University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law

The LL.M. Program is an advanced course of study leading to a master’s degree in law. The program is geared towards domestic and international/foreign law graduates seeking to pursue additional legal education for one year. In order to be eligible to apply, all applicants to the program must have earned or obtain a first law degree such as a J.D., LL.B., or other equivalent first law degree prior to enrolling in the program in August.
 

LL.M. Degree Requirements

LL.M. students attend classes full-time for one nine-month academic year, commencing in mid-August with a Fall semester of thirteen weeks. The LL.M. Program begins one week prior to the start of classes with a short summer course, American Law in a Global Context, designed exclusively for LL.M. students who do not hold a prior U.S. law degree. Following final examinations and Winter Break in December, classes resume in early January for the second and final thirteen-week semester, which concludes with law school Commencement in mid-May.
 

Twenty-two (22) units of credit, over two semesters, are required to obtain the LL.M. degree. Students may enroll in a minimum of eight (8) and a maximum of fourteen (14) units per semester. Aside from the short summer course for students who do not hold a prior U.S. law degree, there are no required courses for the LL.M. degree.

LL.M. students create their own program of study from our rich selection of advanced course offerings, and take these classes alongside the Law School's Juris Doctor (J.D.) students. Prospective students should bear in mind that, due to curriculum scheduling and faculty availability, not every class listed is taught each year. This is most often true in the case of specialized seminars. The final schedule of classes will be available shortly before the enrollment process begins in mid-July.

To apply for admission to the UCLA School of Law LL.M. Program, prospective applicants must submit an application and supporting documents through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Document Assembly Service.

After establishing an LSAC account, applicants may initiate their application to the UCLA School of Law LL.M. Program online during our October through February application period. All applicants should carefully follow and adhere to LSAC LL.M. checklist 

Please note that applicants are not required to register for the LSAC CAS LL.M. International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation service, which requires an additional fee of $125. Nonetheless, you are welcome to register for the evaluation service if you choose to do so, which may result in faster processing of your application and the Graduate Studies Committee’s announcement of its admission decision.

Domestic applicants: Please note that LSAC's LL.M. Credential Assembly Service is separate from the LSAC service through which you previously applied to J.D. programs. As such, you must create a new LSAC LL.M. account by following the instructions above.

Application Deadline

All application materials and supporting documents must be submitted to LSAC by February 15.

Submitting Your Supporting Documents

After creating your LSAC account and beginning your online application, please submit the following supporting documents to LSAC:

1. Current Résumé or Curriculum Vitae

A standard résumé listing your academic qualifications and relevant work experience is required. You may submit a more detailed curriculum vitae if you wish.

2. Personal Statement

An important aspect of the application is the personal statement, in which applicants describe their objectives in pursuing graduate legal studies at UCLA School of Law. Discuss any matters relevant to your ability to succeed in law school and the practice of law, and any attributes, experiences, or interests that would enable you to make a distinctive contribution to UCLA and the legal profession. The personal statement should be typed double-spaced in 12-point font, and should not exceed three pages in length.

3. Official Transcripts

Applicants must arrange to have transcripts submitted to the LSAC LL.M. CAS Document Assembly Service from all graduate and undergraduate coursework evidencing their completion of a prior degree in law, such as an LL.B. or J.D. Please also submit transcripts for any other subjects in which you have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree. Transcripts should include all courses taken and grades received for all university work, and must be translated into English. If your school is unable to provide an English translation of your transcripts, please obtain one from a translation service. Transcripts must be submitted directly to LSAC by the issuing institution and may not be mailed to UCLA School of Law.

4. Two to Four Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must arrange to have two (2) to four (4) letters of recommendation submitted to LSAC from knowledgeable persons who can tell the Graduate Studies Committee about the applicant’s academic qualifications and career interests. The letters are most helpful when the writer can provide the Committee with specific firsthand information on your academic and (if applicable) professional capacity and performance. If possible, please include at least one academic reference. While employer references are acceptable, letters from academic sources will be viewed more favorably.

5. Official TOEFL Score

International applicants who are not native English speakers, or do not hold a law degree from an institution at which the primary language of instruction is English, are required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)   score.

Exemptions: International applicants whose native language is English, or who have earned a law degree from an institution at which the primary language of instruction is English, are not required to submit a TOEFL score. Domestic applicants are also exempt from the TOEFL requirement.