Inside its LLM and emerging law courses
Producing law graduates
who lead the future
When choosing a Master of Laws (LLM) programme, who you’ll study with matters just as much as what you’ll study. At Wake Forest University School of Law, LLM candidates take classes alongside Juris Doctor (JD) students, benefit from having diverse perspectives in seminars, and keep a laser focus on the future of the field.
“Technology can enhance the practice of law, but it cannot replace the judgement, empathy, and relational aspect at the heart of being a successful lawyer,” says Dean Andrew R. Klein.
This idea is reflected in Wake Forest Law’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI). The school encourages students to use AI thoughtfully while recognising its limitations. Its Engagement Framework for Artificial Intelligence and Legal Education provides guidance for using the technology responsibly, while leaving room for students and faculty to learn as AI continues to develop.
You can explore these questions through the LLM curriculum, including courses related to AI and technology law. Environmental law is another option, with courses such as Environmental Law and International Environmental Law offered, alongside the Environmental Law and Policy Clinic. The clinic lets you practise looking at problems and issues from all sides while also prioritising the goals and needs of clients who would otherwise be unable to afford or access environmental representation. Together, these options allow you to explore a specific area while gaining a broader understanding of the practice of law today.
7:1
student-faculty ratio
#30
among the best law schools (2026 US News & World Report)
Ranked
130+
years of legal education
40%
of Wake Forest Law graduates enter Big Law, as defined by firms of 101+
Courses for today’s changing legal landscape
In this course, you'll learn about key areas of AI, from data collection and analysis to neural networks and software development. You'll then examine emerging issues such as algorithmic bias, AI-generated content, and regulatory standards for responsible AI use. Finally, you’ll apply what you learn by analysing machine learning systems and drafting comments on proposed government AI adoption.
Artificial Intelligence: Development and Regulation
LAW 493
This course explores the interconnected fields of food, agriculture, and environmental law, with a particular focus on agriculture. You'll examine key issues such as the Farm Bill, federal farm support programmes, farm finance, industrialised agriculture, and the role of land ownership and use in US agriculture. Through these topics, you’ll see how agricultural law intersects with broader food and environmental concerns.
Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Law
LAW 498
Discover how AI is developed and used within legal institutions, with a focus on AI-related legal cases and the frameworks that govern its development and use.
Artificial Intelligence Law and Litigation
LAW 533
The Master of Laws (LLM) degree
If you’re an internationally trained lawyer looking to develop your expertise and advance your career in the US legal field, the LLM programme is designed for professionals just like you. The LLM curriculum is flexible, hands-on, and comprehensive. You’ll complete 24 credit hours of coursework, comprising three mandatory courses, either a thesis or a seminar paper track, and your chosen electives. Not only do you have support from faculty experts, but you’re also fully integrated in the JD class from orientation onwards.
You can tailor the curriculum to align with your career goals. You have the option of dedicating nine credit hours to a specialised field, with the LLM offering business law, criminal law, intellectual property law, and technology law. If those aren’t exactly what you’re looking for, you can opt to create your own specialisation, with students in the past diving into human rights, health, and international law.
From theory to real-world practice
Legal theory functions best when it’s applied to real-world situations. At Wake Forest Law, the Pro Bono Project is an opportunity to address unmet legal needs while working under the supervision of licensed attorneys. Led by a student Executive Board and Project Coordinators, it now has nine standing projects, with additional opportunities welcomed throughout the academic calendar.
Wake Forest Law is also home to seven legal clinics, where you can strengthen your skills in client interaction, problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and more under the supervision of a licensed attorney. With pro bono services provided in the clinics, you'll get hands-on experience advocating for justice for the community.
Co-curricular programmes are central to the Wake Forest law experience; a vital part of receiving a well-rounded education. Whether you’re contributing to legal scholarship in the Journal of Business & Intellectual Property Law or taking the courtroom by storm in a competitive mock trial, the lessons you walk away with are wide-ranging. Here, you’re able to explore different areas of law beyond the one you’re specialising in, expand your network, and build critical skills such as public speaking and leadership.
Check out the Wake Forest Law clinics here:
Gabriel Frizzo, LLM, Class of 2025
"During my Trial Practice course, I received strong mentorship from Professor Matthew Breeding, which led to an internship with the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office. Spending the summer there allowed me to immerse myself fully in real-world courtroom proceedings and criminal litigation.
In ‘Technology in Modern Law Practice,’ the learning extended far beyond technology-related legislation. We explored how to integrate emerging tools into daily legal practice, while also developing foundational coding skills, learning cybersecurity protocols, and evaluating best practices for AI and other emerging legal technologies."
“As awareness of environmental challenges continues to grow, careers in renewable energy, waste management, geomatics, sustainable planning, and biodiversity are becoming increasingly vital. At EUC, we are committed to preparing students for impactful careers that drive sustainability and positive change.”
Alice J. Hovorka, Dean & Professor of the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change
Hear from your future professors
"In ‘Artificial Intelligence: Development and Regulation,’ students do much more than read about AI court cases. They build with AI, turning a real state’s AI statute into a working compliance tool using natural-language coding tools. They then examine where the tool misunderstood the law and why, before investigating a real AI company on behalf of a hypothetical state attorney general under a recently enacted law.
By the end of the course, students have two pieces of professional work to show potential employers: a working software tool built with AI and a law-focused investigation of a real company.
Students learn from a professor who began her career as a federal research scientist building state-of-the-art AI models. Our students have described the course as the most unique of their law school careers and as a class where hands-on experimentation is welcomed."
Professor Raina Haque
Professor of Practice - Computational Law and Emergent Technologies
IBM and Columbia University are partnering to make data centres more energy-efficient, as these facilities consume around 2% of U.S. energy supplies according to the Department of Energy. They are modelling AI's energy use, designing low-power chips, reducing software inefficiencies, and optimising system operations to address this issue.
V. Faye McNeill, professor of chemical engineering, is working with partners across the Global South to expand air quality monitoring in India, generate new air pollution data in Africa, and build local capacity in air quality science. The team’s success has led to informed policy decisions and improved air management across various regions.
“In ‘Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Law,’ students go behind the policies and laws shaping agriculture and the global food system. Topics include the rights and responsibilities of multinational food and agribusiness companies, the impact of international trade and geopolitics on food production, and the benefits and drawbacks of industrial agriculture.”
Professor Ellen Murphy
Professor of Practice
A campus designed for impact
“In ‘Artificial Intelligence Law and Litigation,’ students analyse legal cases involving AI and learn about the legal frameworks governing the technology. As AI continues to reshape the way we live and work, understanding it is increasingly important for students, regardless of the legal specialisation they choose. By the end of the course, students gain a grounded understanding of how AI works, along with a working knowledge of the current legal issues surrounding the technology.
Professor Keith Robinson
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
My long-term goal is to become a subject matter expert in supply chain, which is the backbone of the industry. I found BGSU's Logistics Systems Engineering program is a combination of engineering and management, which helps me to enhance my knowledge and skills. I joined BGSU in January 2022 and got the opportunity to work as a Graduate Assistant on an industrial project under the guidance of Dr. Sarder.
Swati Arora, India
MS in Logistics Systems Engineering
Hear from the students
“In ‘Artificial Intelligence Law and Litigation,’ students analyse legal cases involving AI and learn about the legal frameworks governing the technology. As AI continues to reshape the way we live and work, understanding it is increasingly important for students, regardless of the legal specialisation they choose. By the end of the course, students gain a grounded understanding of how AI works, along with a working knowledge of the current legal issues surrounding the technology.
Professor Keith Robinson
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
“In ‘Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Law,’ students go behind the policies and laws shaping agriculture and the global food system. Topics include the rights and responsibilities of multinational food and agribusiness companies, the impact of international trade and geopolitics on food production, and the benefits and drawbacks of industrial agriculture.”
Professor Ellen Murphy, Professor of Practice
"In ‘Artificial Intelligence: Development and Regulation,’ students do much more than read about AI court cases. They build with AI, turning a real state’s AI statute into a working compliance tool using natural-language coding tools. They then examine where the tool misunderstood the law and why, before investigating a real AI company on behalf of a hypothetical state attorney general under a recently enacted law. By the end of the course, students have two pieces of professional work to show potential employers: a working software tool built with AI and a law-focused investigation of a real company. Students learn from a professor who began her career as a federal research scientist building state-of-the-art AI models. Our students have described the course as the most unique of their law school careers and as a class where hands-on experimentation is welcomed."
Professor Raina Haque
Professor of Practice - Computational Law and Emergent Technologies
Enriching education awaits at Wake Forest University School of Law.