Philadelphia prosecutor is benefiting from the flexibility of the International Criminal Law & Justice Program.
Ian Courts was drawn to the International Criminal Law & Justice Program (ICLJ) at UNH Franklin Pierce for its reputation as a leader in online, asynchronous learning.
“They were [also] one of the few schools that offered a rigorous international criminal law LLM online that worked with my schedule as a full-time prosecutor,” says Courts, an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia.
In addition to the distinction of being the only law school to offer a master’s degree in criminal justice, the flexibility of UNH’s ICLJ program is one of its hallmarks. Students like Courts can begin the online curriculum in August or January and complete the 24-credit LLM on a full- or part-time schedule in one to three years, depending on individual pace. The program also offers a master’s degree for students without a first degree in law that can be completed in one to five years. The asynchronous learning environment is facilitated by accessible course instructors, including expert faculty, scholars, and high-end practitioners, who offer a wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom.
In describing his own experience Courts expresses great satisfaction not only for the flexibility the ICLJ program offers, but also the accountability it demands.
“This is innovative because the law, especially as a prosecutor in Philadelphia, is a full-time service; thus, my time is limited,” Courts explains. “The online program allows me to maximize that limited free time while enjoying the learning process.”
So far, Courts has enjoyed lively class discussions with the program’s cohort and has taken advantage of opportunities to draft research manuscripts on a wide variety of topics. His paper on Apartheid will soon be published in the law review of his JD alma mater, North Carolina Central University School of Law. Courts graduated from the school in 2020 after earning his BA in political science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2017. He has been working for the district attorney’s office in Philadelphia for the last two years. As an appellate prosecutor, he drafts responses to criminal defendant briefs before the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts.
“I encounter a wide array of issues,” he says, “from sentencing to sufficiency of the evidence to sex crimes, abuse of discretion, and other appellate criminal issues, including arguments that sentences violate the Hague Convention’s human rights requirements.”
In meeting the needs of the broad range of career interests of its scholars, the ICLJ’s focus on transnational crime sets it apart. Once he completes his LLM, Courts hopes to continue helping others through his profession. He enjoys research, writing, and oral advocacy and aspires to work in the International Criminal Court as a law clerk, in the Office of Prosecutor-Appeals Unit, or as an International Court of Justice law clerk.
Whether students intend to practice in the U.S. or abroad, the ICLJ program helps them explore the most pressing issues in international criminal law and justice. The deadline to apply to begin this Fallis August 1, and GRE or LSAT scores are not required for admission. Courts is grateful to UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law for the opportunity to further his education in his chosen field.
“People who desire to learn and grow as a professional, especially in the field of international criminal law,” he says, “should consider the ICLJ program because it is innovative, challenging, and prepares you for a scholastic and practical career in global criminal law and justice.”
To learn more about the ICLJ program and the fast-developing area of transnational crime, join ICLJ program chair, Professor Scherr, for a free, 60-minute webinar on Wednesday, March 23 at 12:30pm ET. Professor Scherr will discuss increasingly common issues such as cybercrime, human trafficking, drugs & weapons trafficking, piracy, and terrorism and discuss how each of these areas requires a command of multiple criminal justice systems, the law of treaties, international extradition, and complex jurisdiction issues. REGISTER NOW.
