Dr. John Langbein

Professor

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Biography

John H. Langbein is the Sterling Professor Emeritus of Law at Yale Law School and a leading authority on fiduciary law and legal history. He teaches and writes in four main fields: probate trust law, pension and employee benefit law (ERISA), Anglo-American and European legal history, and modern comparative law. Since joining Yale in 1989, he has held prominent academic positions at institutions such as the University of Chicago, Stanford University, and Oxford University. Langbein has served as a legal consultant and expert witness in pension trust litigation and has participated in drafting various significant laws in fiduciary fields, including the Uniform Prudent Investor Act. His prolific writings include influential law review articles and books examining topics in investment, trust, pension, and probate law, demonstrating a strong connection between legal theory and practical applications. Langbein's contributions to legal scholarship have been recognized by several prestigious awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Comparative Law. He has also received the Sutherland Prize for his pioneering work in legal history and criminal justice, highlighting his extensive engagement with both scholarly research and practical lawyering.

Research Interests

Courses

Trusts Estates: Family Wealth Transmission History of Common Law: Procedure and Institutions Pension and Employee Benefit Law Comparative Law Fiduciary Law

Requirements for Yale Law School

Master Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree
Application Checklist
  • LSAC LLM CAS registration
  • TOEFL scores
  • Two to four letters of recommendation
  • Official transcripts
  • Two required essays (1,000 words and 250 words)
  • Curriculum vitae
Specialization Notes

Department of Law offers the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program.