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LLM Application

Our LLM Programs

At Santa Clara Law, we take a deeply personal approach to accompanying each student on their professional journey. Whether you are an internationally trained attorney preparing for the California Bar Exam or a local lawyer deepening your expertise in U.S. intellectual property law, we are committed to walking alongside you every step of the way.

Our LLM tracks are built around Santa Clara Law's centers of excellence and unique curricular strengths. Explore our degree options below to find your fit.

  • LLM in U.S. Laws - Designed for foreign educated lawyers, and supportive of those wishing to take the California Bar Exam, this 1-2 year program allows for specialization in Intellectual Property, or International Comparative Law, or Human Rights Law.
  • Generally, applicants must have completed a First Professional Degree of Law from a foreign jurisdiction. We do make exceptions for candidates who are already licensed, qualified, and practicing attorneys abroad. Patent attorneys, agents, and prosecutors are actually our most common example of this exception, as we understand that the primary degree in your field is typically in science or engineering rather than law. Please contact LawAdmissions@scu.edu for additional guidance.
  • LLM in Intellectual Property - Designed for U.S. Juris Doctor (JD) holders, Santa Clara’s 1 to 2 year Intellectual Property Law program builds on our nationally recognized IP strength to offer advanced coursework, mentorship, and networking in specialized areas such as copyright, trademark, and patent law.
  • LLM in International & Comparative Law - Designed for U.S. Juris Doctor (JD) holders seeking advance course work in International & Comparative Law, including human rights, rule of law, international business. 

Application Checklist

Application documents must be submitted directly to the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). We are not able to support direct application at this time. A completed application will include:

Application documents must be submitted directly to the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). We are not able to support direct application at this time. Please complete all sections and questions. If any items require a detailed explanation, please attach a separate document for each item. 

Applicants must use the LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service Report (LLM-CAS) including official transcripts for all undergraduate, graduate, and professional academic programs attended. Applicants with international education backgrounds must use the LSAC International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES) for translations and international education evaluation. 

The personal statement must be written by you and should explain why you wish to pursue the LLM degree at Santa Clara Law and how this degree and the specialization you have chosen will help you in your future professional and/or academic pursuits. Feel free to discuss your background, personal experiences, accomplishments, as well as your educational and professional goals.Your statement should be no more than three pages double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font. Please attach your personal statement in the "Attachments" section of the application.

Please attach a resume or curriculum vitae describing your academic, extracurricular, and professional experience.

At Santa Clara Law, we are guided by the value of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. We believe that each individual brings a unique perspective, shaped by their background and life experiences. Our commitment to cura personalis includes a commitment to care for all students in their full humanity to advance the common good. You may attach a statement discussing how your unique background, life experiences, characteristics, and insights will help to contribute to our law school community. 

Who must demonstrate English Proficiency?  

  • All international applicants are required to demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency. 

Who is an international applicant?

  • Students on non-immigrant visa statuses (for example F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, H-4, L-2, E-2, R-1, TD) are considered international applicants. 
  • Naturalized Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, students with DACA or other protected immigration statutes, undocumented students, refugees and asylees are not considered international applicants and do not need to demonstrate proficiency. 
  • If you are unsure about whether you are considered an "international applicant" contact LawAdmissions@scu.edu.

How can I demonstrate English Proficiency?

  • The English Proficiency requirements are managed at the university level and are outlined at this link. All international applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency. For the law school, you can demonstrate proficiency in one of two ways:
    • Earned a degree in Australia, Anglophone Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States within the last 4 years where the sole instruction was English, OR
    • Proficiency exams: 
      • TOEFL iBT - required score of 90 or higher - report the score directly to LSAC (code 8395)
      • IELTS - required score of 6.5 or higher - report the score directly to LSAC (code 8395)
      • Duolingo - required score of 120 or higher - report the score to Santa Clara directly (the reporting institution is "Santa Clara University Graduate Programs - Graduate").

Letters of recommendation can be helpful but are not required. You may want to consider submitting letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references. If you wish to submit letters, please complete the procedures outlined in the CAS report instructions. We will accept up to three letters. Please be aware that since we do not require letters of recommendation, your application will be sent to the committee for review when all other sections are completed.

Application Deadlines

We review applications and award admissions scholarships on a rolling basis. To be considered for admission and merit scholarships, we must have your completed application by the following deadlines:

Fall Admission (Classes begin in August):

  • F-1 Visa Applicants: June 1
  • U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and applicants already in the U.S.: July 1 

Spring Admission (Classes begin in January)

  • F-1 Visa Applicants: November 1. 
  • U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and applicants already in the U.S.: December 1

Complete applications with all application materials, including LLM-CAS reports (transcripts and letters of recommendation etc), must be received by the deadlines. Incomplete or late applications may not be considered.

Decision Timeline

We are generally able to issue admissions decisions within 4 weeks of receipt of a completed application.

Cost of Application

Santa Clara Law does not charge any application fees.  The Law School Admissions Counsel (LSAC) who manages the application process charges students several processing related fees, including the Credential Assembly Service (“CAS”) Report fee but those fees go directly to LSAC and not to the schools. 

Cost of Attendance

LLM students are charged tuition per credit, and the LLM program is 24 units total. You can review the full estimated cost of attendance (including tuition, fees, and indirect costs such as cost of living in California) on our financial aid website.

Merit Based Scholarships

We are proud to offer merit-based scholarships to exceptional applicants. These awards typically cover 25% or 50% of tuition. Scholarships do not exceed full tuition and do not cover additional costs such as fees or living expenses. All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the admissions process. There is no separate application. Scholarship awards are made without regard to immigration status or country of nationality. Scholarship decisions are based on a holistic review of each candidate’s academic achievements, leadership experience, professional background, and potential to contribute positively to our law school community.

In addition to scholarships, students have access to monthly tuition payment plans to help manage the cost of attendance. A limited number of Research and Teaching Assistant positions are available. These competitive roles require a separate application and are managed directly by the hosting faculty member only after students have been admitted and arrived on campus.

Government Financial Aid

U.S. citizens and certain non-citizens may also qualify for federal financial aid and government-subsidized loans. You can learn more on our financial aid website. If you wish to be considered for federal government financial aid, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You do not have to wait for an admission decision before completing your FAFSA. Santa Clara's school code is 001326.