The LL.M. Program integrates American and foreign law students at all levels of study and provides LL.M. candidates with a broad curriculum of many different courses. Through the LL.M. Program, foreign law graduates are able to gain a basic knowledge of the U.S. legal system and also have the opportunity to develop special expertise in a particular area of law.

Through the LL.M Program, the law school participates in transnational law and economic development and prepares its students for their professional roles in the internationalized economy and in global interaction.
The LL.M. Program follows an academic calendar with the program starting in late August and running through May of each year.
Non-refundable application fee: US $60.
For the 2008-09 academic year tuition and fees will be $25,000*. This does not include a fee of approximately $1,500 for graduate student health care coverage. The health care coverage may be waived with proof of comparable health care coverage. Please see the section on Medical Care coverage in the LL.M. Program brochure for additional information.
* Fees are subject to change.
Each LL.M. candidate must successfully complete a minimum of 20 semester units of work. Foreign LL.M. students must enroll in the one-unit course Introduction to Legal Research and the two-unit course Introduction to the Law in the United States. In addition to these courses, foreign LL.M. students participate with American law students in a colloquium on contemporary legal issues.

Foreign LL.M students earn the remainder of their required course credit in regular, elective law school courses. Each foreign student must also complete an intellectually rigorous legal research and writing project.
There is a minimum TOEFL score of 570 (or 230 for the computer-based examination TOEFL-CBT or 88-89 for the iBT exam) required by the law school for foreign applicants to the LL.M. Applicants for admission to the LL.M. Program must: have completed at least six years of resident study at accredited colleges and law schools and must hold a professional degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or present satisfactory evidence of substantially equivalent academic training at a foreign educational institution.
Download the application here. The LL.M. Admissions Committee will review applications as soon as they arrive. We encourage students to apply by January 10th but will accept and review applications thereafter. The application process takes 3-4 months.

The main components of the application should include:

• Completed application forms.
• One official set of academic records issued in the original language and accompanied by a certified English translation. Academic records should show graded coursework, dates of enrollment and award of degrees, plus a certified copy of the actual degree or state examination for all university and law school study.
• Three letters of recommendation are requested. It is preferred that these letters come from the applicant's law professors.
• Official score for TOEFL (a minimum of 570 TOEFL, 230 for the computer-based, or 88-89 for the iBT examination is required). Scores should be sent to Institution Code 4778.
• Statement of Purpose: this statement should include the reasons why the applicant is seeking a degree from the School of Law.
• Personal summary: a brief personal history, with emphasis on the development of your interest in law.
• Non-refundable application fee of $60 U.S.

For questions, please contact the LL.M. Admissions Office at intlaw@unexmail.ucdavis.edu