Z. Smith Reynolds Library on WFU Campus

LLM students must complete a two-hour writing requirement. The student may select either the thesis option or the seminar paper writing option.

(1) Thesis Option. The thesis requirement may be a paper written independently under the guidance of a faculty adviser for which the LLM student receives two hours of course credit. Those students who are completing the thesis independent of another course will prepare a paper commensurate with what would be expected in a two-hour seminar course.

In the alternative, the thesis can be written in conjunction with a seminar-paper course in which the LLM student is writing a significant paper. Those LLM students who are completing the thesis in conjunction with another course should produce a significant paper that will, in quantity and quality, satisfy both the paper requirement of the course and the two-hour thesis requirement. Thus, the paper for the other course can be expanded in quantity and detail to satisfy both the paper requirement for the course and for the two hour thesis requirement.

The LLM student can elect to have the thesis graded on a pass-fail basis. No oral defense of the thesis is required.

(2) Seminar Paper Writing Option. LL.M. students who opt not to write a thesis must satisfactorily complete an upper-level seminar course that requires the research and writing of a significant paper in conjunction with at least a two hour course. This paper will be undertaken under the supervision and grading of the professor teaching the course.