LL.M In US Legal Studies
LL.M In US Legal Studies
The LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies is a unique opportunity for foreign-educated lawyers and law graduates to understand the American legal system.
The program is a full immersion experience that places LL.M students in the same in-person classes as J.D. students. Experienced faculty who are experts in their fields and who will challenge students to think critically and creatively. Classroom discussions will benefit from diverse perspectives and backgrounds from different countries and cultures.
Graduates of the program will gain a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. legal system, know the basics of several specific areas of American law, learn the ethics that apply to advocates, perform modern American legal research, and gain the legal analysis skills crucial for advocacy on behalf of a client in the United States. Graduates will be prepared to work in an American law office or similar setting.
This program is designed for international students who have completed their first degree in law in another country and are seeking to qualify to take the California Bar Exam. The program length is two semesters (nine months).
- Generous scholarship opportunities are available
- LL.M Students get a “jump start” with a week-long Introduction to the US Legal System course before regular classes begin so that LL.M students can learn how to succeed in American law classes
- The program was specifically designed to qualify international students to take the California Bar Exam
- Small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1
- Dedicated personal career counselors are available
- All LL.M students are invited to take advantage of the law school’s variety of extracurricular and social activities
- Located near Orange County’s beaches, courthouses, law firms, business centers, financial districts, technology hubs, and outdoor shopping malls
Applicant Requirements
- A first professional degree in law
- An English language proficiency test score or a waiver. The tests we accept are the TOEFL (a 93+ iBT score is preferred) or IELTS (a 7.0+ score is preferred)
- Completion of the LL.M application
Viewbook
How To Apply Step-By-Step
Step 1: Create an LLM account with LSAC.
Visit llm.lsac.org and create an account.
Step 2: Add Western State’s LLM Application to your account
After logging into your llm.lsac.org account, click “School Search” on the home page. Then click on “Alphabetically,” and then search for the school “Western State College of Law at Westcliff University.” Then add Western State to your School list.
Step 3: Register for the LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS)
After logging into your llm.lsac.org account, then hover over “Credentials” from the menu, and then click on “Transcripts” from the drop-down. Then enter your transcript information. Afterwards, click on “Services” in the menu at the top of the screen and purchase EAPS, DAS, and ITAES.
Step 4: Send your transcripts to LSAC
After you list your institutions attended in Step 3, Transcript Request Forms (TRF) will be available through your account. Send a TRF to each of the postsecondary institutions you have attended. Have each institution complete and mail the form to LSAC at the address on the form, along with your official transcript/mark sheet/academic record.
Transcripts must be translated into English. If your school is unable to provide an English translation of your transcripts, please obtain one from a translation service.
Click here for detailed instructions on submitting your transcripts to LSAC.
Step 5: Take an English proficiency exam.
All applicants are required to demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency. Applicants for whom English is not the primary language must take a test of English proficiency, either the TOEFL (www.toefl.org) or IELTS (www.ielts.org). The test must have been taken within two years of the date of the application.
All test scores must be submitted to LSAC directly. To send your TOEFL score to LSAC, provide ETS with the institution code 8395 when you place your order for a copy of the score report. To send your IELTS score to LSAC, please use the IELTS system to send a secure electronic download of your official score to Law School Admission Council LLM/JD Credential Assembly Svc.
After you send your test score to LSAC, please add your test information to your LSAC account. To do so, log into your llm.lsac.org account, then hover over “Credentials” from the menu, and then click on “English Proficiency” from the drop-down. On the page that displays, please enter your test information.
In some cases, an English language proficiency test waiver may be granted. If English is your native language or if you use English for the majority of your professional and/or academic life, please attach a short statement to your LLM application titled “Request for Waiver of the English Language Proficiency Test Requirement” and describe your experience with the English language.
Step 6: Complete your LLM Application
To start your LLM Application, log into your llm.lsac.org account. From the menu, click on Apply, and then click on “My School List.” Select Western State College of Law and then click on “Application Information.” From there, click “Apply and Submit Online” and then “Go to Application.” Find the application instructions and then complete the application step-by-step. You will need to upload a personal statement and a resume as part of your application. Please note that your application is not submitted until you pay LSAC’s Law School Report Fee.
TOP RATING
by preLaw Magazine’s “2023 Most Diverse Law Schools”
RANKED TOP 10
for “Most Diverse Faculty” in 2023 by Princeton Review
RANKED TOP 10
for “Minority Students” in 2023 by Princeton Review
RANKED TOP 10
for “Greatest Resources for Women” in 2023 by Princeton Review
Founded in 1966, Western State College of Law is the oldest law school in Orange County, Southern California, and is fully ABA approved. Western State College of Law’s 11,000+ alumni are well represented across public and private sector legal practice areas, including 150 California judges and about 15% of Orange County’s Deputy Public Defenders and District Attorneys.
16715 Von Karman #100
Irvine, CA 92606
714-738-1000
Programs, credential levels, technology and scheduling options are subject to change. Western State College of Law at Westcliff University, 16715 Von Karman, #100, Irvine, CA 92606 © 2020 Western State College of Law. All rights reserved. Our email address is materialsreview@wsulaw.edu.
See wsuprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, salary data, alumni success, and other important info.
