may be available for international students from some lenders, although they usually require U.S. co-signers. All international students who do hold U.S. citizenship or a green card are fully eligible to receive federal financial aid.
Scholarships for International Students
Each year Hofstra Law School offers a number of merit scholarships of varying amounts to highly accomplished international LL.M. students. Additionally, Hofstra Law’s Office of Financial Aid has an extensive list of external scholarship programs that international students may review when considering how best to fund their LL.M. program.
On-Campus Housing
While some students choose to live off campus, on-campus housing is available. The Graduate Residence Hall, which opened in 2008, houses graduate students from various schools at Hofstra, including many law students. The living units are organized as suites with separate bedrooms surrounding a common room and small kitchenette.
International Connections
Stark Professor of Law and John DeWitt Gregory Research Scholar
B.A., Cornell University
J.D., New York University
LL.M., Columbia University
Professor Stark teaches courses in international family law, international law, and transnational law. She has made more than 65 invited presentations at law schools and professional meetings throughout the world. She has served on the executive council of the American Society of International Law and on the executive committee of the AALS Section on International Law and Section on Family and Juvenile Law; she is also a former chair of the Section on Family Law. She currently chairs the International Family Law Committee of the International Law Association.
Barbara
Hofstra University and Long Island
Hofstra Law School is on the 240-acre Hofstra University campus in Hempstead, New York. The university, founded in 1935, is a private institution dedicated to providing a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. Hofstra University offers approximately 140 undergraduate and 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services and honors studies, as well as law. Total university enrollment, including undergraduate and graduate students, is approximately 12,100 students. The newly established and accredited Hofstra University School of Medicine enrolled its initial class of 40 students in summer 2011.
University-Wide Resources
As part of Hofstra University, the Law School is able to provide students with a wealth of resources and opportunities offered to the entire Hofstra community. Hofstra Law students have access to the state-of-the-art gym facilities and pool, libraries, sporting events, concerts, theatrical performances, festivals and lectures on campus.
The Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs provides educational programs for the Hofstra University community on a variety of cultural, global and
and to explore and appreciate the full range of diversity within the Hofstra community. The office also offers assistance with obtaining an I-20 form and a student visa.
Local Attractions
Long Island is home to miles of pristine beachfronts, more than 30 award-winning wineries and dozens of unique cultural and entertainment attractions. Off-campus destinations might include a nearby New York Islanders ice hockey game or a waterfront picnic at Jones Beach State Park. Other excursions have included group tours of the North Fork wineries and chartered fishing trips from beach destinations, such as Montauk.
Visit Hofstra Law School
Candidates are encouraged to take a tour and meet Hofstra Law students and faculty to help them better understand the Hofstra Law environment. Because students host the 30-minute tours, applicants have access to their unique perspective and experience. If you are unable to come to campus, Hofstra Law offers several online information sessions throughout the year. Please check the website law.hofstra.edu for specifics, or contact the Office of Enrollment
Hofstra University, which is registered as an official arboretum, is in the heart of Long Island’s thriving business community. The campus is a mere 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of New York City, which allows students to enjoy the benefits of its internationally recognized legal, business and cultural centers. Students have easy access to New York City through the Long Island Rail Road, which stops less than two miles from campus. Hofstra University operates a free shuttle bus to the local train stations. In addition, both John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia international airports are located within 30 minutes of campus.
