• Why study at CUA?

    For over one hundred years, The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law has trained many of the nation's most distinguished lawyers and judges. In law firms, federal and local government, the judiciary, and the public sector, our graduates are recognized for their knowledge, competence and ethics. Committed to providing the highest quality legal education in an increasingly global society, the Columbus School of Law offers its Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree program to graduates of U.S. and foreign law schools. In line with our Catholic mission, the Columbus School of Law instills in its students a quest for social justice and a profound duty to apply their legal knowledge and skills to the promotion of the common good.

  • When is the application deadline?

    Applications for the Fall 2024 Entering Class are currently being accepted. Our preferred deadline for U.S. applicants for the Fall 2024 semester is June 1, 2024. The deadline for International Applicants is March 18, 2024. Only completed applications will be reviewed. The application requirements can be found below.

     

     

  • What is the application deadline?

    1. Submission of completed Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law LL.M. application and application fee. You can apply on-line for through LSAC.org.

    2. Official Law School Transcripts: Applicants holding a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school must submit a complete and official law school transcript. The transcripts should be sent directly LSAC.

    3. For international applicants: If you earned your first degree in law from an institution outside of the United States, Canada or Australia, it is your responsibility to request an official copy of all required transcripts to be sent to LSAC directly from each institution you attended. Additional information regarding transcript requests can be found here.

    4. Language Proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education was received in a school located outside the United States, Canada or Australia, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum TOEFL score required is 100, the minimum IELTS score required is 7.0. The TOEFL/IELTS requirement can be waived* on a case-by-case basis should the applicant have appropriate documentation of successful completion of one of the following:
      • *CUA's Intensive English Program
      • Level 112 in the intensive English program offered by an ELS Language Center
      • A complete Intensive English program at an accredited institution of higher education
      • A college-level English Composition class determined to be the equivalent of or more advanced than CUA's English Composition 101 course, with a grade of B or above. (for applicants to undergraduate programs)
      • A graduate degree, a Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.), or an Associates Degree (A. A.) from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education or a high school diploma. (Graduates from a U.S. high school are required however to submit SAT/ACT scores.)
        Further instructions regarding submission of your applicable test scores may be found here.
    5. At least 1 but no more than 2 letters of recommendation, preferably from a member of your law school faculty must be provided. The letters must be submitted directly to LSAC.
    6. A two-page personal statement (not to exceed two pages) indicating why you desire to pursue an LL.M. and how your legal education and employment preparation has led you to make this choice.
    7. On a separate page, please select a concentration from the law school’s concentration offerings and discuss how your legal training and any legal professional experience has influenced this interest.
    8. You are required to submit a personal resume or curriculum vitae listing education in law, professional employment, publications, community service, honors, and other achievements you believe should be brought to the attention of the Admissions Committee.

    All materials should be sent directly to LSAC.

    LSAC
    LLM Credential Assembly Service
    662 Penn Street
    PO BOX 8511
    Newtown PA 18940-8511
    USA

  • Is the LSAT required for admission to the LL.M. Program?

    No, international students applying to the LL.M. program are not required to take the LSAT.

  • Is the TOEFL required for international applicants?

    Applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education was not received in a school where English is the language of instruction, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The results should be forwarded directly to LSAC.

  • Is the TOEFL required for international applicants?

    Applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education was not received in a school where English is the language of instruction, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The results should be forwarded directly to LSAC.

  • What is the TOEFL score requirement?

    The required TOEFL score is 100. The minimum IELTS score that we accept is a 7.0.

  • Are scholarships and/or financial aid available to LL.M. students?

    Most CUA Law students rely primarily on student loan programs for necessary funding. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, funding is available for tuition, fees, and living expenses through the Federal Direct Loan program. For non-U.S. citizens, private loans may be available for applicants with a qualified cosigner.

    The Office of Financial Aid at Columbus School of Law, is happy to assist students with the loan application process, and will include admitted LL.M. students in regularly generated email and other electronic communications about student loan application procedures and timelines.

    The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law offers scholarships for J.D. and LL.M candidates based on academic performance and other information provided on applications for admission. No separate application is required.

    Scholarships in the amounts of $ 5,000 - $ 30,000 U.S. dollars per year are available depending on the strength of individual applications.

    Grants and scholarships may be available from a variety of outside organizations, as well. Using the internet and such sites as www.fastweb.com will be helpful in locating such resources. Other specific sites are noted below. This list is for reference purposes only. CUA does not officially endorse any of these institutions, nor can we vouch for the accuracy or quality of the information and/or services they provide.

  • Do I need a law degree to apply to the LL.M. program?

    Yes. Applicants must either hold a J.D. from an ABA accredited law school or for international students, a first degree in law, i.e. an LL.B.

  • Will the law school help me to secure a visa?

    Yes. International students will receive additional information about the process upon admission to the program.

  • How much time is needed to complete the degree?

    Full-time students can complete the program in one academic year while part-time students can complete the program in one and a half to two years (three or four semesters.) Students must complete the degree requirements within 36 months of commencing the L.L.M. program.

  • What LL.M. programs do you offer?

    The LL.M. is an advanced program of legal study that is customized to the needs of the individual student. LL.M. candidates, mentored by expert faculty, plan a course of study from the following concentrations: Law and Technology, Corporate and Securities Law, and Comparative and International Law.

  • How many credits are required to earn the LL.M. degree?

    To earn the LL.M. degree, students must complete 24 credits. Students may enroll full-time or part-time. Students may enroll in an array of upper division courses, seminars, directed research and writing tutorials, legal externships, skills training and clinical courses. At least 16 of the required credits must be directly related to the concentration area, while remaining credits may be earned by taking general electives. LL.M. students with a U.S. or Canadian first degree are also required to take at least one course with a writing component as part of their course work. International students may be required to take a first-year common law course and they are encouraged to select at least one upper division course which requires completion of a paper or other written work product.

  • Can LL.M. students take courses outside the LL.M. curriculum?

    At least 16 of the required credits must be directly related to the concentration area, while remaining credits may be earned by taking general electives.

  • Are internships available to LL.M. students?

    Yes, LL.M. students may complete externships for credit. Students may avail themselves of all the opportunities that Washington, D.C. has to offer due to our convenient location.

  • Are LL.M. graduates eligible to take a bar examination?

    Completion of the LL.M. program does not necessarily guarantee eligibility to sit for the Bar Exam. Bar exam eligibility rules vary among the states.

  • Can I transfer to the J.D. program after I complete my LL.M. degree?

    LL.M. students can apply to the J.D program, however credits from the LL.M. will not transfer.

  • Can I set up an appointment to visit the school?

    To sign up for a tour and/or a class visit, please contact our office at 202-319-5151 or admissions@law.edu at least 24 hours before you plan to visit so that we can confirm the availability of tours and classes. Mention you are a prospective LL.M. student and what your concentration of study is so we can schedule a class visit that best fits your interests.