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The law school offers four LL.M. degree programs: the LL.M. in American Legal Studies, the LL.M. in General Law, the LL.M. in International and Comparative Law, and the LL.M. in International Criminal Law. The LL.M. in General Law offers three concentrations: Cybersecurity, Employment and Human Resources Law and Territorial Law.
The number of hourly credits required for graduation with any one of the LL.M. degrees is 24.
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.
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 Jennifer Stevenson, J.D., Assistant Dean for International Programs.
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.
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.
Program planning templates can be requested from the Director of Graduate Law Programs at: stmullm@stmarytx.edu. See additional information on the course catalog and descriptions.
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. It is also expected that LL.M. candidates will participate in formalized bar prep activities like their J.D. counterparts to prepare.
For details, please visit the Applying to the LL.M. page.
The LL.M. program admits two cohorts each year: fall and spring. While we have rolling admission, foreign LL.M. applicants are encouraged to submit a complete application package at least two months 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.
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.
International applicants who have successfully completed a high school, secondary or post-secondary program of study in English are exempt from the English proficiency test requirement.
Yes. This is the preferred method if an applicant plans on taking a bar exam.
The following materials are required:
A valid passport
The visa application payment
The Law School’s official letter of admission to the LL.M. degree program
The completed I-20 form issued by the International Student and Scholar Services at St. Mary’s University
A bank statement of financial responsibility to pay tuition and all other related LL.M. program costs
Please see current tuition rates.
For sample academic plans or a copy of the Student Handbook, please email the Director of Graduate Law Programs at: stmullm@stmarytx.edu.
Admitted students will receive their student credentials, access to an online orientation module and will be contacted to register for classes before the start of the semester.
LL.M. students with F-1 status who have completed their degrees may apply for Optional Practical Training. 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. Students are responsible for securing the work assignments.