LLM for International Lawyers

Ranked by the International Jurist among the top ten LLM programs for foreign attorneys for career opportunities and best overall law school experience, we keep the program small to provide you with individualized academic and career counseling through your program and beyond. Our school is a student-focused law center and provides a strong support structure that includes an on-campus legal English tutor, study skills workshops, extracurricular and practical learning options, networking opportunities, and integration into a close-knit community.

You start the application by submitting the online form to create an account in Slate. You can upload the application documents to your account, and we will keep you updated on the process. We’ve outlined the application requirements and the process for you. There is no application fee.

Yes. We ask applicants to submit Loyola’s free online application and email their LSAC account number to us. Loyola requests the LSAC documents directly. You must select Loyola University Chicago as one of your schools and to pay the LSAC transmission fee.

Most international applicants are required to submit a current official score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam (TOEFL, minimum score: 100 IBT) or International English Testing System (IELTS, minimum score: 7).

If your university education was conducted primarily in English, you may be exempt and may request a waiver. If you believe you may qualify, you must submit a statement detailing your language background. Individual language assessments conducted in person or by telephone may be required at the Law School's discretion. Waivers are granted in exceptional circumstances. Generally, your application will be stronger if it is supported by a good language test score.

In very limited circumstances the mandatory classes could be replaced with other classes as approved by the Associate Dean, based on your prior education. The decision is made on a case-by-case basis.

We consider all applicants for merit-based scholarships when we review their files for admission. If awarded, the scholarship will cover a percentage of your tuition, but not living or other expenses. We also offer the 40% tuition-reduction awards in three areas: Consumer Antitrust Scholarship, the Civitas Child & Family Law Scholarship, and the Dispute Resolution International Scholarship. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please indicate so in your personal statement.

If you need a visa, you must complete a financial statement showing that you or your sponsor have sufficient funding for the degree program. For visa purposes, you must demonstrate funding of about $20,000 to cover living expenses in addition to the tuition. This amount is based on the on-campus housing option and includes health insurance and living expenses. The actual amount you will need depends on your personal circumstances and expectations. You could lower the sum by finding a less expensive place to stay, keeping your own health insurance, and, obviously, maintaining a frugal life style. Some of our students stay with extended family in Chicago or the suburbs to reduce living expenses.

The LLM Program includes two mandatory classes specifically designed for international LLM students. In all other classes, you join JD students, which will enhance your immersion in the U.S. academic and legal culture. You may choose from all core classes in U.S. Law--such as torts, business organizations, or constitutional law--and more advanced upper-level classes. You may also choose from a variety of skills classes, including arbitration, contract negotiations and drafting, mediation or negotiation seminars, strategic counseling for international clients, and more. Skills classes offer substantial instruction in the professional and practical skills that are essential for effective and responsible participation in the legal profession.

The LL.M. degree alone does not qualify foreign lawyers to practice law in the United States. Each of the 50 states has its own criteria and procedures for admitting lawyers to practice, and requirements vary. Lawyers from abroad seeking information on these requirements should contact the bar examiners in the state in which they wish to practice. It is your responsibility to write to the Board of Law Examiners to determine your eligibility to sit for the bar exam. We recommend that you contact the Board before you begin your LLM to make sure that your first law degree meets the requirements. Only the Board can make that determination, and it is best to send your request early. It is also your responsibility to make sure you meet all deadlines for applying to take the bar exam and to make sure you have all of the required materials to submit to the Board. For further information, please consult the following websites:

• New York Bar Examiners
• National Conference of Bar Examiners

The curriculum of Track I is based on the current New York Bar Exam eligibility requirements. However, those requirements might change in the near future.

Track 1 (Immersion in U.S. law includes required courses intended to aid the students in satisfying the eligibility and admissions requirements to sit for New York's bar exam. However, we make no representation or guarantee that any applicant, student, or graduate of our LLM Program for International Lawyers will be qualified to sit for the New York or any other state bar examination. The rules have recently changed and are subject to additional changes. We strongly encourage you to check the admission requirements for any state bar for which are interested in seeking admission prior to enrolling in our LLM Program. For more information, please visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Directly across the law school building is Baumhart Hall, an apartment-style student housing facility. Most of our students live in private residences in one of Chicago’s many neighborhoods. Please review the law school’s housing guide to get a better idea of the variety of all housing options in Chicago.