Master of Laws (LLM) - Immigration Law

Globalization is transforming the way lawyers think and work. To be a successful lawyer today, you'll need to broaden your horizons, no matter where in the world you practice. That's one of the ways earning a Master of Laws (LLM) degree can work to your advantage. An LLM degree gives you the opportunity to acquire practical, specialized legal knowledge that will make you more competitive in a tough job market.Suffolk University Law School's Master of Laws program is for any legal graduate who wants to build upon their education—whether you're new, experienced, or making a career change. We offer a variety of LLM degree options, from General to Global Law & Technology to an accelerated JDTaxation dual degree. Suffolk Law offers unique and practical LLM programs in the heart of thriving Boston, allowing students to specialize in up-and-coming fields, such as intellectual property law and international business, or to study core U.S. bar-test subjects to gain eligibility to sit for a bar exam in the U.S.Challenge your mind with rigorous Master of Laws curriculum taught by seasoned experts and practitioners. Gain invaluable real-world experience with our nationally ranked and recognized clinics, programs, and experiential opportunities. And advance your degree while getting the added edge to compete in today's legal marketplace. The practice of immigration law encompasses a broad range of legal environments, from business immigration law in which lawyers represent corporations seeking to employ foreign born workers to deportation defense which includes representing individuals detained by the federal government seeking release from detention and relief from removal. Immigration lawyers practice in large and small firms, non-profit agencies and government.Immigration law can generally be divided into two large spheres – administrative or affirmative practice and deportation defense. Administrative practice involves petitioning the U.S. government to allow a person to migrate to the U.S. on an immigrant or non-immigrant visa or as a refugee. This practice can be further broken down into business immigration, family based immigration and humanitarian based immigration. Deportation defense involves more classic litigation including interviewing and counseling clients, motions practice, legal brief writing, preparing lay and expert witnesses, oral arguments, and appellate practice. Given the high rates of immigration detention and the defensive posture, deportation defense is most like criminal defense in its practice.