BEASLEY SCHOOL OF LAW

About the Program

Temple Law has always taken great pride in providing an excellent legal education that prepares its graduates for the challenges they will meet in practice. Globalization has significantly changed the nature of these challenges. In the decade that U.S. trade across the Pacific surpassed that across the Atlantic, clear recognition arose in the legal profession that Asia is an area of practice in which lawyers should receive special training. The growing number of commercial Asia-U.S. transactions continues to flame both domestic and foreign demand for U.S. lawyers who specialize in Asian law. While this demand continues and will likely grow, only a limited number of academic programs in the United States exist that are specifically designed to create such specialists.

This program is designed primarily for those who hold a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, potential JD students, and lawyers from foreign common law jurisdictions who would use Temple's curricular strengths and existing programs as a bridge to expand their careers to Asia, the most dynamic region in the 21st-century world.

The Beasley School of Law has long regarded its international law programs as a core center of excellence. Indeed, our expertise in international law generally is reflected in our strong national ranking in that area. Our substantive depth and our existing physical presence in the capitals of the nations with the three largest economies in Asia make us the program of choice for those wishing to become Asian law specialists. Our program is unique in requiring candidates to spend a semester at a law school program in Asia, ensuring that graduates of the program are exposed not just to substantive aspects of the law, but to the almost equally important nuances of the legal, economic and social culture from which those laws spring.

Our tenured faculty specialize in Chinese Law, Japanese Law, and legal issues in Asia. Our roots run deep in legal education in Asia. In 1994, we became the only U.S. law school to offer a full semester of JD study and a full academic year for LLM students in Asia at Temple University's Japan campus in Tokyo. In 1999, the Beasley School of Law expanded into China in a groundbreaking program to train Chinese lawyers, judges and professors. In addition, we send students every fall to study Chinese Law in Tsinghua University's LLM in Chinese Law program for non-Chinese students. In 2011, Temple entered into an exchange partnership with Jindal Global University Law School in National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi, India.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years, although full-time students typically complete the LLM program in one academic year

Campus Location: Main campus in Philadelphia and abroad in Beijing, China; Delhi, India; or Tokyo, Japan

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Interdisciplinary Study: Students may pursue the Asian Law LLM on its own or in conjunction with the JD. A Temple JD student may qualify for entry into the LLM program before graduation, and earn up to half of the required 24 credits for the LLM while still a JD student. The remaining credits required for the LLM degree can then be completed in one additional full-time semester or several part-time semesters in Philadelphia, China, India or Japan after satisfying the JD requirements. Current Temple JD students who enter the JD/LLM program directly after earning a JD automatically have up to six credits of eligible courses in a Temple program applied toward the LLM in Asian Law. For each additional credit earned beyond the minimum number of credits required to earn the JD degree, a Temple JD/LLM student can apply one more credit of international and comparative law coursework toward the LLM in Asian Law, up to a maximum of 12 credits.

Job Prospects: Graduates may have an advantage in procuring jobs that require Asia-focused international law study and experience.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students must be matriculated in the program to take courses.

Financing Opportunities: The Asian Law LLM degree program does not have a scholarship program, but students may explore financial aid opportunities commonly available to JD students. Tuition and cost information is available at https://law.temple.edu/about/tuition/. For financial aid information, visit https://law.temple.edu/resources/financial-aid/graduate-international/.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: June 1
Spring: November 1

Applicants are admitted on a rolling basis and are encouraged to apply as early as possible while space is available in the program. Payment of the $50 application fee may be remitted directly to Temple Law by check or money order payable to "Temple University." The application fee is waived for current Temple students.

APPLY ONLINE to this program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 1

From Whom: The reference letter may be written by a professor or employment supervisor and should candidly evaluate the applicant’s academic abilities and/or professional skills. Relevant work experience may also be considered evidence of potential for graduate study.

Degree Required for Admission Consideration: It is expected that applicants hold a Juris Doctor or equivalent first degree in law from an English common law country. Official law transcripts must be submitted either electronically or as hard copy received in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution, with English translation if needed.

Statement of Goals: Outline your interest in the program in a maximum of 1,000 words. Applicants should explain their interest in graduate study in Asian law, as well as any other factors the admissions committee should take into consideration when evaluating their application. The statement should demonstrate your organizational, analytical and writing skills. Thus, applicants should invest appropriate time and effort in preparing this statement. The personal statement is carefully evaluated by the admissions committee. While proficiency in an Asian language is preferred, it is not required.

Resume: Current resume or CV is required.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements
Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 24

Fall Semester Core Courses
Select two or three from the following Asian Law courses on Main campus:6
Guided Research
Guided Research II
Guided Research Serial
Guided Research II Serial
Guided Research
Guided Research Serial
Guided Research
Guided Research Serial
Guided Research II
Guided Research II Serial
Guided Research
Guided Research II
Guided Research Serial
Guided Research II Serial
Guided Research
Japanese Law
Intro to Japanese Law
Current Issues in Japanese Law
Introduction to Japanese Law
Law in Asia
Chinese Law
Intro Chinese Law
Select two or three from the following International Law courses on Main campus: 16
National Security Law
National Security Law
National Security Law
National Security Law
Law of the European Union
Law of European Union
International Commercial Mediation and Arbitration
International Intellectual Property
International Intellectual Property
International Intellectual Property
Advising the Multinational Company on Global Legal Issues
Advising the Multinational Company on Global Legal Issues
Advising the Multinational Company on Global Legal Issues
International Health Law
International Health Law
Comparative Constitutional Law
Intl Commercial Trans
International Commercial Transactions
Intl Commercial Transctn
Intl Commercial Transctn
International Commercial Transactions
Intl Commercial Transctn
Comparative Law
Comparative Law: China
Comparative Law
Comparative Law
Immigration Law
Immigration Law
Immigration Law
International Law
International Law
International Law
International Taxation
International Taxation
International Taxation
International Taxation
International Protection of Human Rights
International Protection of Human Rights
International Protection of Human Rights
International Protection of Human Rights
Intl Protctn Human Right
Constitutional Law and Foreign Policy
Constitutional Law and Foreign Policy
International Organizations
International Organizations
U.S. Business Planning for International Transactions
Business Planning for International Transactions
Business Immigration Law
The Global Workplace
The Global Workplace
The Global Workplace
International Criminal Law
Intrnl Criminal Law
Intrnl Criminal Law
International Financial Law
International Finance
Intl Investment & Trade
Intl Investment & Trade
International Law Colloquium
International Development Law and Policy
International Development and Policy Law
International Development and Policy Law
Refugee Law and Policy
Immigrant Low Wage Workers in a Global Economy
Foundations of International Criminal Law
Foundations of International Criminal Law
Regulating Cyberthreats
Regulating Cyberthreats
Treaties and Negotiations
International Trade Law
International Trade Law
International Trade Law
International Commercial Arbitration
International Commercial Arbitration
Comparative Criminal Procedure
Compartv Criminal Procdr
Comparative Criminal Procedure
Compartv Immigration Law
Comparative Immigration Law
Intl Dispute Resolution
International Dispute Resolution
Intl Dispute Resolution
Intl Dispute Resolution
Intro to Japanese Law
Introduction to Japanese Law
East/West Negotiation 2
Current Issues in Japanese Law 2
Compartv Competition Law
International Entertainment Law
International Civil Litigation
Intrnl Civil Litigation
International Civil Litigation
Intro Intl Business Law
Introduction to International Business Law
Intro Int'l Business Law
Intl IP Licensing
International Contract Drafting
International Contract Drafting
Intrnl Contract Drafting
International Trade Contracts
Intl Human Rts/US Litgn
Spring Semester Abroad Courses
Select courses at one non-U.S. location totaling 12 credits 312
Total Credit Hours24
1

The list of approved International Law courses is subject to change annually at the Program Director's discretion.

2

JUDO J104 and JUDO J105 are offered only at Temple University Japan.

3

See the course grid for study abroad locations below for approved course offerings taught in English.

Spring Semester Courses by Location Abroad

Tsinghua University School of Law, Beijing, China 112
Chinese Banking Law
Chinese Civil Procedure
Chinese Contact Law
Chinese Foreign Trade and Investment Law
Chinese Intellectual Property Law
Chinese Practice of International Law
O.P. Jindal Global University Law School, National Capital Region of Delhi, India 212
Administrative Law and the Regulatory State
Civil Procedure Code and Law of Limitation
Clinic I – Drafting, Pleading and Conveyancing
Clinic II – Drafting, Pleading and Conveyancing
Constitutional Law I
Contract Law II – Special Contract
Corporate Law
Criminal Procedure Code, Juvenile Justice Act and Probation of Offenders Act
Environmental Law
Family Law I
Intellectual Property Law
International Criminal Law
International Law and Terrorism
International Trade Law
Introduction to Banking and Finance Law
Jurisprudence
Labor Law
Law of Contract I
Law of Evidence
Law of Taxation
Law Stream (Business Law)
Public International Law
Temple University Japan Campus, Tokyo, Japan 312
International Intellectual Property
International Intellectual Property
International Intellectual Property
International Law
International Law
International Law
International Taxation
International Taxation
International Taxation
International Taxation
International Protection of Human Rights
International Protection of Human Rights
International Protection of Human Rights
International Protection of Human Rights
International Organizations
International Organizations
Intro to Japanese Law
Introduction to Japanese Law
East/West Negotiation 4
Current Issues in Japanese Law 4
International Contract Drafting
International Contract Drafting
Intrnl Contract Drafting
Business Planning for International Transactions
Guided Research
Guided Research Serial
Guided Research II
Guided Research II Serial
1

Tsinghua is a well-recognized Chinese university with a large law school that primarily enrolls domestic Chinese students. Asian Law LLM students with sufficient language proficiency may petition to take courses taught in Chinese to count toward the degree.

2

Jindal's law school primarily enrolls domestic Indian students earning their LLB, a graduate law degree equivalent to the JD in the United States. While the courses available to Asian Law LLM students do not explicitly include the word “Indian” in their titles, they do indeed focus on Indian law.

3

Courses identified for TUJ are commonly taught in Tokyo. JUDO J105 is the only course on the list that is not offered in English.

4

JUDO J104 and JUDO J105 are not offered on Temple University's Main campus.

Contacts

Program Web Address:

https://law.temple.edu/academics/degrees/llm-asian-law/

Department Information:

Office of Graduate and International Programs

Temple University Beasley School of Law

1719 N. Broad Street, 710 Klein Hall

Philadelphia, PA 19122-6002

farlistcity.el-baker@temple.edu

215-201-1073

Fax: 215-204-2282

Mailing Address for Application Materials:

Office of Graduate and International Programs

Temple University Beasley School of Law

1719 N. Broad Street, 710 Klein Hall

Philadelphia, PA 19122-6002

Department Contacts:

Office Manager:

Farlistcity El-Baker

farlistcity.el-baker@temple.edu

215-204-1073