LLM for International Lawyers
Law is increasingly practiced on a global scale, with attorneys that understand how the laws of their home country and that of the U.S. intersect.
Outstanding lawyers from over 45 countries have chosen Loyola to boost their career with a master's degree. One-on-one academic and career counseling, supportive faculty, and access to worldwide legal networks are just a few benefits of our LLM Program for International Lawyers. And your educational experience will be enhanced by your immersion with U.S. students.
As a Loyola student, you will study with leading practitioners in the same classes as your U.S. peers. You may choose to complete one of two tracks:
Track 1: Immersion in U.S. Law
Designed for foreign lawyers who seek to develop an expertise in American law, the rigorous curriculum immerses you in the foundations of U.S. law and legal thought and provides a thorough training in legal skills critical to advising clients in the U.S. or globally. The students in this track plan to sit for a bar exam and/or stay in the US to practice.
Track 2: International Law with a Certificate Focus
Designed for students interested in private and public international law, you may earn a focus certificate in any of Loyola’s specialty areas, all of which include strong international and comparative components: arbitration, mediation, negotiation; business and corporate; child and family; competition; health; human rights; intellectual property; tax; or trade law. Under the guidance of our engaged international faculty, you also may develop your own focus to match your academic interests and professional goals.
Our Commitment to You
Upon graduation with an LLM from Loyola, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values:
By The Numbers
60
Countries represented in the last 6 years
80%
Average Bar Exam Passage
A top ranked program
Consistently ranked among the top International LLM programs by The International Jurist magazine
Curriculum
You can choose to start the program in the fall term (late August) or spring term (mid-January). The program is designed to be completed within one year, but you may choose to complete the program part-time over two years.
You will enroll in two mandatory classes that are designed exclusively for all international LLM students to introduce core concepts of the U.S. legal system and legal research and writing methods. We work with you to choose which courses suit your academic interests and professional goals best.
Track 1: Immersion in U.S. Law
The curriculum for Track I is designed to include the core courses currently required by the New York State Board of Law Examiners for foreign lawyers obtaining an LLM degree. While we provide you with the required courses to satisfy the eligibility and admissions requirements to sit for New York's bar exam, we make no representation or guarantee that any student or graduate of our LLM Program for International Lawyers will be qualified or eligible to sit for the New York or any other state bar examination.
Track 2: International Law with a Certificate Focus Option
In Track 2, you will enjoy flexibility in designing your own curriculum to match your academic interests and professional goals. You must complete the required courses and at least 7 credits in international law and 7 credits in any specialty area.
Degree Requirements
To earn your degree, you must complete 24 credit hours of coursework, while maintaining the GPA requirement. Visit our Registrar for a complete list of degree requirements, academic calendars, and registration process. You may access full course descriptions through our student information system through guest access.
Admission
To apply to the program, you must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent. You must also hold a JD degree or an equivalent law degree from a foreign country. Depending on the legal education system, this would include graduates who, in their country, have the first professional law degree and/or are admitted to practicing law.
Fall Term Application Deadlines
- March 1: Priority Deadline for Scholarship Consideration
- July 1: Final Application Deadline
Spring Term Application Deadlines
- August 1: Priority Deadline for Scholarship Consideration
- December 1: Final Application Deadline
Community
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Insa Blanke"
Insa Blanke
Executive Director of International LLM Programs
“At Loyola, we help students reach their professional goals by offering skills workshops and on-one-one academic and career counseling, and by fostering a strong sense of community.”
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Mayday Karugarama
Alumni
“I was attracted to the small size of the program, the broad international law course offerings, and the opportunity to tailor the LLM curriculum to fit my academic goals.”

James Gathii
Faculty
“As a faculty we are committed to being very accessible and approachable to our students. Students, therefore, maximize their learning experience both inside and outside the classroom.”
Tuition and Fees
The School of Law and Loyola's Office of Student Financial Assistance are committed to helping students secure the necessary financial resources to make their legal education at Loyola affordable.
As part of our commitment, Loyola offers two scholarship programs for qualified students. The Admissions Committee considers you automatically for merit awards when reviewing your file for admission. The merit award amounts vary. We also award three specialized awards for students interested in studying: consumer antitrust; child and family law; and dispute resolution international. If chosen for a specialized award, in exchange for a scholarship that equals 40% of tuition, you will work closely with a faculty member to develop your curriculum and partake in events and activities within that institute.
While our foreign students may not have access to the federal or state loan programs, you may be eligible for a private loan if a citizen or green card holder co-signs the loan for you.
FAQs
Law is increasingly practiced on a global scale, with attorneys that understand how the laws of their home country and that of the U.S. intersect.
Outstanding lawyers from over 45 countries have chosen Loyola to boost their career with a master's degree. One-on-one academic and career counseling, supportive faculty, and access to worldwide legal networks are just a few benefits of our LLM Program for International Lawyers. And your educational experience will be enhanced by your immersion with U.S. students.
As a Loyola student, you will study with leading practitioners in the same classes as your U.S. peers. You may choose to complete one of two tracks:
Track 1: Immersion in U.S. Law
Designed for foreign lawyers who seek to develop an expertise in American law, the rigorous curriculum immerses you in the foundations of U.S. law and legal thought and provides a thorough training in legal skills critical to advising clients in the U.S. or globally. The students in this track plan to sit for a bar exam and/or stay in the US to practice.
Track 2: International Law with a Certificate Focus
Designed for students interested in private and public international law, you may earn a focus certificate in any of Loyola’s specialty areas, all of which include strong international and comparative components: arbitration, mediation, negotiation; business and corporate; child and family; competition; health; human rights; intellectual property; tax; or trade law. Under the guidance of our engaged international faculty, you also may develop your own focus to match your academic interests and professional goals.
Our Commitment to You
Upon graduation with an LLM from Loyola, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values:
Curriculum
You can choose to start the program in the fall term (late August) or spring term (mid-January). The program is designed to be completed within one year, but you may choose to complete the program part-time over two years.
You will enroll in two mandatory classes that are designed exclusively for all international LLM students to introduce core concepts of the U.S. legal system and legal research and writing methods. We work with you to choose which courses suit your academic interests and professional goals best.
Track 1: Immersion in U.S. Law
The curriculum for Track I is designed to include the core courses currently required by the New York State Board of Law Examiners for foreign lawyers obtaining an LLM degree. While we provide you with the required courses to satisfy the eligibility and admissions requirements to sit for New York's bar exam, we make no representation or guarantee that any student or graduate of our LLM Program for International Lawyers will be qualified or eligible to sit for the New York or any other state bar examination.
Track 2: International Law with a Certificate Focus Option
In Track 2, you will enjoy flexibility in designing your own curriculum to match your academic interests and professional goals. You must complete the required courses and at least 7 credits in international law and 7 credits in any specialty area.
Degree Requirements
To earn your degree, you must complete 24 credit hours of coursework, while maintaining the GPA requirement. Visit our Registrar for a complete list of degree requirements, academic calendars, and registration process. You may access full course descriptions through our student information system through guest access.
Admission
To apply to the program, you must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent. You must also hold a JD degree or an equivalent law degree from a foreign country. Depending on the legal education system, this would include graduates who, in their country, have the first professional law degree and/or are admitted to practicing law.
Fall Term Application Deadlines
- March 1: Priority Deadline for Scholarship Consideration
- July 1: Final Application Deadline
Spring Term Application Deadlines
- August 1: Priority Deadline for Scholarship Consideration
- December 1: Final Application Deadline
Tuition and Fees
The School of Law and Loyola's Office of Student Financial Assistance are committed to helping students secure the necessary financial resources to make their legal education at Loyola affordable.
As part of our commitment, Loyola offers two scholarship programs for qualified students. The Admissions Committee considers you automatically for merit awards when reviewing your file for admission. The merit award amounts vary. We also award three specialized awards for students interested in studying: consumer antitrust; child and family law; and dispute resolution international. If chosen for a specialized award, in exchange for a scholarship that equals 40% of tuition, you will work closely with a faculty member to develop your curriculum and partake in events and activities within that institute.
While our foreign students may not have access to the federal or state loan programs, you may be eligible for a private loan if a citizen or green card holder co-signs the loan for you.