LL.M. in United States Law for International Students

What Makes Loyola Unique?

• Study Civil Law and Common Law in the mixed jurisdiction of Louisiana.

• Qualify to sit for the bar exams in Louisiana, New York and other jurisdictions.

• Work directly with the LL.M. Director to assist with your academic success.

• Consult with our dedicated career services team to help you achieve your career goals.

• Undertake U.S. and overseas internships, special projects, and public interest activities.

• Study in Loyola’s overseas summer programs.

• Take specialized elective courses with J.D. students to immerse in U.S. legal education.

• Join J.D. students in strong student organizations.

• Receive a first-rate U.S. legal education in a program dedicated to its LL.M. students.

• Prepare to work in a globalized economy.

Degree Requirements

In general, it is anticipated that the degree will be completed in one academic year (two semesters), but LL.M. candidates may take longer with the permission of the Director.  

Our LL.M. curriculum is designed to be flexible so that LL.M. candidates can customize their course selections in line with their professional goals.  There is only one required course in the 24 semester hours needed for completion of the LL.M. degree:

LAWM-L930 Introduction to United States Law, a course emphasizing the skills typically acquired by J.D. students in their legal research and writing (lawyering) coursework, and endeavors to acculturate foreign-educated students to American law, practice, culture, and education by way of immersion.

• 2 credits
  • 1 Credit Hour to be taken during the week prior to the start of the fall semester
  • 1 Credit Hour to be taken during the fall semester 

LL.M. candidates will have a choice of elective credits for the remainder of the required 24 semester hours. They may select from among any other available courses in the College of Law’s catalog, except for courses that are associated with service on the school’s officially recognized law journals and clinic.  LL.M. candidates should develop a coherent plan of electives and have the approval of their faculty program director for all courses.  

LL.M. candidates who intend to qualify to sit for a bar exam should notify the LL.M. Program Director, the Bar Preparation Director, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs before starting the program.

Additional Academic Opportunities

Internship Credit

Up to four credit hours may be earned through a pass / fail internship with a law firm, court, or government agency. The College of Law cannot promise that internships will be available to the LL.M. candidates, but will make best efforts to help ascertain any opportunities that may become available.

Completing a Thesis

Those LL.M. candidates interested in a writing project may consider enrolling in a seminar or an independent legal research paper (LAW-L898) course under the supervision of a faculty member.  Up to six (6) credits may be dedicated by those interested in writing an academic thesis.

Application Requirements

The LL.M. Program in United States Law is only open to candidates who will have already met at least one of the following requirements by the time they enroll in the College of Law:

(1) Complete a First Degree in Law from an Institution Outside of the U.S.

• Be qualified to practice law (admitted to the bar) in a foreign country, or
• Completed the university-based legal education required in a foreign country to take the bar examination in that country.

(2) Complete LL.M. Application

Applications for admission to the LL.M. for International Lawyers should include:

• A complete LL.M. CAS Report submitted to Loyola Law through lsac.org that includes your academic record, certified proof of graduation, and other relevant documents from each college and/or university attended, up to and including conferrals of each bachelor, graduate, or professional degree. International degrees must be evaluated using LSAC’s International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES). See lsac.org for more information on educational credential requirements.
• A complete LL.M. Program Application at lsac.org;

(3) Submit Two Letters of Recommendation 

• We require two letters of recommendation from your law school professors, employers, supervisors, or other persons qualified to appraise your academic potential for graduate legal studies. At least one letter should come from a law school professor. If you have work experience, one letter should also come from a work supervisor. Letters from prominent persons who have not directly supervised your work are not helpful.

• Letters of recommendation must be sent directly to the Office of Law Admissions and contain a means for an admissions representative to contact the recommender, if necessary. If your recommenders cannot write in English, please submit certified translations together with the original letter. Loyola Law reserves the right to disqualify letters written or translated, in part or whole, by the applicant.

• Letters of Recommendation can be uploaded to the online application, emailed to llm@loyno.edu, or mailed to the following address:

          LL.M. Programs
          Office of Law Admissions
          Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
          7214 St. Charles Avenue, Box 904
          New Orleans, LA 70118

(4) Submit a Current Curriculum Vitae

• The CV should include all education, work, and volunteer information. Candidates may also include any publication information or professional or academic information they consider pertinent to the application. 

(5) Submit Proof of English Language Proficiency 

Candidates whose first language is not English must submit English proficiency exam scores with the application for admission. English proficiency exam scores should likewise be included in the candidate’s LL.M. CAS.

Candidates who have significant time learning, working, or living in the United States or Canada, may reach out to the Office of Law Admissions at llm@loyno.edu to discuss options for waiving proof of English proficiency.

THE TOEFL TEST

• Candidates who select the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test must attain a score of at least 550 on the paper based version and a minimum TWE score of no less than 5.5, with the understanding that higher score on the TWE could off-set a less than minimum score on the TOEFL.

• Candidates must attain a minimum score of at least 230 on the computer based version. 

• Candidates must attain a minimum score of at least 89 on the Internet based version, with the following scores required:

  • Writing 25

  • Speaking 24

  • Listening 20

  • Reading 20, for a total of 89

• These candidates should contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for TOEFL registration at www.toefl.org. Candidates must request that ETS send relevant scores to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code is 0058. Loyola Law will then receive them in the applicant’s CAS report. 

IELTS

• Candidates whose first language is not English may take the IELTS exam in lieu of the TOEFL.

• Candidates taking this exam should attain a minimum score of 6.5. 

LL.M. Program Tuition 

• LL.M. program tuition is $1,789.00 per credit hour for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

• The total tuition cost (24 credit hours) for the 2025-2026 academic year is $42,936.00. 

LL.M. Program Fees

• LL.M. applicants can expect University fees of approximately $2,225.00 for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

• Students must also anticipate the costs of books, student health insurance, housing, meals, and transportation. For estimates of these costs, students should contact the Financial Aid Office. 

LL.M. Program Funding Options

• Loans may be available for qualifying students; please contact our Office of Law Financial Aid and Scholarships for more information.

• Loyola Law offers merit-based and need-based scholarships. All applicants are considered for merit-based scholarships during the application process; there is no separate scholarship application. Contact the Office of Law Admissions to discuss need-based qualifications. 

• Scholarships from your home countries, the U.S. government, or private foundations may be available. For more information regarding such scholarships, please visit the LL.M. Guide website. 

On-Campus Housing

• On-campus housing for LL.M. students is limited. However, our Office of Residential Life does its very best to accommodate all graduate international students in appropriate on-campus housing. 

• If you are interested in living on Loyola's campus, please contact the Office of Residential Life. 

Off-Campus Housing

• Students may also wish to stay off-campus. The New Orleans metropolitan area is filled with apartments and homes for rent. Please contact the Office of Law Admissions for off-campus housing recommendations. 

U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents

• U.S. Citizens and Green Card holders do not need a U.S. visa. 

F-1 and J-1 Visas

• All other students must apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa. 
• Students applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa must show sufficient funds to provide for educational, living, and personal expenses for one year before Loyola University will issue the necessary I-20 document. Please fill out the Affidavit of Financial Support for LL.M students and return it to the Office of Law Admissions (llm@loyno.edu).
• If you have questions regarding F-1 or J-1 visas, please contact Dittmar Dittrich, Assistant Director for International Student & Scholar Services, in the Center for International Education. His email is dittrich@loyno.edu; his telephone number is 504-864-7550.
• All F-1 and J-1 visa holding international students are required to have health insurance. This requirement is for your health and safety, should you become ill or need to seek medical attention. Loyola offers an insurance option to international students. If you will require assistance with procuring insurance, you can find out more information through our Center for International Education's Healthcare & Medical Insurance page. 

Other Visas

• Students in the U.S. under a visa other than an F-1 or J-1 should consult an immigration attorney if they have questions about what is allowed under their visa status.