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Each state in the United States independently regulates the eligibility of attorneys to practice law within its jurisdiction. The LL.M. in AmericanLegal Studies will satisfy the U.S. legal education requirement for the LL.M. graduate to sit for the Texas, California or New York Bar exams (list not exhaustive). Please note that some jurisdictions require additional components such as pro bono service, and that candidate is responsible for determining those requirements as set by the Board of Law Examiners in each state (http://www.ncbex.org/).
While twenty-four hours (24) are required to earn the LL.M. in American Legal Studies, candidates for the bar are strongly encouraged to investigate the requirements for the bar and to enroll in the courses that will be tested.
The School of Law is a member of the International Association of Law Schools and the International Academy of Comparative Law (Académie Internationale de Droit Comparé).
Other courses and seminars offered in the LL.M. program in American Legal Studies include:
Bar Prep and MPT courses are also available to LL.M. students for completion outside of the 24-hour requirement.
Frequently asked questions about our LL.M. Programs
For more information, please email stmullm@stmarytx.edu or complete the form below.
What LL.M. degrees are available?
How many hours of academic credit are required for completion of the LL.M. degree?
Can I complete my full-time study for an LL.M. degree in one academic year?
Can I study on a part-time basis for an LL.M. degree?
Will the LL.M. degree fulfill a necessary threshold requirement if I wish to sit for an American bar exam in order to become licensed in one or more states in the United States?
Where can I find a list of the courses which are offered for the completion of the American Legal Studies; International and Comparative Law; and Criminal Law LL.M. programs?
How do I know which courses are necessary and otherwise most appropriate for the LL.M. in American Legal Studies and bar exam preparation?
If admitted for either the LL.M. in International & Comparative law or the LL.M. in International Criminal Law, will I receive counseling regarding the courses I should complete for the degree?
How do I apply? What steps do I need to take?
Does St. Mary’s Law School impose LL.M. application deadlines?
If I am a foreign national applying to the LL.M. program, what English language requirements must I meet in order to be granted unconditional admission?
Does the St. Mary’s University School of Law offer conditional acceptances for the various LL.M. programs?
May LL.M. applicants apply through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)?
What materials are required for a foreign student visa application?
What are the current estimated costs of obtaining an LL.M. degree at St. Mary’s University?
Are either academic scholarships or full or partial tuition waivers available?
Where can I find the academic requirements for the completion of any one of the LL.M. degree programs?
What Can I expect after I am admitted to the LL.M. program?
What is Optional Practical Training (OPT) and can I enroll?
Who can answer my additional questions about the LL.M. degree programs?
Q: What LL.M. degrees are available?
The Law School offers three LL.M. degree programs: the LL.M. in American Legal Studies; the LL.M. in International & Comparative Law, and the LL.M. in International Criminal Law.
Q: How many hours of academic credit are required for completion of the LL.M. degree?
The number of hourly credits required for graduation with any one of the LL.M. degrees is 24. This does not include English language courses some applicants may have to take.
Q: Can I complete my full-time study for an LL.M. degree in one academic year?
Yes. Any of the LL.M. degrees may be completed in full-time status in one academic year which consists of two semesters, fall and spring. This process can therefore take as little time as nine months.
Q: Can I study on a part-time basis for an LL.M. degree?
International students may not study on a part-time basis. U.S. citizens may study part-time in the fall and spring semesters plus summer school sessions with the intention to complete the LL.M. degree in two academic years. Should more time for completion of the degree program be needed, the LL.M. candidate must secure the approval of the Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs.
Foreign nationals who must maintain student visa eligibility must enroll in a minimum of 10 credit hours per semester during the regular academic year (fall and spring). 10 hours is also considered full time for purposes of financial aid eligibility.
Q: Will the LL.M. degree fulfill a necessary threshold requirement if I wish to sit for an American bar exam in order to become licensed in one or more states in the United States?
Each state in the United States independently regulates the eligibility of attorneys to practice law within its jurisdiction. The LL.M. in American Legal Studies will satisfy the U.S. legal education requirement for the LL.M. graduate to sit for the Texas, California or New York Bar exams (list not exhaustive). Please note that some jurisdictions require additional components such as pro bono service, and that candidates are responsible for determining those requirements as set by the Board of Law Examiners in each state (http://www.ncbex.org/). In and of itself acquisition of the LL.M. degree in American Legal Studies does not qualify a foreign trained attorney to practice law in the United States.
Q: Where can I find a list of the courses which are offered for the completion of the American Legal Studies; International and Comparative Law; and Criminal Law LL.M. programs?
Program planning templates can be requested from the Graduate Law Coordinator at: stmullm@stmarytx.edu. The course catalog and descriptions can be found at https://law.stmarytx.edu/academics/programs/
Q: How do I know which courses are necessary and otherwise most appropriate for the LL.M. in American Legal Studies and bar exam preparation?
While 24 hours are required to complete the LL.M. any student wishing to sit for a bar is encouraged to take every core law course available to them. Specific bar exam content can be accessed through each state’s Board of Law Examiners site http://www.ncbex.org/. It is also expected that LL.M. candidates will participate in formalized bar prep activities like their JD counterparts to prepare.
Q: How do I apply? What steps do I need to take?
For details, please visit Applying to the LL.M.
Q: Does St. Mary’s Law School impose LL.M. application deadlines?
The LL.M. program admits 3 cohorts each year: Fall, Spring, and Summer. While we have rolling admission, foreign LL.M. applicants are encouraged to submit a complete application package at least three weeks before the commencement of the semester in which the applicant intends to begin his/her first semester of study. This helps ensure that the I-20 can be processed by the university’s International Student and Scholar Services office in enough time for the applicant to secure a student visa for study in the United States.
Q: If I am a foreign national applying to the LL.M. program, what English language requirements must I meet in order to be granted unconditional admission?
LL.M. applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) prior to their admission to the LL.M. programs. English proficiency is the key for LL.M. students to meet the rigorous reading and writing requirements at St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Cut-off scores are: 80 points on the internet-based TOEFL or 6 points on the IELTS test. The TOFEL code for St. Mary’s University is 6637. Only current TOEFL and IELTS scores will be considered. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to interview candidates via telephone or Skype to verify English proficiency.
Placement in Legal Language/Legal Methods (4 hours) and/or Legal Research and Writing (2 hours) may be required for incoming international LLM candidates based upon their TOEFL.IELTS scores and their mandatory English assessment (grammar, vocabulary, comprehension) scores. The credits earned in Legal Language/Legal Methods may not apply to the completion of program requirements (24 credit hours).
Q: Does the St. Mary’s University School of Law offer conditional acceptances for the various LL.M. programs?
Possibly, but only under limited circumstances for those whose TOEFL or IELTS scores fall just below the required minimum scores listed immediately above. For such applicants who are otherwise exceptional LL.M. applicants, the LL.M. Committee may offer a conditional acceptance so that those applicants may gain access to the U.S. for the purpose of enrolling in the St. Mary’s University English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program. Note that unconditional/full acceptance for the Law School’s LL.M. program will not be granted and registration for LL.M. courses will be delayed until the LL.M. applicant meets all the standard English language requirements set forth immediately above.
Q: May LL.M. applicants apply through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)?
Yes, but the application is processed much more quickly if the applicant sends the application materials directly to the LL.M. Admission at the Law School.
Q: What materials are required for a foreign student visa application?
The following materials are required:
Q: What are the current estimated costs of obtaining an LL.M. degree at St. Mary’s University?
Complete tuition and fee information is available via the University’s Business Office.
Q: Are either academic scholarships or full or partial tuition waivers available?
Yes, in limited circumstances for exceptional applicants. The decision to grant scholarships or full or partial tuition waivers is made by the Dean of the School of Law in consultation with the Associate Deans and the Director(s) of the LL.M. program.
Q: Where can I find the academic requirements for the completion of any one of the LL.M. degree programs?
For sample academic plans or a copy of the Student Handbook please email the Graduate Law Coordinator at: stmullm@stmarytx.edu.
Q: What can I expect after I am admitted to the LL.M. program?
International Student and Scholar Services has a Pre-Arrival checklist for new international students that can be found here.
Q: What is Optional Practical Training (OPT) and can I enroll?
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than nine months are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work while still on a student visa. The work must be in their field of study and must include practical training. F-1 students are usually permitted a total of 12 months of practical training. Information on the OPT is sent out to international students by the Office of International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) during a student’s last semester of study. Contact ISSS for more information.
Q: Who can answer my additional questions about the LL.M. degree programs?
Graduate Law Coordinator:stmullm@stmarytx.edu.