The degree of Master of Laws (LLM) is awarded to students who have completed a rigorous program of coursework and research. The program leading to the degree is designed for students of high ability seeking academic work beyond their first degree in law.
The program is designed to allow each student to create an individual course of study tailored to the student's interests. Students in this degree program may take courses designed to provide a broad overview of U.S. law or can choose a particular concentration.
Additional information about the LLM degree is available at law.utexas.edu or at the School of Law, LLM Admissions, 727 East Dean Keeton Street, Austin TX, 78705-3299.
Admission to Candidacy
Complete applications must be submitted by the application deadline prior to the fall semester in which the applicant seeks to begin the program. Generally, candidates are admitted for the fall semester only.
- The applicant must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Have earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from a U.S. law school that is approved by the American Bar Association.
- Have earned a first degree in law from an established university or law school in another country that qualifies the applicant to take the bar examination in that country.
- The applicant must demonstrate outstanding ability to complete the requirements for the degree.
- An applicant whose native language is not English and who graduated from a law school in a country whose official language is not English must present a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Information about the TOEFL is available at http://www.ets.org/toefl. Information about the IELTS is available at http://www.ielts.org/.
Degree Requirements
For each candidate, a specific program of coursework and research is developed to meet degree requirements and the candidate's needs and interests. The program must include:
- Residence during one academic year, consisting of two long-session semesters. The residence requirement of two long-session semesters cannot be reduced by coursework taken in residence during the summer session.
- Completion of an approved program of work in the School of Law and other divisions of the University that includes at least 24 semester hours of coursework, including a substantial paper.
Candidates must maintain a grade point average of at least 1.80 to continue in the program and must have an average of at least 1.90 at the end of the final semester to receive an LLM degree. They must complete the Master of Laws degree requirements within one calendar year of beginning graduate law study at the University unless the School of Law grants an individual extension (in unusual circumstances) or extends the period of time in which candidates must complete the Master of Laws degree requirements.
