A Cozy Season, Full of Momentum | | |
Greetings!
Winter has certainly settled in here in Ohio, and wherever this newsletter finds you, we hope you’re staying cozy as you catch up on the latest updates from our Online LL.M. community.
As we wrap up 2025, we’re excited to share program milestones, look ahead to events already on the horizon for 2026, and celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni around the world.
Thank you for being part of our community this year. We’re grateful for your continued engagement and look forward to seeing where 2026 takes us—and all that our community will achieve in the year ahead.
| | AN IMPACTFUL STEP FORWARD | | Strengthening Leadership for the Online LL.M. | | |
We’re closing out 2025 with a significant milestone for the Online LL.M. program!
We’re excited to share that Professor Tommy Sangchompuphen has been appointed Director of Online LL.M. Faculty Development & Bar Readiness.
This new role reflects a deeper institutional investment in the long-term success of our students and Online LL.M. program.
Professor Tommy is not only a dedicated Online LL.M. faculty member, but also serves as the Director of Bar Preparation for the University of Dayton School of Law. With this expanded role, he now brings that leadership and expertise directly into the Online LL.M. program.
We are proud to have full-time faculty leadership in our program to ensure our courses remain rigorous, supportive, and closely aligned with the skills and knowledge students need—both during the program and beyond graduation.
Congratulations, Professor Tommy and thank you for helping our Online LL.M. students Fly Higher!
| | Kicking Off Year 3 of the Mini Bar Prep Course | | |
Speaking of the bar readiness, Wednesday we officially kicked off the Online LL.M. Mini Bar Prep Course—marking the third year in a row of this dedicated bar preparation program for our students and graduates.
Designed specifically with internationally trained lawyers in mind, the Mini Bar Prep Course provides structured, focused support as students prepare for upcoming bar exams.
Led by Professor Tommy Sangchompuphen, the program builds on the academic foundation of the Online LL.M. while providing focused, practical support for those Online LL.M. graduates preparing for the bar exam.
The turnout and engagement at this year’s kickoff on December 17th reinforced what we’ve seen since launching the course: students value bar preparation that is intentional, accessible, and closely aligned with their academic experience.
| |
|
Interested in what the Mini Bar Prep Course includes? Receive a free sample to get a sense of the structure, content, and support offered.
→ Request Your Free Sample
| | | | GLOBAL CLASSROOMS TO U.S. BAR ADMISSIONS | | |
We're proud to celebrate the continued success of our Online LL.M. graduates on the U.S. bar exam!
This summer, several members of our community earned their bar admission—an important milestone that reflects both individual dedication and the strength of the support surrounding them. Congratulations to our most recent bar passers:
-
Daehyun J. — Washington, D.C.
-
Juan C. R. — Washington, D.C.
-
Tania F. M. — Washington, D.C.
-
James J. — Georgia
Their success adds to a growing list of internationally educated Online LL.M. graduates who have passed the bar exam in six states and counting, demonstrating what’s possible for internationally trained lawyers with the right preparation and guidance!
For those thinking ahead to what comes next, we recently shared a new article, Guide to Career Opportunities for LL.M. Graduates: Unlock Your Potential with an Online LL.M., which explores how graduates are applying their LL.M. experience across a range of legal and professional pathways.
|
| Celebrating Our Online LL.M. Alumni | | Our Online LL.M. Flyers continue to soar higher! Our alumni are putting their education into practice across the globe, and we’re proud to recognize the meaningful work they’re doing. | |
Dr. Cha Yongho
Dr. Cha Yongho, an Online LL.M. alumnus, was recently appointed Director of the Immigration and Foreigner Policy Headquarters within South Korea’s Ministry of Justice. His work in public service, migration and refugee policy, and international collaboration reflects the global perspective and leadership focus at the heart of the Online LL.M. program. We are honored to celebrate this significant milestone and the influence of his work on an international scale.
| |
Isabella Calamia Rinaldi
We also congratulate Isabella Calamia Rinaldi, Founding Partner and Attorney-at-Law at Rycbczak & Rinaldi – Advocacia, who has been named a nominee for the Legal Honor Global Awards 2026. Isabella’s nomination recognizes excellence across professional reach, market demand, competitiveness,and forward-looking leadership within the legal industry. We look forward to following her journey as the final results are announced at the LexTalk World Conference & Exhibition in Houston.
| | A GLOBAL NETWORK OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE | | We’re proud to celebrate the achievements of one of our partner universities, Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES), which was recently recognized by Times Higher Education as the #1 University in Ecuador, #6 in Latin America, and among the Top 1,000 universities worldwide. We’re honored to partner with institutions of such high caliber. | | |
These partnerships are more than affiliations. They create meaningful pathways for students and graduates of partner institutions to pursue an LL.M. degree through accelerated options and dedicated tuition support, while becoming part of a truly global learning community.
Together with our partner universities, we are expanding access to legal education and creating opportunities that empower legal professionals to engage, lead, and thrive in an increasingly interconnected legal landscape.
| | | STARTING WITH THE END IN MIND | | |
Beginning your LL.M. journey can feel daunting—especially when it comes to choosing the right specialization and finding the program that best fits your goals.
Balancing career aspirations, bar eligibility considerations, and personal interests can be overwhelming.
In a recent LLM Guide article, Dean Margaret explores this decision-making process and offers practical guidance for students navigating their options. The piece encourages readers to start with the end in mind by considering long-term goals, market demand, and the areas of law that genuinely motivate them.
Explore the full article → How to Choose the Right Specialization for Your LL.M. Degree
| |
| Upcoming Events & Opportunities | | Between timely legal discussions and future-shaping conferences, this season is offering plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and contribute. Whether you’re earning CLE credit, expanding your expertise, or sharing your own voice on a global stage, there’s something here for you! | | |
AI Demo Day | January 23, 2026
The University of Dayton will host its first Virtual AI Demo Day on January 23, 2026—a campus-wide event focused on how Artificial Intelligence is being used in thoughtful, practical ways across the university.
Faculty, staff, and students will share real-world examples of how AI is supporting teaching, research, productivity, and creative work. The event offers a behind-the-scenes look at how emerging technologies are influencing classrooms, workflows, and innovation at UD, including areas that support academic and professional programs across the university.
Hannah Jackson, Senior Instructional Design Specialist at UD’s Center for Online Learning, will showcase several AI tools being incorporated into the Online LL.M. program, including the integration of Gemini with study guide notebooks and the Legal Essay Coach tutor.
Be sure to save the date and attend her presentation this April!
| | |
Social Practice of Human Rights Conference | April 9–11, 2026
The University of Dayton Human Rights Center will host the Social Practice of Human Rights (SPHR) 2026 Conference, Creative Resistance—Artivism, Technology, and the Right to Dissent, from April 9–11, 2026, in Dayton, with hybrid participation options available.
This year’s conference will examine the ways art, technology, and creative expression are shaping contemporary movements and supporting the right to dissent. Over three days, the event will bring together artists, activists, technologists, scholars, and community leaders for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning.
| | |
It’s never too early to begin planning your next step. Our Online LL.M. program offers three start dates each year (Spring, Summer, & Fall) to provide you the flexibility to fit your goals into your timeline.
Keep an eye out for more details about our upcoming terms and stay connected with us on LinkedIn for the latest updates, insights, and program highlights.
| | Let's Celebrate Your Achievements! | | | | |
We love celebrating the achievements of our Online LL.M. community ... and that means you too!
Our prospective students, current students, alumni, and faculty have all expressed interest in knowing more about our community's successes and accomplishments.
If you have a new position, accolade, or professional achievement you'd like to share, please let us know by emailing us directly.
| |
|
Share With Your Network
Know someone who could benefit from our Online LL.M. program? Share the program with them and help them explore the advantages of studying with us at the University of Dayton School of Law! Copy and paste this link into an email and send it to a colleague - https://bit.ly/43pa8dc - or share through social media.
| | | | | | |
