Our Master in International Legal Studies (LL.M.) is designed to provide a comprehensive overview, as broad as it is deep, of the international context of law. Using a multidisciplinary, comparative perspective as its base, the program places a special emphasis on current challenges in international economic law and human rights.
At IE University, you’ll be joined by peers from all over the world as you gain an in-depth understanding of global law, covering everything from the implications of emerging technologies to the application of law under international regulations given different social, economic and political contexts.
This is a highly practical program embedded in an international environment, designed to make you an impactful, effective and decisive legal expert, equipped to solve complex problems by a faculty of leading sector practitioners. Furthermore, you can focus your study, with concentrations designed to let you hone your expertise in the field of law that matters most to you.
You’ll also enjoy optional immersion experience abroad, mentoring programs and the chance to study in one of the world’s global legal hubs in this new and highly impactful Master in International Legal Studies (LL.M.).
Please contact our program specialist for personalized advice on your specific case.
Internationally-minded individuals with a law degree who want to make an enduring impact as a problem-solver in human rights and other key social and economic issues at a global level.
A comparative, multidisciplinary approach with a practical methodology that covers the key branches of Public Law, International Private Law, International Economic Law and Human Rights, and addresses the impact of technology on the profession. You’re looking to make an impact wherever your legal career takes you.
● A lawyer focused on and specialized in human rights law, international business law, environmental law or other areas.
● An officer, advisor or consultant with an international organization such as the UN, Amnesty International or the International Law Commission.
● A sustainability, compliance or social justice specialist within a consulting firm, NGO or private enterprise.
● A researcher on human rights and international justice.
This program will make you a solutions-focused legal professional, able to navigate the international legal environment’s complex landscape and be at ease dealing with its many modern challenges.
You’ll receive a rigorous legal education, particularly in International Public Law, International Private Law, International Economic Law and Human Rights, studying each of the key different branches of these. The depth and breadth of this preparation will give you a detailed knowledge of estates, institutions and individuals under international regulations, and help you interpret these in terms of the social, political and economic situations from which they emerge.
Alongside your rigorous legal teaching, you’ll gain in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of global challenges, in particular the cross-cutting issues affecting today’s complex international landscape: the impact of new technologies, the importance of sustainability in a globalized business world and the challenges posed to human rights in the new international arena.
You’ll learn to be a problem-solver, a decisive professional and an advisor providing feasible solutions in particularly complex contexts that involve many interests, different conceptions of the common good and different expectations about legal procedures and fair outcomes. You’ll familiarize yourself with these challenging contexts through the three-level methodological approach: case study methodologies; specific skills in conflict resolution and negotiation; and immersion in an international environment.
Once you’ve gained a solid basis in the broader fundamentals of the program, you can choose from one of two specializations that reflect where the legal sector is in the greatest need of high-quality graduates: International Economic Law or Human Rights. In International Economic Law you’ll take a deep dive into investment, taxation and digital commerce and intellectual property law. In Human Rights, meanwhile, you’ll study information society, international organizations, conflicts and laws related to refugees. However, reflecting the holistic scope of the program, each concentration features classes from the others, reflecting their interconnectedness.
IE Law School values open dialogue, constructive debate, giving sound arguments and the exchange of perspectives and viewpoints. The nurturing of these skills is conspicuous in the consistent top positions awarded in Moots and Debate competitions, including but not limited to Human Rights.
Why choose IE Law School? Because your experience will be about so much more than just an outstanding and rigorous academic offering. Our programs, just like our whole learning environment, are designed to get you out of the classroom and gain real-world experience that will open doors for you at the start of your career and give you an advantage all the way through it.
As originators of the comparative methodology, and having experienced lawyers with an international focus since 1973, we are sector leaders and active participants in the leading international lawyers’ association: Law Schools Global League (LSGL), International Bar Association (IBA), American Bar Association (ABA) and the International Association of Lawyers (UIA). And as experts in the integration of law with other disciplines such as business and technology, IE Law School is an elite institution in the sector.
IE University’s position at the forefront of research in the legal sphere and beyond is evident in the work on global governance and transnational realities being undertaken in the Center for the Governance of Change, Center for the Environment, Center for Social Innovation & Sustainability, Center for Diversity in Global Management, the China Center, the Africa Center and the Saudi-Spanish Center for Islamic Economics and Finance.
IE Law School provides unmatched expertise in the integration of Law with different disciplines, from business and management, through finance, to philosophy, politics and economics. Technology is central to all of our programs and research initiatives, reflecting the digitalized world in which lawyers must now operate confidently. Our programs address the development and ramifications of digital law, IP and the law of technology, research in law and automation, AI and law, and more.
Even a complete grasp of legal theory will not be enough to drive you to career success without experiencing what it’s actually like out there. That’s why the Master in International Legal Studies (LL.M.) provides a grounding in real-world experience that will give you a jump-start to your career with exposure to real clients, real lawyers and courtroom experiences.
The optional Legal Immersion Experience allows you to work in real law firms and institutions operating in a European city. You’ll get a firsthand view of legal professionals’ work, not only at the top of the sector, but in the field you’re most passionate about.
You can choose to take part in some of the most prestigious moot court competitions in the world, including the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition in Vienna, or the highly esteemed European Law Moot Court and Moot Court Madrid.
Want to get started providing real legal advice on real cases? Thanks to the IE Legal Clinic , you can offer pro bono services to NGOs and startups working on social projects around the world. This opportunity is subject to candidate selection, and professors and lawyers will provide guidance to participants.
From day one of the Master in International Legal Studies (LL.M.), students may join a mentorship program and receive guidance from a leading professional at a top law firm. This is an incredible opportunity to build a strong bond with an experienced and senior sector professional, build your network and receive invaluable counsel and support. You’ll also have the chance to gain an internship at a leading sector firm.
A number of the world’s top law firms are headquartered or represented in the Spanish capital. Indeed, the Law Society has named Madrid as a world center for legaltech, so you’ll be right in the heart of the industry, in a city at the forefront of the legal world, with most of the major firms on your doorstep.
No city caters to a young professional’s needs better than Madrid: famed for its student-friendly environment, it offers everything you’d expect of a global city with an international outlook. Vibrant and diverse culture, day and night life and affordable and efficient public transportation make Madrid the ideal place to indulge your interests and discover new ones.
Students must fulfill the following requirements to be able to request the issuance of the Official University Degree upon completion of the Master Program. If educational prerequisites are not provided and/or if the requirements are not met on time, the student will not be able to request the official university degree as issued by the Spanish government. In this case, the studies will not be official under Spanish educational regulations.
At the heart of IE Law School, we firmly believe that learning extends beyond textbooks and lectures, and that meaningful connections play a pivotal role in shaping one's professional growth and future success. By hosting a diverse array of experts and thought leaders, we empower our students to gain insights into a wide range of topics that shape the global landscape.
IE Law School takes great pride in the diversity of its entire community. Not only will you learn alongside professionals from around the globe and a variety of backgrounds, but our world-renowned faculty comprises experienced practitioners from every part of the planet and the profession. What’s more, our campus offers access to the latest technology and ample spaces to explore the career pathways that lay before you.
Outside the classroom, the Campus Life office is the beating heart of your experience, coordinating a wide range of activities to enable you to broaden your personal horizons and discover passions you never knew you had. And with plenty of opportunities for networking, you’ll build a rich and diverse network of peers from over 160 countries and every conceivable subject and sector. Your campus life at IE Law School will be just as enriching as your academic life—with more than 120 student clubs to choose from, the adventure you experience at IE Law School is up to you.