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Learn MoreLawyers perform a fundamental role in the American justice system. Legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in a court of law on behalf of laymen and women, lawyers ensure that those who find themselves involved in a legal or civil conflict are properly represented and receive a fair hearing.
Today, there are more than 1 million licensed attorneys in the United States. Every day, they unravel the complexities of the law and help their clients to understand them and use them. In order to be able to do this, specialized education in law is required.
For many of these professionals, achieving a JD or undergraduate law degree is enough to satisfy their professional needs. For others, it is only the initial step on the path to their ultimate career aspirations, with a Master of Laws (LLM) representing another fundamental rung on the legal ladder.
The world as we know it has changed dramatically over the last few decades, with globalization a defining social and commercial movement. As a result, lawyers from around the world are now finding that degrees that can provide them with international credibility are an invaluable asset. [1] This perhaps explains why an increasing number are choosing to complete an LLM.
The LLM is an advanced law certification that is recognized across the globe. A perfect next step for those who already hold a JD or an undergraduate degree in law, it has two main functions:
For this reason, the LLM is popular with both foreign and U.S.-based lawyers.
The LLM is a highly functional degree with numerous professional benefits to offer those who are considering earning a secondary or supplemental legal qualification. These include:
Lawyers perform a fundamental role within the American legal system. In its most general sense, this usually requires the advising of clients, drafting of documents, and representation of clients in both legal negotiations and court proceedings.
Lawyering encompasses the work of a variety of professionals, including lawyers or attorneys at law, barristers, solicitors, and civil law notaries, and the ability to work in any one of these professions is conditional upon admission to the practice of law, specifically admission to the bar of a certain state or territorial jurisdiction.
The Master of Laws is a natural progression from a Juris Doctor (JD) degree for those who wish to study in the United States. Lawyers from around the world have discovered that an LLM degree is an invaluable asset in the quest for career advancement and international credibility. [7]
The term LLM, derived from “legum magister,” directly translates as ‘master of laws’ in Latin. A perfect explanation in itself of the level of education with which it can imbue students, the LLM is designed to provide lawyers with a more advanced professional skill set, and is held in high esteem across the globe.
An ideal means of earning international recognition, an LLM can not only advance the careers of those who earned their degree outside of the United States and wish to practice within its borders, but also can help to make those who study it experts in their chosen area of law.
Such benefits and career opportunities for those who earn an LLM and can help increase boost earning potential.
There are an assortment of degree majors related to law and legal studies, each of them designed for professionals with an eye to a career in legal support, academia, business, or research. Of these, two are specifically designed with aspiring attorneys in mind:
An LLM has many benefits to offer those who choose to study it. It is far more than just a degree: It can be your pass to a better career, a higher salary, and a more fulfilling life.
Those who hold a degree in law will primarily work in private and corporate legal offices, although some will also be employed by federal, local, and state governments, large companies, consulting firms, and nonprofits.
With employment for lawyers projected to increase by 6%, in line with the countrywide average, competition for jobs remains fierce. [9] This issue is expounded by the fact that more students graduate from law school each year than there are jobs created. The LLM can help you gain an advantage in your job search.
Before settling on an LLM program, there are a couple of factors that are important to consider. Your preference on some of these topics will likely help guide you as you decide which program you’d like to enroll in.
If you wish to earn an LLM, chances are you’re not doing so simply to enhance and improve your educational qualifications, but because you hope to advance your career, grow your earning potential, and improve the overall quality of your professional life.
Luckily, an LLM can help you to achieve this. With rising caseloads and an improving economy, there’s a 6% job growth projected amongst attorneys from 2014 through 2024, with the need for skilled legal professionals rapidly increasing. [17]
The career benefits of earning an LLM
An LLM can open many career paths and benefits in law, including the following:
There’s a projected job growth of 6% within the legal profession over about the next decade, [20] and those who hold an LLM may find themselves in demand throughout the United States and Canada.
However, certain practice areas are more likely to advertise additional jobs, including: [21]
There are numerous businesses that may be willing to hire an LLM graduate with expert knowledge in a field relevant to their professional activities. Some popular avenues to explore include:
The majority of LLM programs are formulated with flexibility of content in mind. For most schools, the aim is to enable students to pursue the topics that best meet their professional and academic interests, so, with the exception of a small number of core courses, you’re likely to have an opportunity to select the courses that most interest you.
Curricula often will help you gain proficiency in a number of topics, including:
In addition to these topics, students are free to choose the remainder of their topics from a list of electives.
Most schools will help you make this selection by furnishing you with detailed information on the courses available to you, as well as giving you the chance to meet with professionals who can help you construct an optimal study plan to achieve your individual goals.
The correct concentration can help increase both your starting salary and your long-term employment prospects.
Cost: Many people erroneously believe that online programs will cost less to complete, but this is not true. Where schools offer a choice between the two, they will usually be priced the same.
Difficulty: Both types of program are designed to educate students to an identical level, which means that they are equally challenging. The difference is that online programs tend to work better for students with a high degree of self-discipline, whereas campus-based ones work best for students who prefer a rigid schedule.
Degree designation: Schools that offer both online and campus-based versions of the same program usually don’t distinguish between the two when awarding their degrees.
Availability of student services: It is often the case that online degrees require more independent study from students. Although most online programs provide many of the same services as their campus-based counterparts, it’s important to ensure the services available to you match those offered on campus.
Students may be encouraged by their school to complete an internship while earning their LLM. These are increasingly essential in the modern professional sphere, with competition amongst law graduates utterly fierce. [15]
Such educational experiences are recommended even for foreign lawyers who plan to return to their country of origin, as an internship at a law firm or international organization can be an invaluable experience for anyone hoping to improve their CV.
Ideal places to which you can apply for an internship include:
Your law school should be able to help you explore internship opportunities.
Typical field placements may include:
The benefits of completing these types of educational opportunities include:
The length of an online master’s degree program can depend on a number of variables, perhaps the most prominent of which is the pace at which you choose to study. You can finish a typical master’s degree program in about two to three years if you choose to study full-time, although some accelerated programs may be able to help you finish more quickly.
Online master’s degree programs tend to offer flexibility suitable for students who choose to study part-time. This option will likely extend your time to completion, but it can allow you to study while fulfilling your familial, social, and professional obligations.
You can find more information on this topic at our program length overview page.
LLM programs will typically require between 22 and 28 credits. [23] Your program’s composition will vary, but likely components of the curriculum include required or core courses, elective courses, and a capstone or experiential learning option.
Even within a particular school’s degree program, the number of courses required may vary based on the concentration you choose, your prior work experience, your number of transfer credits, or other such factors.
While each program will set its admission requirements based on its own criteria, many requirements are universal across all programs. No matter where you apply, you can expect to provide items like transcripts from previous degrees or coursework; standardized test scores; a personal statement or essay; letters of recommendation; and an overview of relevant work experience.
In certain cases, some of these requirements may be waived.
For more information about admissions, please visit our admissions requirements page.
Before you commit the time and money necessary to complete an LLM, it’s important to understand your options. There are several similar degree programs available with similar paths and outcomes. Some alternative degrees include:
Regional accreditation is the most prestigious type of accreditation that an online or traditional college or university can receive. It is granted only after careful consideration by private, not-for-profit organizations tasked with evaluating educational quality.
Regional accreditation is particularly important if you anticipate that you might want to transfer credits from one online degree program to another or use those credits to pursue another degree. Most regionally accredited schools will only accept credits from other regionally accredited institutions of higher learning.
You can learn more on this topic at our regional accreditation page.
Specific accreditation overview
In order to be eligible for a place on an LLM program, applicants must have earned a JD or its international equivalent, and this must have been accredited by either the American Bar Association for domestic students or a similar national body for their foreign counterparts.
Without this accreditation, your law degree will not qualify you to complete a master’s in the United States, nor will it qualify you to sit for your bar exam, should you wish to practice law. [29]
A list of the 205 United States law schools that have earned their ABA approval can be found on the American Bar Association website. [30]
In order to practice as a lawyer within the United States, candidates first have to obtain a license, and to do this, they must apply for bar admission through a state board of examiners. [16]
Those who wish to do so must satisfy the criteria for eligibility within their state. Typically, this will require candidates to hold a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a school that meets the necessary educational standards. A JD earned at an ABA-approved law school will satisfy this need in every jurisdiction in the United States.
For those who do not meet this criteria, there is one other way to qualify for the exam in certain states: through the acquisition of an LLM.
Although a master’s degree in laws can be a way for international lawyers to enter the American Bar Association in areas like New York, it will not be sufficient in the majority of jurisdictions. If you hope to practice within the U.S., you should contact your state board of examiners if you require further clarification of your eligibility.
Alternatively, certain states will allow those with an LLM to qualify as a Foreign Legal Consultant instead, which gives them a limited license to practice.
Although distinct legal systems emerged relatively early in the history of civilization, no documented legal profession existed in ancient times. There wasn’t a great need: The law was less complex and easier for the layman to understand than today’s incarnations, so specialist services were simply redundant during these times. [4]
As time went on, the profession spread across the globe. Its beginnings in America were shaky, and during the colonial period, those who practiced were few in number and often ill-received, being widely viewed as “servants of government.” [5]
This attitude changed dramatically following independence. As Robert Stevens explains in his book, Law School: Legal Education in America from the 1850s to the 1980s, “Without a monarch or a clearly defined aristocracy… the new nation was almost inevitably bound to rely on lawyers to perform a wide variety of functions. Lawyers became the technicians of change as the country expanded economically and geographically.” [26]
After American independence, private law schools began to emerge across the U.S., the most renowned of which was Litchfield Law School in Connecticut, established in 1784. [32] By 1817, Harvard Law School was formed, the oldest law school in America to have never ceased operating. [33]
By 1840, there were nine law schools affiliated with universities in America and, by the 1850s, law was being seen as a professional choice of study, cemented with the founding of the American Bar Association in 1878, which put forward standards and ethics for the study and practice of law. [27] [28]
The first graduate LLM program was established at Columbia University in 1863, with Harvard following suit in 1873. [2] Since then, the graduate program has been offered at an increasing number of universities, and about 6,000 international students were enrolled in U.S. programs in 2014. [19]
Today, the profession retains an essential role as one of the fundamental tools of justice. The layman’s key to unlocking the legal system, it boasts an estimated population of more than 1.3 million lawyers in the United States alone. [6]
There are a number of factors that can greatly affect how much your education will cost. These include whether you attend a public or private institution; whether you attend as an in-state or out-of-state student; and whether you qualify for financial aid like grants or scholarships.
For a more detailed breakdown of tuition, fees, and other financial issues, please visit our tuition and fees page.
Loan forgiveness opportunities
An alternative way to fund your study is to explore loan forgiveness programs. Some such programs exist that allow law students to repay the amount they’ve borrowed by performing low-paying legal work in public advocacy. [8]
Earn Your LL.M. 100% Online From Top-Ranked USC Gould School of Law.
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Learn MoreA Master of Laws, LLM, is an internationally recognized advanced law degree for students who already have their Juris Doctorate (JD) or first law degree equivalent. [34]
LLM stands for “Legum Magister.” It is the Latin translation for Master of Laws.
In order to practice law in the U.S., a JD (Juris Doctorate) is required. This degree is often referred to as the first degree in law. Upon earning a JD from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited school, students may sit for the bar exam.
The LLM degree, on the other hand, is a post-JD law certification with global recognition. International students with JD equivalents may apply for an LLM. However, earning an LLM does not allow qualify international students to sit and take the bar exam. [34]
Most LLM full-time programs take one year to complete.
Federal or state funding is available to U.S. citizens only. Some law schools may offer full or partial scholarships or teaching assistant positions. Please check your program’s website for more information. Some government agencies, employers, and federal organizations may provide additional funding via grant or scholarship to those that qualify.
In order to enroll in an LLM program, you’ll need to have a JD or international equivalent.
Most institutions do not indicate on the degree that it was earned online.
Yes, typically schools follow the same curriculum for their online programs as they do for their campus-based programs.
No. In order to be eligible for an LLM program, all candidates must have their Juris Doctorate (JD) or international equivalent.
first degree in law is required for admission to LLM programs. U.S.-educated applicants must have a JD degree before applying. Internationally educated applicants must have a first degree in law from their country of origin.
No. The LSAT is required for admission to U.S. law schools when students are earning their JD. Because the LLM is a post-doctorate program, it is not necessary to sit for the LSAT [34].
If English is not your first language, most schools may require you to take an English proficiency exam, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language. The LSAT is not a prerequisite for applying to an LLM Degree program.
Any work-based credit or work-experience credit that is available to applicants is at the discretion of the program. Please check with your school to learn more information.
Many LLM programs are 100% online. Many online LLM programs are asynchronous, which means students have the opportunity to complete their coursework at their own pace. Other online options include hybrid or accelerated campus programs.
When researching and applying to LLM programs, it is important to to consider factors such as the faculty, school specialties, available resources, joint degree options, curriculum, learning formats (online, hybrid, asynchronous, etc.), academic support programs, reputation, and career services.
Most LLM programs are concentrated programs for specific industries and allow you to specialize in a certain area of law. LLM programs can provide post-JD applicants in-depth knowledge of specific practices of law. Popular LLM specializations include tax law, environmental law, constitutional law, dispute resolution, energy regulation, immigration, criminal law, corporate law, business law, media and entertainment, health, banking, finance laws, human rights, international law, intellectual property, and more.
Many applicants seek to become specialized experts in their field of law or are interested in a shift to a new area of practice. Some LLM candidates embark on the degree in order to conduct research for publication or to help prepare for careers as legal educators. Many international applicants aspire to learn the legal systems of other countries. [35]
Dependent upon your area of focus your courses will vary. Generally speaking, students can anticipate courses that will focus on policy, theory, and industry law.
LLM students can expand on their research, legal analysis, case briefing, advocacy, and legal writing skills. They also stand to gain greater insight into a specific area of interest dependent upon the concentration on which their program focuses.
Most full-time LLM programs take one year to complete and often recommend that students do not work full-time while enrolled. For part-time programs, completing an LLM degree can be a two or three year commitment. Many online programs recommend 20-25 hours a week dedicated to each enrolled class.
If you are an international student, the LLM does not make you eligible to sit for the bar exam. In order to practice law in the United States, you must pass the bar exam, which is available to those who have successfully earned their JD.
Graduates of some specialties may be interested in pursuing further certifications. For example, those with an LLM in tax law may be interested in earning a tax preparer’s license. Sometimes students may seek a second or third LLM to continue their study and expertise.
Many U.S. states limit the eligibility of LLM-degree graduates to sit for the bar examination if their first degree in law was earned outside of the United States. Each of the 50 U.S. states sets its own criteria for bar admission. International lawyers are responsible for contacting the appropriate state’s board of law examiners directly to obtain specific information. The website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners offers a listing by state of U.S. bar admission offices.
Sources:
[1] http://www.lsac.org/llm/degree/key-facts
[2] http://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/academic-programs/graduate-programs/upload/alaboratoryforlegaleducationthegraduateprogramatgeorgetownlaw.pdf
[3] https://jobs.irs.gov/resources/job-descriptions/law-studentsrecent-grads
[4] https://www.britannica.com/topic/legal-profession
[5] http://www.jstor.org/stable/1072160
[6] https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/market_research/lawyer-demographics-tables-2015.authcheckdam.pdf
[7] http://www.lsac.org/llm/degree/key-facts
[8] http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/initiatives/loan_repayment_assistance_programs.html
[9] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm
[10] http://www.fulbright.org.uk/study-in-the-usa/postgraduate-study/getting-started/degrees-on-offer
[11] https://llm-guide.com/concentrations
[12] http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Laws_(LLM)/Salary
[13] https://www.roberthalf.com/legal/legal-jobs/career-center/job-search-essentials/2015-legal-hiring-outlook-hot-practice-areas-and-law-jobs
[14] https://www.roberthalf.com/legal/legal-jobs/career-center/job-search-essentials/2015-legal-hiring-outlook-hot-practice-areas-and-law-jobs
[15] https://www.roberthalf.com/legal/legal-jobs/career-center/job-search-essentials/2015-legal-hiring-outlook-hot-practice-areas-and-law-jobs
[16] http://www.lsac.org/jd/thinking-about-law-school/admission-to-bar/international-bar-admission
[17] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm
[18] http://www.americanbar.org/aba.html
[19] http://www.nationaljurist.com/national-jurist-magazine/why-are-us-llm-programs-so-popular
[20] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm
[21] https://www.roberthalf.com/legal/legal-jobs/career-center/job-search-essentials/2015-legal-hiring-outlook-hot-practice-areas-and-law-jobs
[22] https://www.roberthalf.com/legal/legal-jobs/career-center/job-search-essentials/2015-legal-hiring-outlook-hot-practice-areas-and-law-jobs
[23] http://www.lsac.org/llm/degree/key-facts
[24] http://blogs.findlaw.com/greedy_associates/2015/07/3-times-when-it-makes-sense-to-get-an-llm.html
[25] http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Laws_(LLB)/Salary
[26] https://books.google.com/books?id=VDmnpQf8KjsC&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=%E2%80%9CWithout+a+monarch+or+a+clearly+defined+aristocracy%22&source=bl&ots=FVh-_sE6OK&sig=qyYapLqAdG998em_q1XYfjD7xXw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiuiMrMwPTTAhWhiFQKHRCCDOUQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=%E2%80%9CWithout%20a%20monarch%20or%20a%20clearly%20defined%20aristocracy%22&f=false
[27] https://books.google.com/books?id=8McdQD3SY00C&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=By+1840,+there+were+nine+law+schools+affiliated+with+universities+in+America&source=bl&ots=aIv9wJ_fSg&sig=1cNbcVg6QQ-hHmXH7SRxB-0fv9E&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwig-pC-jvXTAhXlilQKHV4DDesQ6AEIKzAB#v=onepage&q=By%201840%2C%20there%20were%20nine%20law%20schools%20affiliated%20with%20universities%20in%20America&f=false
[28] http://www.americanbar.org/about_the_aba/history.html
[29] http://www.americanbar.org/aba.html
[30] http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/aba_approved_law_schools.html
[31] https://www.federalpay.org/gs/2016
[32] https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VDmnpQf8KjsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=first+graduate+law+school&ots=FVh_UoI4OJ&sig=vrTTh8hGGCzqxZbwP3fgwX-BbLY#v=onepage&q=first%20graduate%20law%20school&f=false
[33] http://hls.harvard.edu/about/history
[34] http://www.lsac.org/llm/degree/jd-llm-difference
[35] http://www.americanbar.org