Laws Program

The LLM Program is limited to students who have already met at least one of the following requirements: (1) obtained a JD degree from an ABA approved law school in the United States; (2) completed in a foreign country the academic (university based) legal education required to take the bar examination in that country; or (3) become qualified to practice law (admitted to the bar) in a foreign country.

Among the most distinguished U.S. law schools, the University of Chicago is the only one that offers the combination of a small LLM program with a real sense of community among its students, a challenging academic experience both inside and outside the classroom, and an exciting urban location in one of the great cities of the world.

Our LLM graduates often say that their year at the Law School had a great impact on both their subsequent personal and professional lives. They also look back fondly at the friendships that developed and the experiences they shared with classmates and others in the University community.

The LLM degree is awarded to students who have successfully completed 27 course hours (generally nine courses) over three quarters, while maintaining a grade point average of 170. There are no specific courses that LLM students are required to take at Chicago, nor are there courses they may not take. This means that students have the flexibility to create their own programs. LLM students often put together course and seminar schedules that reflect certain practice specialties (e.g., corporate/securities, intellectual property, and antitrust/regulation of business or commercial transactions).

Most students, however, also round out their academic experience by adding other offerings in such areas as constitutional law, legal theory, law and economics, and comparative law. Other than an optional LLM writing course, there are no courses in the curriculum just for LLM students; LLM students will have all of their classes with students in the JD program.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTOnline Application Form"Basic Information Form for LLMTOEFL or IELTS Test ResultsAcademic History and TranscriptsResume2-4 Letters of RecommendationPersonal StatementApplication Fee: $75ADMISSIONS DECISIONSAdmissions decisions are emailed in early March. Direct all questions about your application directly to the admissions office. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 TOEFL paper-based test score : 600 TOEFL iBT® test: 100

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

Admitted applicants who wish to be considered for financial assistance from the Law School will be asked at the time of admission to supply information about their own and their family's financial circumstances. Funds to support students in the LLM program are exceedingly limited. When available, grants cover only a small portion of the total cost. Therefore, applicants requiring financial aid should make every effort to obtain assistance from their government or other outside sources.