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School of Law

LLM Application Requirements

Admissions
Charney Hall

 

Degree Programs Offered

Santa Clara Law offers the following LLM degree programs:

  • LLM in Intellectual Property
  • LLM in International and Comparative Law
  • LLM in United States Law (with optional specializations in one of the following: Intellectual Property, International and Comparative Law, and Human Rights Law)

Requirements for LLM in Intellectual Property and LLM in International and Comparative Law:

We welcome applicants who have either

  1. A degree in law from a law school approved by the American Bar Association, or
  2. A degree in law from a law school, not approved by the American Bar Association, but accredited by the State of California and:
    • Graduated in the upper one half of their class, and
    • Admitted to practice law in any United States jurisdiction.

Requirements for LLM in United States Law:

The LLM in US Law can be either for General Studies or with specialization in Intellectual Property, International and Comparative Law, or Human Rights Law.

We welcome applicants who have a degree in law from an institution outside of the United States that is accredited by the appropriate authority in that country. Additionally, applicants must have either:

  • Graduated in the upper one half of their law-school class, or
  • Demonstrated above average or superior academic performance, or, alternatively, work experience, post graduate education, or standardized test, which demonstrate the ability to undertake advanced legal studies.

For more information, please visit our LLM Programs for International Students page.

Application Requirements

  1. Application. Applications must be submitted electronically, either through LSAC’s website or by clicking the “Apply Now” link on this page.(More information about submitting your application electronically can be found at www.lsac.org.)
  2. Official transcripts for all undergraduate, graduate, and professional academic programs attended. If your degree is from outside the United States, you must also include a course-by-course credential evaluation verifying your degree is the equivalent of a first degree in law. We strongly recommend you use LSAC’s Document Assembly Service (LLM CAS) to do this. Transcripts representing the primary degree in law school must indicate specifically that the degree has been conferred and the date that the degree has been conferred.
    Important information about transcripts: Applicants may apply to the LLM program at Santa Clara Law School while their primary degree in law is in progress and may submit a transcript that is not complete. If admitted to the program, these applicants must submit another official transcript, reflecting that the primary degree in law has been completed and a degree has been conferred. A transcript is deemed “official” if it is sent directly to Santa Clara Law School in a sealed envelope directly from the degree-granting institution. An applicant may obtain an official transcript from his/her degree granting institution only if the transcript is given to the applicant in a sealed envelope from the institution. The applicant may not handle the transcript outside of its sealed envelope. Alternatively, LLM applicants may use LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) to submit all academic transcripts.
  3. Personal Statement. The Personal Statement is a short essay where the applicant may introduce him/herself to the admissions committee and describe the reasons why he/she is pursuing the LLM degree at Santa Clara Law School.
  4. Resume.
  5. Letters of Recommendation. Though not required, letters of recommendation are strongly recommended. Letters may be sent to LSAC for inclusion in your CAS report. We will accept up to 3 letters.
  6. $75 Application Fee. We have waived the application fee for the 2022-2023 application.
  7. Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (for non-native English speakers only) – We require the TOEFL or IELTS score for all international students. We must receive either the official score report (not a photocopy) or the score must be included with LSAC’s CAS report. Scores submitted within two years of taking the exam are acceptable.

NOTE: The School of Law uses email as a primary form of communicating important information. It is the applicant’s responsibility to keep the university informed of any email/mailing address/phone number changes.

Application Deadlines

  1. Fall Admission (Classes begin in August): May 1
  2. Spring Admission (Classes begin in January)
    • New F1 Visa applicants: November 1
    • Current F1 Visa holders: November 1
    • Applicants not requiring a visa: December 1

REMINDER: Applications and all required supporting documentation must be received by the deadline.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2022-2023 academic year is $2,192 per unit. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 8 units per semester and must complete the degree requirements within two years of first matriculating.

The student budget, also known as the “cost of attendance”, is comprised of required tuition and estimated expenses for the academic year (August – May).

2022-2023 Student Budget
  Full-time
Tuition $54,192
Living Expenses $32,284
Health Insurance (estimated cost) $3,168
International Student Fee $125
Total $89,769

Santa Clara Law participates in the Federal Student Aid Program. U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents who wish to be considered for federal student aid must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Non-U.S. students are ineligible to apply.

LL.M. applicants with additional financial aid questions are encouraged to contact the Law Financial Aid Office at lawfinancialaid@scu.edu.