Program Requirements
** Availability of this program is subject to relevant courses being offered in a given year. **
The 45-credit LL.M. program, thesis option, in Comparative Law is a research-intensive graduate program focused on developing research interests into a thesis project under the supervision of a faculty member. Graduate-level courses on theoretical and methodological approaches to legal writing complement the research work and thesis completion process, and courses in specific areas of knowledge related to the candidate's research interests complete the program's credit requirements.
LL.M. candidates may be associated with the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, the Quebec Research Centre of Private and Comparative Law, the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, or one of the specialized Research Chairs at the Faculty of Law. For more information, see our website: https://mcgill.ca/law/grad-studies/masters-programs.
Candidates must remain in residence for three terms. The third term, usually devoted to thesis research, may be taken the Summer of the first year. If the thesis is not completed in this time, students must register for additional sessions as needed. All degree requirements must be completed within a maximum of three years of the date of first registration.
Thesis Courses (30 credits)
As part of the course Master's Thesis 1, a thesis candidate must provide a protocol to his or her supervisor setting out details as to the thesis topic, the deadlines for the completion of the various thesis courses and the schedule of meetings with the thesis supervisor. Modifications to the protocol must be made in writing and submitted to the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies).
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CMPL 612 Master's Thesis 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Preparation of thesis proposal.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CMPL 613 Master's Thesis 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Preparation of literature review.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CMPL 614 Master's Thesis 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Thesis Seminar. A seminar bearing on thesis research in progress.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CMPL 615 Master's Thesis 4 (6 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Thesis research report.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CMPL 616 Master's Thesis 5 (12 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Completion of thesis.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CMPL 617 Master's Thesis 6 (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Thesis research report.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Required Courses (12 credits)
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CMPL 600 Legal Traditions (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Examination of the concept of a legal tradition, including elements of particular legal traditions, their philosophical foundations, their implementation through institutions, and their influence on one another.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: Restricted to students in the Institute of Comparative Law. Other students by permission only.
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CMPL 610 Legal Research Methodology 1 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Legal research methodology, including electronic legal research and the formulation of research plans.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CMPL 610, CMPL 610D1/D2 prior to 202109.
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CMPL 611 Legal Research Methodology 2 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Legal research methodology, including electronic legal research and the finalization of research plans.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: CMPL 610
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CMPL 610, CMPL 610D1/D2 prior to 202109.
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CMPL 641 Theoretical Approaches to Law (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Introduction to a variety of theoretical approaches to legal scholarship.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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LAWG 601 Communication 1 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Law General : Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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LAWG 602 Communication 2 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Law General : Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite(s): LAWG 601.
Complementary Courses (3 credits)
The remaining 3 credits (or fewer if more credits are earned for the Master's Thesis) are chosen from among Faculty offerings at the 500 and 600 levels.
Additional Thesis Courses
With the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), students may take up to an additional 3 credits of thesis courses by completing one or both of:
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CMPL 618 Master's Thesis 7 (2 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Thesis research project.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CMPL 619 Master's Thesis 8 (1 credit)
Overview
Comparative Law : Thesis research project.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: This course is open only to graduate law students registered in a with-thesis Master's program in the Faculty of Law.
