15 Best Master’s Degrees in Business Law in 2021

In 1838, a group of Methodists and Quakers organized a private school called Brown's Schoolhouse in Trinity, N.C. The school rebranded itself from Trinity College to Normal College, before finally becoming Duke University. Today, Duke is a private research institution in suburban Durham, N.C. Duke Law School and Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris offer a JD/Master in Global Business Law. Students spend two years studying at Duke and a third year studying in Paris. Within three years students can earn, both, a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Law. The highly selective, international degree analyzes global market issues from a European perspective.

Duke's graduate prospects are among the most promising in the world. A 2012 study by The New York Timesrevealed Duke graduates to be among the most sought-after globally. In 2017, Forbes listed Duke among the top ten universities to "produce the most Forbes 400 billionaires." In 2018, The Wall Street Journalranked Duke first - tied with Harvard and Yale - for graduate outcomes. U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke #8 for Best National Universities and #11 for Best Law Schools.

University of California - Los Angeles is a public research university in LA's Westwood neighborhood. The university has highly ranked graduate schools of engineering and applied science, law, management, and medicine. UCLA is ranked #19 for Best National Universities and #16 for Best Law Schools by U.S. News & World Report.

UCLA Law's LLM program offers the option to specialize in Business Law full-time through a 22-credit program consisting of one academic year. Students without a prior U.S. law degree must take American Law in a Global Context, a short preliminary summer course. Those pursuing the Business Law Track have two-course requirements, Business Associations and Introduction to Federal Income Taxation. Until 1927, UCLA was called the Southern Branch of the University of California. Its school colors were chosen to represent local elements: blue for the Pacific Ocean, yellow for California poppy and sunsets. In 2016, UCLA had the highest number of applicants for any American university, with an acceptance rate of 18 percent.

Indiana University - Bloomington is the flagship university of the Indiana University system. The university - located in Bloomington, IN - is one of America's "Public Ivy" universities, meaning its educational quality is comparable to that of the Ivy League. The school is ranked #89 for Best National Universities and #32 for Best Law Schools by U.S. News & World Report.

IU Bloomington's Maurer School of Law offers an LLM program designed primarily for international students. The program is a full-time residential program for students with a first degree in law. Students have the choice between a non-thesis, 24-credit hour degree route, or a 30-credit hour thesis route. Introduction to American Law and Legal Discourse and Writing are required courses for either degree. IU Bloomington does not have an official mascot, but all of its athletic teams are known as "Hoosiers." While the meaning of "Hoosier" is unclear, the university's teams are notorious competitors in the Big Ten Conference. If students are looking for an active break from the competition, the school's Outdoor Adventures program coordinates hiking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting trips.

Located in Seattle, the University of Washington is one of the oldest public universities on the West Coast. Despite its age, UW is a cutting-edge research institution. The university receives significant federal funding annually and hosts an annual research symposium for undergraduate students to share their work with the community. U.S. News & World Reportranks UW #59 for Best National Universities and #32 for Best Law Schools.

UW School of Law's Global Business Law LLM groups domestic and international students together to learn about best practices across the globe. The 40-credit curriculum takes three quarters - or nine months - to complete. The program's central requirement is a Comparative Legal Studies Seminar which compares research methodology in American, Asian, and European law. UW has additional Washington locations in Tacoma and Bothell. Its main campus has a 45 percent acceptance rate and requires prospective students to apply through the Coalition Application. The university has one of the largest library systems in the world, with over 26 university libraries.

Georgetown University is a private university overlooking the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. It is the oldest Catholic-affiliated higher education institution in the United States. The university is ranked #22 in National Universities and #14 in Best Law Schools by U.S. News & World Report. It is also one of the most selective schools in the country, with a Law Center acceptance rate of 19 percent.

Georgetown offers two different LLM programs relating to business law. The International and Business Law LLM is a flexible, 24-credit hour program with required courses in corporations, international regulation, and international business. The Executive Online Securities and Financial Regulation LLM is a part-time, fully online program available to students with a first degree of law. The curriculum features a rotating selection of seven or more course offerings each year. The university has strong student programs, including the nation's largest student-run business, largest student-run financial institution, and oldest continuous theatre troupe. The school's men's basketball team and a co-ed sailing team have each won numerous major championships.

Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, IL. The university is known mainly for its prestigious journalism, law, management, medicine, and music schools. U.S. News & World Reportranks Northwestern at #10 for Best National Universities and #11 for Best Law Schools. In addition, Northwestern was ranked 20th in the "World University Rankings," by Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Northwestern's Pritzker School of Law advertises its Master of Science in Law as the place "where STEM, Law, and Business converge." The program has a unique and flexible curriculum, with full-time, part-time, and online routes. Students may choose their electives in alignment with a particular focus area, such as Business Law and Entrepreneurship. Northwestern's Law courses focus on topics from mergers and acquisitions to entrepreneurship skills. Northwestern has additional campuses in Chicago and Doha, Qatar, as well as facilities in Miami; Washington, D.C.; and San Francisco. It is a founding member of - and the only private university of - the Big Ten Conference.

George Washington University is a private university chartered by Congress in 1821. It is one of only five U.S. universities with a Congressional charter. GW's urban setting in Washington, D.C. situates its students in the nucleus of U.S. national thought and policy. U.S. News & World Reportranks GW at #63 for Best National Universities and #24 for Best Graduate Law Schools.

GW Law's Master of Laws candidates may concentrate on Business and Finance Law. All LLM candidates must complete a total of 24 credit hours. Those pursuing a specialization must complete a minimum of 16 credit hours in relevant selected courses. Such courses for Business and Finance Law include Admiralty, E-Commerce, and White Collar Crime. Other related courses include Law of the Sea, Legislation, and Space Law. GW's main Foggy Bottom campus is located within blocks of the White House and the U.S. Department of State. The university is home to research centers and institutes including the National Security Archive and the Institute for International Economic Policy. The Princeton Review consistently ranks GW among the United States' "Most Politically Active" Schools.

In 1972, the San Diego College for Women and San Diego University merged to form The University of San Diego. USD is now a private university in the Californian city's Linda Vista neighborhood. Despite its Roman Catholic affiliation, the school is open to students of all faiths. U.S. News & World Report ranks USD at #85 for Best National Universities and #95 for Best Graduate Law Schools.

University of San Diego's School of Business offers an LLM in Business and Corporate Law. The flexible program presents full-time or part-time routes and daytime and evening courses to accommodate busy schedules. Degree requirements can take one to four years to complete. Such obligations include a Corporations course, relevant electives, and a minimum of two research papers covering matters of business and corporate law. USD's student life takes full advantage of its coastal setting. Students can soak up the sun and surf at nearby La Jolla and Pacific Beach. The university rents out kayaks, snorkel equipment, and surfboards on campus, and its Outdoor Adventures team leads group excursions. The school's mascot is a costumed bullfighter named Diego Torero.

Loyola Marymount University is the largest Catholic university on the West Coast. The private university sits atop the bluffs in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. U.S. News & World Reportranked LMU at #65 for Best Graduate Law Schools. Both, The Princeton Review and The Wall Street Journal, have ranked LMU within the top 15 percent of all U.S. colleges.

Loyola Law School offers a Master of Science in Legal Studies with a specialization in Business Law. The program can be completed in one full-time year or two part-time years. Course requirements include Contracts, Legal Methods I and II, Business Associations, and Securities Regulation. Students are required to complete 40 hours of pro-bono work to graduate. Architect Frank Gehry designed LMU's separate law school campus near downtown LA. The university has an average graduate class size of 16, and a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Known as the "University of Silicon Beach," LMU's neighbors include Google, Yahoo, and YouTube. This location makes LMU a convenient choice for those hoping to apply a Business Law degree to the technology industry.

Northeastern University is a private and highly residential research university in Boston, MA. The university is known for its cooperative education "co-op" program which fuses classroom study with professional experiential learning. U.S. News & World Report ranks NU at #44 for Best National Universities and #74 in Best Graduate Law Schools.

Northeastern's School of Law offers an LLM with a concentration in International Business Law. The 33-credit program lasts a full calendar year, beginning and ending in August. Core courses are Corporations, International Business Transactions, International Trade Law, and Law and Economic Development. LLM students in good academic standing can spend a term gaining full-time legal practice experience through the co-op program.NU has satellite campuses in Charlotte, Seattle, San Jose, and Toronto. It also has a comprehensive study abroad program reaching over 170 universities and colleges. Northeastern is currently ranked first on The Princeton Review's Best Schools for Internships list and has ranked in its top five for over a decade.