"After 30 years spent in courtrooms in Texas, ... I am comfortable that SMU's emphasis on how to think as opposed to what to think has been instrumental in procuring justice for a number of deserving clients."
- Frank Branson '69, '74
Partner, Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, PC
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International Programs

SMU Dedman School of Law offers international students an opportunity to become part of a vibrant, scholarly community of 40 full time faculty members and over 900 J.D. and LL.M., and S.J.D. students. As one of the first schools in the United States to establish a program in international and comparative law, the Law School has played an important role in training some of the foremost leaders around the world. We are proud of the more than 1,400 graduates from 70 countries who hold prominent positions in government, legal practice, business, the judiciary, and legal education worldwide.

Members of our faculty are known as experts in their fields, nationally and internationally. They have outstanding academic credentials and the vast majority of them have had practical experience before entering their teaching careers. A strong faculty translates to a strong curriculum. Building on our cores strengths in corporate law, commercial law, taxation, litigation, and dispute resolution, we offer a broad range of courses including banking, oil and gas, international business transactions, and employment law. Consistent with our reputation as a leader in legal education, our curriculum responds to new developments in such areas as intellectual property, health law, and environmental law.

In addition to our diverse curriculum, students are invited to take advantage of the many activities outside the classroom. The Center for Pacific Rim Legal Studies and The Law Institute of the Americas sponsor various lectures and conferences and lend support to visiting scholars’ research projects. The SMU Institute of International Financial, Commercial and Technology Law sponsors conferences and publications in international banking and finance. A few years ago, the SMU-London Forum Initiative was established to promote developing country scholarship and host programs on Comparative Islamic Law. The International Lawyer, which has over 13,000 subscribers in the U.S. and abroad, is published here. Two other international publications, The Law and Business Review of the Americas, and an annual Studies in International Financial, Commercial and Technology Law offer students an opportunity to do scholarly research, and in some instances, publish their work.

As the pace of globalization continues to intensify, our role as a center of international legal studies will become more vital than ever. We invite you to become part of this endeavor.