Meet Michigan Law’s LLM Class of 2024

Community plays a major role in the life of LLM students at the University of Michigan. They all come from vastly different places—this year from 16 different countries—and it can be intimidating to embark on a rigorous academic endeavor in a new country, knowing no one. But for the academic year and beyond, they forge a strong bond.

Director of Graduate Admissions Alice Choo

“Our students recognize that the LLM program offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with people from all over the world,” said Alice Choo, director of graduate admissions. “And it’s evident in their commitment to build a supportive community and their resolve to make the most of their LLM year.”

For more than 130 years, students have come to Michigan to earn their master of law degrees. They have already earned law degrees in countries outside the United States and have practical experience in the legal field.

Yet while they are in a different program, they are fully integrated into the Law School—taking classes and participating in every other way with JD students, further widening their community.

“I’m amazed by how our LLM students immerse themselves in everything the Law School and University have to offer,” said Choo. “I love seeing our LLM students participate in things that are unique to Michigan, whether it’s taking mini-seminars or attending football games at the Big House.”

Read further for a statistical profile of the class as well as individual profiles of just a few members of this class of students.

LLM Class of 2024 Demographics

Enrolled

Gender Composition

Women

53%

Men

47%

Have spouses and/or children who accompanied them

11.8%

Student Age

Median Age

Age Range

22-42

First-Generation College Graduate

14.7%

LLM Class of 2024 Home Country and Continent

Continents Represented

Countries Represented

1. Argentina

2. Brazil

3. China

4. Germany

5. India

6. Indonesia

7. Iran

8. Israel

9. Japan

10. New Zealand

11. Nigeria

12. Pakistan

13. South Korea

14. Taiwan

15. Thailand

16. United States

LLM Class of 2024 Work Experience

Areas of legal practice

(includes students with experience in more than one area)

Law Firm

51.6%

Government

19.4%

Academia

9.7%

Corporate

9.7%

Public Interest

6.4%

Judiciary

3.2%

One year or more of professional legal experience before LLM

82.4%

Median years of work experience before LLM

Areas of legal interest

Antitrust law
Bankruptcy law
Constitutional law
Corporate law
Criminal law
Environmental law
Gender and law
Human rights law
Intellectual property law
Legal theory
Litigation
Public interest law
Public international law
Tax law
Technology law

Meet a Few of Our Students

Rotimi Adejoorin

With his sights set on becoming a first-generation lawyer, Rotimi Adejoorin knew what lay ahead: a rough road toward actualizing his dream. However, every step of the way, he embraced the challenges with determination.

“The journey allowed me to dive headfirst into the legal profession, taking on risks and opportunities,” he said. “Before joining the legal community, I had always been captivated by the intricacies of international transactions.”

That interest led him first to a prestigious law firm in Nigeria, where he honed his legal expertise by participating in numerous energy, exploration, and production-related commercial transactions/litigations. He then transitioned to become an in-house counsel for one of the most successful marginal field companies in the country.

“This switch enabled me to navigate the legal intricacies of the industry from a different perspective,” he said, “gaining insights into the practical aspects of energy-related legal matters.” When it came time to pursue his master of laws, he was drawn to Michigan Law’s blend of clinical programs, seminars, and classes.

“You are provided with a conducive environment to learn the law, question established legal concepts, and interrogate developing assumptions. Being part of this tight-knit academic community has allowed me to explore legal theory, challenge existing paradigms, and engage in critical legal discussions.”

Hails from

Nigeria

Most recent position

Legal manager, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Ltd. (Lagos)

Educational experience

Olabisi Onabanjo University, LLB

Fernanda Lopes de Alcantara Gil

Fernanda Lopes de Alcantara Gil had a lifelong dream to study at a top-ranked school to earn her LLM, which her family strongly encouraged and she is now realizing at Michigan Law. Not only is she learning about a different legal system and connecting to a different culture, she is studying with “amazing professors—no exceptions!”

Her master’s degree is a natural progression on her career path. Before coming to Michigan, she worked for four years with one of the most prestigious law firms in Brazil, Mattos Filho, where she focused on corporate disputes and arbitration.

“Mattos Filho is considered ‘Big Law’ in Brazil,” she said. “And it was amazing to work with so many different people from everywhere in my country.”

As she settles into her LLM program, she values being part of a small group of fellow students and the deeper connections that allows—which provides a fuller experience overall.

“Attending Michigan Law will not only make me a better professional and lawyer,” she said, “it will certainly make me a more mature, understanding, and complete person.”

Hails from

Brazil

Most recent position

Civil litigation and arbitration associate, Mattos Filho (São Paulo)

Educational experience

Fundação Getulio Vargas, bacharela em direito (LLB)

Nadia Sussman

Nadia Sussman was an accidental law student. As an undergraduate, her ambition was to become a public radio broadcaster. But an introductory course on law and society, taken to fulfill a general education requirement, changed her direction. After earning her bachelor’s degrees at the University of Auckland, she clerked at Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa—the High Court of New Zealand—before spending a year working as a civil litigator.

“The highlight was working on cases concerning the interplay between private law theory, tikanga Māori [Māori customs], and climate change,” she said. That experience primed her for furthering her law studies.

With interests in legal theory at the intersection of ethics, dispute resolution, and civil procedure, she is participating in the Law & Philosophy Workshop with Professors Ekow Yankah and Sarah Moss and is independently researching the ramifications of the practice of lawyers preparing witness briefs.

“Michigan Law has a reputation for fostering pragmatic, interdisciplinary, and holistic scholarship,” she said. “And the LLM cohort is a small and international group, which promotes natural comparative law discussions, particularly in Introduction to Constitutional Law and the American Legal Process.”