LLM Certificate Programs

The University of Connecticut School of Law allows students to participate in certificate programs that enable them to tailor their experiences to focus on specific aspects of the law. These programs are available only to students matriculated in an LLM degree program. A list of courses for each certificate can be found in the Academic Regulations.

Corporate and Regulatory Compliance Certificate

Students interested in pursuing careers in compliance, ethics, internal monitoring, regulatory affairs and related areas should consider the Compliance Certificate. Through this certificate, students will gain a portfolio of skills at the intersection of law and management to lead effective compliance programs and to build organizational cultures that encourage ethical conduct and a commitment to compliance.

Requirements

The LLM Certificate in Corporate and Regulatory Compliance is available to students enrolled in an LLM degree program. Although no formal application is required, students must submit the Certificate Studies, Intention to Participate Form to the registrar’s office before graduation. Students are encouraged to announce to the certificate advisor their intention to seek a certificate at the beginning of their academic program. All LLM candidates seeking the certificate must:

  • complete 9 credit hours of approved courses, which includes one core course and two electives in different areas,
  • fulfill their writing requirement in an approved course or an independent writing project on the subject, and
  • achieve a minimum B average in their certificate courses and writing requirement.

Courses

Law school courses approved for the certificate are listed in the academic regulations. For law courses not on the list, students may apply to the director of the program and the associate dean for academic affairs for its use in lieu of one of the listed courses. Students may also seek permission to enroll in additional approved courses offered by the UConn School of Business, which is located in downtown Hartford.

Advisor

Melissa “Kat” Smith, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
mkatsmith@uconn.edu

Energy and Environmental Law Certificate

Students pursuing a certificate in Energy and Environmental law create an individualized curriculum combining energy and environmental coursework. Through the certificate program, students develop substantive knowledge in energy and environmental law while strengthening their analytical, lawyering, legal research and writing skills. Students enrolled in the Energy and Environmental Law LLM program are not eligible for this certificate.

Requirements

Students are encouraged to announce their intention to seek a certificate at the beginning of their academic year; no formal application is required. Before graduating, students must submit the Certificate Studies, Intention to Participate Form to the registrar’s office. All LLM candidates seeking the certificate in Energy & Environmental Law must:

  • complete 9 credit hours of approved courses,
  • fulfill their writing requirement in an approved course or an independent writing project on the subject, and
  • achieve a minimum B average in their certificate courses and writing requirement.

Advisor

Melissa “Kat” Smith, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
mkatsmith@uconn.edu

Financial Services Regulation Certificate

The LLM Certificate in Financial Services Regulation is available to students enrolled in the LLM in U.S. Legal Studies Program. UConn School of Law is the top destination for lawyers and students from the United States and around the world who seek serious graduate training in insurance and financial services regulation. The location in Hartford, a leading hub of the insurance industry, gives students access to insurance companies, financial services firms, law firms and regulators who work in these areas.

UConn Law also has a separate LLM in Insurance Law, which is the premier LLM program in its field in the United States. The LLM in Insurance Law program, for students who wish to devote themselves almost exclusively to insurance and financial services law, is open to both international and domestic students. Students enrolled in the Insurance Law LLM program are not eligible for this certificate.

Requirements

Students are encouraged to announce their intention to seek a certificate at the beginning of their academic year; no formal application is required. Before graduating, students must submit the Certificate Studies, Intention to Participate Form to the registrar’s office. To earn the Certificate in Financial Services Regulation, LLM candidates must:

  • complete 9 credit hours of approved courses,
  • fulfill their writing requirement in an approved course or an independent writing project on the subject, and
  • achieve a minimum of a B average in their certificate courses and writing requirement.

    Advisor

    Melissa “Kat” Smith, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
    mkatsmith@uconn.edu

    Foundational Certificates in U.S. Law

    Four certificates concentrating on different aspects of foundational U.S. law are available to student enrolled in an LLM program. Students may choose among the Foundations of U.S. Law, U.S. Civil and Criminal Justice, Business Law and Regulation, and U.S. Law of Property Transfer.

    Requirements

    Students are encouraged to announce their intention to seek a certificate at the beginning of their academic year; no formal application is required. Prior to graduating, students must submit the Certificate Studies, Intention to Participate Form to the registrar’s office. To earn a Foundational Certificate in U.S. Law students must:

    • complete 12 credit hours of approved courses and
    • achieve a minimum of a B average in their certificate courses.

    A student can earn up to two foundational certificates within the LLM degree. Students electing to complete two foundational certificates cannot have more than one overlapping course in each foundational certificate.

    Advisor

    Melissa “Kat” Smith, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
    mkatsmith@uconn.edu

    Human Rights Certificate

    LLM students have the option of one of two certificate paths in the area of Human Rights. The certificate description below is offered by the School of Law. LLM students may also wish to explore the Graduate Certificate in Human Rights offered by the University of Connecticut Human Rights Institute.

    UConn School of Law offers students in an LLM program the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Human Rights. Through the certificate program, students gain experience in the interdisciplinary field of international human rights with access to courses taken at the School of Law, UConn’s School of Social Work and at the Human Rights Institute in Storrs. Students enrolled in the Human Rights and Social Justice LLM program are not eligible for this certificate.

    Requirements

    Students are encouraged to announce their intention to seek a certificate at the beginning of their academic year; no formal application is required. Before graduating, students must submit the Certificate Studies, Intention to Participate Form to the registrar’s office. To earn the Certificate in Human Rights, LLM candidates must:

    • complete 9 credit hours of approved Human Rights courses, which includes the core required course;
    • fulfill their writing requirement in an approved course or an independent writing project on the subject; and
    • achieve a minimum of a B average in their certificate courses and writing requirement.

    Courses

    In addition to the approves courses listed in the Academic Regulations, students may seek permission to enroll in additional Human Rights courses offered by UConn's Human Rights Institute and the UConn School of Social Work. For a list of those courses please visit the Human Rights Institute website.

      Advisor

      Melissa “Kat” Smith, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
      mkatsmith@uconn.edu

      Intellectual Property Certificate

      UConn School of Law offers students in an LLM program the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Intellectual Property. The certificate program prepares students to participate in the new information economy, drawing on a dynamic intellectual property program and a commitment to international law, financial services and insurance law.

      Requirements

      Students are encouraged to announce their intention to seek a certificate at the beginning of their academic year; no formal application is required. Before graduating, students must submit the Certificate Studies, Intention to Participate Form to the registrar’s office. To earn the Certificate in Intellectual Property, LLM candidates must:

      • complete 9 credit hours of intellectual property courses,
      • fulfill the writing requirement in an approved course or an independent writing project on the subject, and
      • achieve a minimum of a B average in their certification courses and writing requirement.

      Advisor

      Melissa “Kat” Smith, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
      mkatsmith@uconn.edu

      Tax Studies Certificate

      Students completing a Certificate in Tax Studies within an LLM program gain expertise in theory and in practice-based opportunities, such as the Tax Clinic or an externship. Students seeking this certificate must take LAW7661 - Federal Income Taxation, and are strongly encourage to do so in their first academic semester.

      Requirements

      Students are encouraged to announce their intention to seek a certification at the beginning of their academic program; no formal application is required. Before graduating, students must submit the Certificate Studies, Intention to Participate Form to the registrar’s office. To earn a Certificate in Tax Studies, LLM candidates must:

      • complete 9 credit hours of tax courses, including the required course,
      • fulfill their writing requirement in an approved course or independent writing project with a member of the tax faculty, and
      • achieve a minimum of a B average in their certification courses and writing requirement.

        Advisor

        Melissa “Kat” Smith, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
        mkatsmith@uconn.edu