Law

The LL.M. thesis program is geared toward students who wish to continue their legal education primarily through research, as the program concentrates on the production of a 30,000-word thesis, as well as some graduate-level coursework.

The LL.M. thesis program in Air and Space Law is geared toward students who wish to focus on original scholarly research related to the Air and Space Law domain. This program involves a combination of coursework and research credits (a thesis of 30,000 words). The thesis must show familiarity with previous work in the field and demonstrate the student’s capacity for independent analysis, writing skills, and organization.

The master’s specialization in Bioethics is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes both the conceptual and practical aspects of Bioethics. Students pursuing the LL.M. in Bioethics are bound by the requirements of the Faculty of Law’s LL.M. program. This program is offered as a thesis option only.

In the field of Comparative Law, students are encouraged to think about the nature and value of comparative scholarship both through coursework (particularly the Legal Traditions course, which is required for all students in Comparative Law) and through their master’s thesis. As such, students are encouraged and given opportunities to explore how juridical analyses are enriched through openness to learning from diversity in research methods, theoretical frameworks, legal traditions and doctrines, languages, and disciplinary perspectives. The LL.M. thesis program in Comparative Law requires several graduate-level courses and the production of a 30,000-word thesis.

**This program is not offered in the 2023-2024 academic year.**

The graduate option in Environment is a cross-disciplinary option offered in conjunction with the Bieler School of Environment within the LL.M. (thesis or non-thesis), providing students with an appreciation for the role of science, politics, and ethics in informed decision-making in the environment sector. The thesis option requires the production of a 30,000-word thesis.

The LL.M. non-thesis program is geared toward students who wish to continue their legal education largely through graduate-level coursework. The program requires two terms of coursework as well as a 15,000-word research project.

The LL.M. non-thesis program in Air and Space Law is geared toward students who wish to gain a wide exposure to a range of taught courses within, and related to, the Air and Space Law domain. The non-thesis option requires a 15,000-word research project, with the remaining credits earned in courses.

In the field of Comparative Law, students are encouraged to think about the nature and value of comparative scholarship both through coursework (particularly the Legal Traditions course, which is required for all students in Comparative Law) and through their master’s research project. As such, students are encouraged and given opportunities to explore how juridical analyses are enriched through openness to learning from diversity in research methods, theoretical frameworks, legal traditions and doctrines, languages, and disciplinary perspectives. The LL.M. non-thesis program requires two terms of graduate-level coursework and another term to produce a 15,000-word research project.

**This program is not offered in the 2023-2024 academic year.**

The graduate option in Environment is a cross-disciplinary option offered in conjunction with the Bieler School of Environment within the LL.M. (thesis or non-thesis) providing students with an appreciation for the role of science in informed decision-making in the environment sector, and its influence on political, socio-economic, and ethical judgments. The non-thesis option requires two terms of graduate-level coursework on environment law, as well as a 15,000-word research project.

The Doctor of Civil Law program is centred around the doctoral thesis, which develops a substantive and original contribution to legal research and knowledge under the supervision of a faculty member. Many doctoral candidates intend on pursuing an academic career and developing their approach to pedagogy, research, and writing while at McGill.

The Doctor of Civil Law in Air and Space Law is a research degree ideal for scholars intent on deepening and broadening their critical understanding of the law, as well as their original engagement with it. The program offers a curriculum exploring legal issues that arise from international civil aviation and new technologies in space. It also provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal processes regulating worldwide aerospace activities.

Doctoral students in Comparative Law are encouraged to think about the nature and value of comparative scholarship both through coursework (particularly the Legal Traditions course, which is recommended for DCL students in Comparative Law) and through their doctoral thesis. As such, students are encouraged and given opportunities to explore how juridical analyses are enriched through openness to learning with diverse research methods, theoretical frameworks, legal traditions and doctrines, languages, and disciplinary perspectives.

The Graduate Certificate in Air and Space Law is a course-based program designed for students with a strong professional orientation. This certificate is particularly appropriate for jurists and other professionals who wish to pursue graduate-level legal studies in aviation, air and space law, government regulations, conventions, and treaties dealing with these areas.

The Graduate Certificate in Comparative Law provides advanced training to candidates who do not wish to undertake the master's degree. The Graduate Certificate is particularly appropriate for judges, law professors, and legal practitioners from countries undergoing substantial legal reform (such as post-Communist or developing countries) who wish to pursue advanced studies in areas such as civil, commercial, or human rights law.