This program consists of two years law study at Cornell Law School, followed by one year of study in Lisbon at Universidade Católica Portuguesa.   Upon the successful completion of the three years of study, participants receive the J.D. from Cornell and the LL.M. from Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Students may choose to enroll in one of three different LL.M. programs: the LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context (LEGC); the LL.M. International Business Law (IBL); or the LL.M. Law in a Digital Economy (LDE).Only a few select students from American law schools working in partnership with Universidade Católica Portuguesa are admitted to this J.D./LL.M. program.

Admission to the Program

Students may apply during their 2L year at Cornell to study at Universidade Católica Portuguesa.  A limited number of spaces are available.  The program is taught in English and students are selected on the basis of their academic record at Cornell, strength of their written statement, and educational or professional experience. Apply HEhttps://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1LVLekFYAIqdwJERE.

First- and Second-Year Curriculum at Cornell Law School

At Cornell, the students will be required to complete a minimum of 64 credits of study. The first year of study will be identical to that of regular J.D. students at Cornell Law School.  In the second year of study at Cornell, the students must complete their credit and J.D. course requirements, which include six credits of experiential learning, a professional responsibility course, and a course satisfying the Law School’s writing requirement.

The program includes restrictions to avoid course offerings counting toward the J.D. credit requirements that: (1) would be better taken as part of the curriculum of Católica or (2) are outside of the regular Law School curriculum (regular J.D. candidates are allowed to take one course in each upper-class semester in other divisions of the university in areas related to their legal studies).

Third-Year Curriculum at Católica

The J.D./LL.M. program with Católica Global School of Law is taught entirely in English. Students will have to choose one out of three possible areas of specialization: the LL.M. Law in a European and Global Context; the LL.M. International Business Law; or the LL.M. Law in a Digital Economy. To meet the LL.M. degree requirements, students must complete a total of 60 ECTS, including a minimum of 50 ECTS from their chosen area of specialization. Students are free to choose courses from the other LL.M. programmes, allowing them to design their own curriculum in accordance with their academic interests and career goals.

LL.M. classes fall into two categories. Besides courses that are designed by some of the world’s top experts to give up-to-date knowledge on different fields of law, the LL.M. curriculum includes a selection of skills seminars that prepare students for the real-world challenges of legal practice

The academic year is divided into three terms: Term 1, from early September to mid December; Term 2, from early January to Easter; Term 3, from Easter to end of June.

Requirements for Student Performance and Grading Methods

At Católica, grades are expressed in a numerical classification that ranges from 0 to 20, with 10 being the passing grade. In some courses and seminars, students may be graded on a ‘pass/fail’ basis. The positive numerical grades have the following qualitative equivalence:

  • 10 to 13: sufficient (rite)
  • 14 to 15: good (feliciter)
  • 16 to 17: very good (magna cum laude)
  • 18 to 20: excellent (summa cum laude)

The main grading element for each course will usually be a written exam or essay, to be taken or submitted in the assessment season. In courses where a final exam is given, the format may be either in-class or take-home. Class participation may also be used as a factor to determine the student’s final grade.

Cornell transcripts do not list Portuguese grades and reflect only credits for courses passed conducted at Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

Individuals with Disabilities

Most cities in Europe, including Lisbon, are not as handicapped-accessible as U.S. cities. Nonetheless, at Católica, most of the classrooms and facilities that LL.M. students will be using are accessible to persons with disabilities.

Bar Examinations/Admissions

Program graduates have the necessary legal training to qualify for the bar examination in the United States, but further study and practice would be necessary to qualify to take the Portuguese bar examination.

Program Cancellation

In the event that Cornell University Law School and/or its partner, Universidade Católica Portuguesa., were to decide to cancel the program, all students who had been approved for and committed to, participation nonetheless would be permitted to continue in the program.

Degree Credit Review, Program Change, or Withdraw Form

Please complete this form to start the process to receive a degree credit review, change your program, or withdraw from a program.

If you have any questions, please contact us at international.law@cornell.edu.