Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law LLM
Denver, USA
DURATION
12 up to 36 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 2,113 / per credit *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* estimated annual tuition full-time | USD 25,356 - part-time students
Introduction
Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law have never been more critical, bringing together complex legal, business, and policy-making decisions:
Valuable to both U.S.- and foreign-trained graduate students, the LLM in Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law provides a world-leading course of graduate study and experience for students seeking a greater understanding of these issues, and their associated challenges and opportunities. Students can immerse themselves in classes on mining natural resources, and energy law, as well as skills-based classes to enhance their transactional skills for practice.
- Courses in mining law, natural resources law, energy law, water law, and sustainability.
- Experiential education with opportunities for learning critical skills for practice and externships.
- Foreign-trained graduate students will also have access to ESL support alongside introductory classes on the American legal system designed to build on their prior legal experience.
- Access to classes at the Colorado School of Mines, the Daniels College of Business, and the Korbel School of International Studies.
Beginning Fall 2024, students enrolled in the LLM in Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law who are eligible for and seeking to sit for a bar exam in the United States after graduation — and who have not previously been licensed to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction — will be provided with Themis Bar Review’s complete post-graduation bar review course designed specifically for foreign-trained LLM students at no cost, completely funded by the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Rankings
- #21 ranked program (U.S. News & World Report)
- #6 greenest law school in the nation (The National Jurist)
- A+ practical training (preLaw Magazine)
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law LLM candidates are required to complete 24 semester credit hours.
Full-time students may earn the degree in one academic year (over two consecutive semesters). Part-time students (below 12 semester credit hours a semester) may earn the degree within 36 months of matriculation. Please refer to specific F-1/J-1 status requirements that may place additional limits. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.7 to remain in good standing.
Required Courses
All students entering the program are required to complete either:
- Environmental Law (L4220) or
- Natural Resources Law (L4450)
All students who received their first law degree outside of the United States must also take:
- Introduction to the American Legal System (L4064) (2 credits)
The remaining electives can be completed by choosing courses from the over forty courses in advanced degree programs in both international and domestic issues. For the remaining elective course requirement, students will customize their course of study to meet their individual professional goals.
Capstone Requirement
Students must complete a Capstone requirement by submitting a written product of at least 15-25 pages on an appropriate legal subject and with a significant legal research component, approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and International Legal Programs (either through an elective course or by registering for a 2-3 credit Directed Research project). Students must submit an approved Capstone Completion form to the Office of the Registrar no later than the last day of the final examination period for the student's term of intended graduation.
Bar Licensure
Students seeking to pursue licensure in a U.S. jurisdiction, including Colorado, must complete any courses required by the Colorado Supreme Court or the relevant bar authority as part of their 24 required credit hours in addition to the required courses above. Information on the requirements for Colorado is here. Eligibility is determined by the Colorado Supreme Court and not the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Students are asked to review the relevant paragraphs of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Colorado found on the Colorado Supreme Court website. Among other things, graduates of the degree-seeking Admission to the Practice of Law in Colorado with a law degree from a civil law jurisdiction have different requirements from students with a law degree from a common law jurisdiction.
External Courses
While working in the advanced degree program, you may extend your academic credentials by taking additional credited courses offered outside the College of Law. Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Program students may take up to six credit hours at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies and Daniels College of Business, or at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. LLM, MLS, and JD students may also participate in one of our inter-university exchanges.
- Josef Korbel School of International Studies (Korbel)
- The Daniels College of Business
- Colorado School of Mines