Corporate Governance and Practice Stanford University

Overview

The Corporate Governance and Practice programme at Stanford University offers an elite academic environment for foreign legal professionals seeking expertise in global business law. This specialised curriculum ensures that graduates return to their home countries with a sophisticated understanding of complex legal frameworks.

Participants engage in a rigorous nine-month period of residency, during which they must complete a minimum of 35 credit units. The course of study is individually tailored to meet the professional goals of each student, ensuring a bespoke educational experience. Candidates typically possess at least two years of prior legal experience.

Why Corporate Governance and Practice at Stanford University?

The institution is home to the Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance, a premier cross-disciplinary hub for legal and financial experts. Students benefit from the John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics, which promotes advanced economic analysis of legal structures. These centres provide a unique research environment.

Teaching is led by distinguished faculty members and supported by dedicated teaching fellows who facilitate weekly specialised seminars. The Law School is renowned for its strengths in business law, offering facilities that encourage collaboration between lawyers, economists, and practitioners. This interdisciplinary approach is a hallmark of the experience.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 25818 per semester
• National fee: USD 25818 per semester
• Local fee: USD 24825 per semester

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum includes a mandatory intensive two-week introduction to American law and legal ethics. Students participate in a weekly colloquium focused on current specialisation topics and a practical writing course. Each student develops a unique study plan approved by the programme director to ensure academic rigour.

Modules may include:

• American Law
• Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility
• Corporate Governance and Practice Seminar
• Corporations
• Capital Markets and Securities Regulation
• Corporate Acquisitions
• Corporate Governance Colloquium
• Corporate Law Theory
• International Corporate Governance
• Nonprofits
• Private Firms
• Venture Capital
• Accounting
• Finance Theory
• Corporate Finance I
• Corporate Finance II
• Quantitative Methods: Finance
• Bankruptcy
• Business Reorganizations
• Commercial Paper
• Secured Transactions
• Corporate Income Taxation
• Income Taxation
• International Taxation
• Partnership Taxation
• Tax Policy Colloquium
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Antitrust
• Economics
• Electronic Commerce
• Game Theory and Law
• International Business Transactions
• International Business and Human Rights
• International Development and the Rule of Law
• International Legal Practice I: Developed Economies
• International Legal Practice II: Developing Economies
• Law and Economics Seminar
• Negotiation
• Professional Responsibility: Issues in Business Practice
• Technology as a Business Asset
• White Collar Crime

Careers with Corporate Governance and Practice

Graduates typically return to their home countries to resume high-level legal practice as business and transactional lawyers. The programme prepares individuals for roles in international law firms, corporate legal departments, and financial institutions. The expertise gained is highly valued in global markets.

Some students choose to progress into academia by applying for Doctor of Science of Law (JSD) programmes. The training in accounting, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital provides a robust foundation for leadership roles. Alumni often influence corporate policy and legal standards within their respective jurisdictions.