International & Comparative Law

At BU Law, students can choose from dozens of courses in public international law, which covers the relations between countries; private international law, which deals with cross-border business transactions; and comparative law, which focuses on the laws of other countries. In addition to survey courses that provide a basic understanding of the issues, the curriculum includes in-depth offerings exploring topics ranging from English legal history and Islamic law to international taxation, globalization, and law and war. 

Outside the classroom, students can apply what they are learning in experiential settings, including through the International Human Rights Clinic, which partners with NGOs around the world to advocate for communities and issues related to forced migration; the Jessup Moot Court Competition, which is the oldest and best-known international law student competition; the BU International Law Journal, where students can publish their own papers or edit the submissions of legal scholars; and Semester-in-Practice: International Human Rights, in which students work with organizations that operate under international treaties and norms. BU Law students also have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with students and faculty from the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. 

BU Law also offers a Concentration in International Law and a dual JD/MA in International Relations. The LLM in American Law program is a top destination for global practitioners seeking to understand US law and lawyering, and LLM students provide an international and comparative law perspective for their JD counterparts in shared classes.