Legal Education

The study of law is specific to a country’s legal system. Just as Venezuelan law schools teach students about the Venezuelan legal system and Indian law schools teach students about the Indian legal system, American law schools primarily train students to practice law in the United States. Though the basic American law degree (the JD) may not be practical for international students who want to practice law in their home countries, LLM programs have become increasingly popular because they enable students to complement an existing law degree obtained from their country of origin with an internationally-recognized advanced certification.

Ten FAQs About the LLM Degree

By Bonnie Gordon and Heidi Fox 

LLM programs have become increasingly popular for international students, who use them to build global perspective into their resumes. International students in LLM programs can specialize in a particular area of law to complement an existing law degree obtained from their country of origin. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the LLM degree.

1. What does LLM stand for?
LLM is derived from Legum Magister, which means master of laws in Latin.

2. What is the purpose of an LLM degree?
In today’s global environment, the LLM is becoming an increasingly useful degree that enables lawyers to obtain an advanced certifica­tion that has global credibility and advances their careers accord­ingly. An increasing number of students from around the world are choosing to pursue an LLM in the United States.

3. What courses comprise the LLM curriculum?
Many programs provide a broad curriculum in American law, inter­national law, and comparative. Others provide more specialized courses in subfields such as intellectual property, human rights law or international environmental law. Some programs have required courses, some do not.

4. How long does it take to earn an LLM degree?
Typically, the LLM is a one-year course of full-time study or two years of part-time study. It can range from 22 to 28 or more credit hours.

5. Do students have to take the LSAT to apply for an LLM program?
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is not required for LLM admission. Many schools do require students to submit a TOEFL score.

6. How does an LLM degree differ from a JD degree?
The LLM is a graduate law degree, which means that a first degree in law is a prerequisite for an LLM. No previous law degree is required for a JD. (The Juris Doctor is the basic law degree necessary to prac­tice law in the U.S.)

7. Do applicants have to have a JD before applying to an LLM program?
Applicants do not have to have a JD before applying to an LLM program, but they must have a first degree in law from their country of origin.

8. Do all law schools offer LLM programs?
Not all law schools offer LLM programs, and some schools offer programs for domestic students only. Check with individual schools for information about policies affecting students from outside the United States.