In 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked the top 10 international law programs. In order, the list included: New York University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, Harvard University and Yale University among its top five programs. George Washington University, University of Michigan--Ann Arbor, American University, University of Virginia and Duke University were the remaining five.
A survey of the top five programs gives a sense of what to look for in a school. Each school has many international law centers, colloquiums and associations in which to participate. Those at New York University, for instance, are as varied as the Jean Monnet Center for International and Regional Economic Law and Justice and the Asia Law Society. Each program also has many study-abroad opportunities. Columbia University in particular has study-abroad programs in 12 countries, with destinations ranging from Buenos Aires to Jerusalem to Tokyo. All of the top law schools also have many specializations from which to choose. At Georgetown University, for example, you can study globalization and systemic risk, Chinese law, bioterrorism or national security law, among others. In addition, each of these schools offers a variety of degrees. Harvard offers a Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science in International and Comparative Law. At Yale Law School, you can choose from more than 40 international courses each year, with an option to create a privatized course for independent research.
Many international law schools are popular aside from the top 10. According to Education-Portal.com, the most popular international law schools by enrollment include Temple University, University of Pittsburgh, Saint Louis University, University of Miami and Loyola Marymount University. Other popular schools include Stanford University, University of California--Berkeley, Northwestern University and Cornell University.
In choosing among these or other law schools, find a university that offers international law as a focus or is known as an international law school. Many programs offer international law, but are better suited for another discipline. A web search can easily find you this information. Also, research the student to teacher ratios and specializations offered by the school. In choosing a school that specializes in your area of interest, make sure it also has a broad curriculum in various subjects such as legal research, U.S. law and business law. This is important because in working in one field, one inevitably will need to draw upon knowledge from another specialization. If you feel like you want additional career opportunities, try to also find a school that offers a combined degree program.
While bachelor's degrees in international law do not exist, (See Reference 9) there are different types of master's degree programs. If you want to practice law, you must have a Juris Doctor degree as well as a Master of Laws in International Law (LLM) degree. If you do not want to practice, however, you can still study international law at the masters level. Without a Juris Doctor degree, you can pursue a Master of Arts in International Law (MA) degree or a Master of Science in International Law (JSM) degree. With a MA, you will learn subjects such as international relations, international environment law and war and international law. You need not complete a dissertation or research project. For a JSM, you must study at Stanford University, the only school that offers this degree. There, you will focus one year on study and a research project in your field of interest. Possible programs include Chinese business and law, Islamic law, international conflict management and human rights, among others. (See Reference 10)
Knowing what careers in international law exist can help you choose which program suits you best. Public international law is concerned with whether or not the actions of governments is in line with international law. There are few institutions, however, who hire lawyers to deal with these issues. The State Department keeps about 80 lawyers on staff for this purpose, but most others in this field teach at universities.
Most international lawyers are more involved in private international law. They control and guide individual and corporations in how they carry on transactions with different or competing legal systems. Many organizations and companies pay lawyers to settle disputes between businesses and organizations in other countries. If you are interested in this field, pick a school with an emphasis on business and comparative law.
Other careers exist in fields such as human rights law and environmental law. In both fields, you can find a career in a organization dedicated to a specific cause or regulation. If you are interested in a field such as this, find a school known for a program in that area. (See Reference 11)