Law (Non-Thesis) (LL.M.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Law (Faculty of Law)
Degree: Master of Laws
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The 45-credit LL.M. non-thesis option complements previous legal education through specialized graduate-level coursework and in-depth research. It enhances expertise in selected areas of legal scholarship and offers an opportunity to write a supervised, substantial, and publishable paper in an area of interest.
Candidates must remain in residence for three terms for which full-time fees will be charged. The third term is devoted to the Research Project, usually taken in the Summer of the first year. If the research project is not completed in this time, students must register for additional sessions as needed. All degree requirements must be completed within a maximum of three years of the date of first registration.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Research Project (15 credits)
The supervised research project is a 15,000-word paper, assessed by the supervisor on a pass-fail basis, and is typically completed in the Summer.
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CMPL 655 | Research Project 1. | 15 |
Research Project 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A major research paper on a current topic. |
Required Courses (9 credits)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CMPL 610 | Legal Research Methodology 1. | 1.5 |
Legal Research Methodology 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Legal research methodology, including electronic legal research and the formulation of research plans. | ||
CMPL 611 | Legal Research Methodology 2. | 1.5 |
Legal Research Methodology 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Legal research methodology, including electronic legal research and the finalization of research plans. | ||
CMPL 641 | Theoretical Approaches to Law. | 3 |
Theoretical Approaches to Law. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to a variety of theoretical approaches to legal scholarship. | ||
LAWG 601 | Communication 1. | 1.5 |
Communication 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law. | ||
LAWG 602 | Communication 2. | 1.5 |
Communication 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law. |
Complementary Courses (21 credits)
The remaining 21 credits (or fewer if more credits are earned for the research project) are chosen from among Faculty offerings at the 500 and 600 levels.
Additional Research Project Courses
With the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), students may take up to an additional 3 credits of research project courses by completing one or both of:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CMPL 656 | Research Project 2. | 2 |
Research Project 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Annotated bibliography that critically assesses five relevant secondary sources for the student’s research Project and an additional 3,000 words for the research project. | ||
CMPL 657 | Research Project 3. | 1 |
Research Project 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Annotated bibliography that critically assesses five relevant secondary sources for the student’s research Project. |