By pursuing a concentration, students can engage in advanced, in-depth study with the leading scholars and practitioners in a specific field, without having to pursue an advanced degree. Students are then equipped with the specialized legal training and tools that can give them a powerful advantage in the marketplace.

The Concentration in International Law recognizes the growing globalization of the practice of law. Virtually all fields of law have been influenced by this trend: international and foreign law rules often affect US policy, legislation, and the claims of litigants in US courts and elsewhere. As US lawyers transact business and litigate across borders, they increasingly find it valuable to possess the knowledge and skills required to use international and foreign law to further the commercial, intellectual property, human rights, and other interests of their clients. Lawyers in the 21st century also increasingly need, or find it advantageous, to resort to international, regional, or foreign courts, arbitral tribunals, and other transnational dispute-settlement procedures.

BU Law offers sixteen single-semester study abroad programs to its second and third-year JD students and five full-year international dual degree (JD/LLM) programs for third-year students. These programs are open only to BU Law students who have completed at least one year of full-time study at BU Law. Students from other ABA-approved law schools are not eligible to participate.

In the International Human Rights Clinic, you learn to implement the international and regional human rights mechanisms to advance issues and policy on behalf of institutional clients representing refugees, forced migrants, immigrants, and stateless persons.

The Immigrants’ Rights & Human Trafficking Program offers you the opportunity to represent a diverse array of noncitizen and survivor clients while developing important lawyering proficiencies. You may choose between three concentrations: (1) immigrants’ rights; (2) human trafficking; and (3) both immigrants’ rights and human trafficking.

The Vis Arbitral Moot promotes the study of international commercial law and arbitration as a pathway to resolve business disputes by asking law students from around the world to mediate a concrete legal problem. Teams are asked to follow specified arbitration rules as they draft two memoranda, one as the claimant and the second as the respondent, with the goal of resolving a dispute related to the sale or purchase of goods under the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.

The Boston University International Law Journal publishes articles on international law written by professional authors and practitioners, as well as student authored notes. As one of the nation’s leading international law journals, the ILJ seeks to maintain the highest editorial standards and to produce a professional quality publication worthy of international recognition. Published biannually in the spring and summer, the ILJ also publishes on its website short scholarly pieces on current issues in international law.

International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) organizes law students and lawyers to develop and enforce a set of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced persons. Mobilizing direct legal aid, litigation, and systemic advocacy, IRAP serves the world’s most persecuted individuals and empowers the next generation of human rights leaders.

Since its founding in 2008, IRAP has helped resettle over 4200 refugees and their families to 18 different countries and has trained over 2000 law students and lawyers in the process. Boston University School of Law is one of IRAP’s 30 student chapters across the United States and Canada.

Volunteers with Project Citizenship can help facilitate the naturalization of immigrants to the US by becoming trained in the policies and procedures affecting naturalization and helping immigrants complete the N-400.

For the Immigration Justice Campaign, volunteers will conduct basic internet research and compile news articles, reports from government agencies (e.g., U.S. State Department), non-profits (e.g., Human Rights Watch), and other sources to substantiate an asylum applicant's claim of fear of persecution if they return to their country of origin. Country condition packets are often hundreds of pages in length. Print copies of the country conditions packet and mail to the detainee appearing pro se.

BU's annual Spring Break Pro Bono Service Trip program sends students to earn hands-on experience working with attorneys at public service organizations throughout Boston as well as in Arizona, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, and New York. Students have worked at:

• Project Citizenship (Boston, MA): Students helped attorneys at Project Citizenship provide free, high-quality services to legal permanent residents to help them become US citizens.

• Southern Poverty Law Center, Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative (Jena, LA): The Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative provides pro bono legal representation to detained immigrants.

• Florence Immigration and Refugee Rights Project (Arizona): At the Florence Project, students and professors worked alongside the only legal services provider for separated families in the state.