Laws

Emory’s LLM is a highly customizable 24-credit-hour program designed for individuals with a first degree in law who are seeking to build upon their legal background for professional and scholarly advancement.

Whether you are a practicing attorney seeking to enhance your skill set or change directions in your career, a recent graduate hoping to build on your legal foundation and strengthen your network, or an individual with scholarly aspirations, Emory Law's LLM program will empower you to take your legal career to the next level.

Many of our foreign-trained LLM students are preparing for careers at global corporations or law firms where knowledge of the U. S. legal system is relevant and beneficial. This solid grounding in U. S. law can serve as a significant differentiator for students upon return to their home countries.

Emory Law is a top-ranked U. S. law school, offering a world-class faculty, a diverse student body, a sophisticated and dynamic urban setting, practical opportunities to apply legal theory and skills, and a global alumni network. With abundant academic and community resources, Emory Law offers an ideal environment for personal and professional growth. 

LLM students choose from three broad tracks, including a traditional LLM in general studies; one of six formal concentrations developed by the Emory Law faculty; or a joint LLM with Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. All graduates of the LLM program at Emory receive a diploma for a Master of Laws degree, regardless of concentration. 

Option 1: General Law

Students in general law design a course of study, drawing widely from Emory's many areas of expertise—including intellectual property law, international law, global health/health law, tax law, transactional law, and labor and employment law—to align their coursework with their goals. All courses are taken at Emory Law.

Option 2: Predesigned Concentrations

Students can select from six predesigned curricular paths.

• Transactional Law
• Law & Religion
• Human Rights Law
• Vulnerability & the Human Condition
• Public Law & Regulation
• Child Law & Policy

In addition, students may pursue a specialization in law and development.

Option 3: Joint LLM 

Students can pursue a joint LLM with a focus on international commercial law and international politics with our partner Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary. Students spend one full-time semester at CEU and one at Emory Law.

LLM Concentrations

The flexible LLM program allows you to customize coursework to fit your professional goals. You will join students from Emory Law's JD and graduate programs in foundational and elective courses you choose based on your individual areas of interest and expertise.

• Child Law and Policy Concentration
• Generalized Studies Concentration
• Human Rights Law Concentration
• Law and Religion Concentration
• Public Law and Regulation Concentration
• Transactional Law Concentration
• Vulnerability & the Human Condition Concentration
• Law and Development Specialization
• Joint LLM with Central European University

To be considered for admission into Emory Law’s LLM program, candidates must have received a first degree in law that allows them to practice law in their home country prior to LLM enrollment.

• US graduates: Applicants must have earned a JD degree.
• Foreign-educated lawyers: First law degree designations vary by country. For a list of law degrees that meet this requirement, please refer to the Minimum Degree Requirements by Country chart found on the LSAC website »

Admission is based on the applicant’s academic training, professional background, personal statement, and professional and academic references. Strong candidates will possess an excellent academic record and serious interest in experiencing legal education in a superior American educational environment.

Prospective LLM applicants should complete the online application and submit all supporting documents through LSAC. A complete application for the LLM program must include the following:

1. Emory Law Application Form through LSAC 
2. $85 Application fee paid via credit card through LSAC 
3. Personal statement which describes your objective in pursuing graduate legal study at Emory and highlights any experiences, qualifications or other information you believe to be relevant.
4. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
5. Undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts. Emory Law School requires the use of LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) for transcript and credential evaluation.
6. Two letters of recommendation submitted via LSAC’s document assembly service. These should come from individuals who can speak to your ability to succeed in a rigorous academic setting.
7. TOEFL or IELTS score submitted via LSAC’s document assembly service (Foreign applicants only)

Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• Flexible study schedule
• Experienced teachers
• Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

Emory Law has a limited number of scholarships available to highly qualified students. All applicants are considered for scholarship funding; there is no separate application process for scholarships. Students will be notified about any scholarship offer as part of their letter of acceptance. Note: All scholarships are unconditional. Scholarship students are required to maintain good academic standing