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School of Law

LL.M. in U.S. Law Admission & Tuition

LL.M. in U.S. Law Admission and Tuition

We are excited you are interested in pursuing a degree with the University of St. Thomas School of Law. To be considered for the LL.M. in U.S. Law program, you must hold a law degree from a law school outside of the United States and demonstrate proficiency in English.

Our admissions committee thoroughly reviews every application to understand the strengths, skills and unique potential of each prospective student. Applications are accepted online through LSAC and directly through St. Thomas starting in early September through the end of April. There is no fee to apply, yet there are fees associated with the transcript evaluation process.

Prospective LL.M. in U.S. Law students must submit:

  • A completed application
  • Personal statement
  • Resume or CV
  • All post-secondary transcripts (evaluation required for international institutions)
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • At least two letters of recommendation

The LSAT or GRE are not required for the LL.M. program. If you have already earned an LL.M. from a different university, you are still welcome to apply to the St. Thomas LL.M. program.

Contact

Cristina Calderón

Director of Global Outreach
Cristina Calderon headshot
Email
ccalderon@stthomas.edu
Phone Number
651-962-4901

Submit an Application

There are two application options for the LL.M. in U.S. Law program, outlined below. If you have questions about which option to choose, reach out to lawschool@stthomas.edu.

1. Complete the online application. (Includes: resume or CV, personal statement and any necessary addenda)
2. Ask at least two people to write a letter of recommendation. Indicate their information into the application as prompted.
3. Review instructions for the international transcript evaluation process (included in the application, and available below). Arrange to have your evaluated transcripts sent to gradadmissions@stthomas.edu.

1. Sign up for an account at www.lsac.org.

2. Register for the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (LL.M. CAS). Note: There are fees associated with the LSAC services.

  • Arrange to have official academic records sent to LSAC included in your LL.M. CAS report.
  • Send English language proficiency score(s) to be included in your LL.M. CAS report (if applicable).
  • Submit at least two letters of recommendation to LSAC.
3. Complete the St. Thomas electronic application in the LSAC system.
  • Includes: resume or CV, personal statement and any necessary addenda.

LL.M. in U.S. Law Application

  • English Proficiency
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Personal Statement and Resume/CV
  • Admission Interview
  • Additional Requirements

    • English Proficiency

    St. Thomas policy requires international students to demonstrate a minimum level of English proficiency. Score reports must be sent to St. Thomas directly from the testing center or in your CAS report from LSAC and must not be more than 2 years old. Candidates who do not meet the language requirements but can offer other strong educational or professional evidence of English proficiency may qualify for admission and can submit alternative documentation. Contact the admissions office for more information.

    English Proficiency

    Transcripts

    If you completed your undergraduate or graduate work at a college or university outside of the U.S., you must obtain a complete transcript evaluation from an organization that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Two recommended services are the Education Credential Evaluators or World Education Services.

    Transcripts

    Letters of Recommendation

    Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters of recommendation should come from someone who knows you and can attest to your ability to succeed in a graduate program. You can submit more than two letters. Refer to the instructions in the St. Thomas application or via LSAC on submitting your letters of recommendation.

    Letters of Recommendation

    Personal Statement and Resume/CV

    Your personal statement should discuss the reasons you wish to obtain an LL.M., the aspects of St. Thomas Law’s program that are meaningful to you and why you believe that you will be a successful student. It should be no more than 1,000 words. There are no formatting requirements. Refer to the instructions in the St. Thomas application or via LSAC for submitting your personal statement and resume/CV.

    Admission Interview

    Each candidate is required to participate in a virtual interview with the admissions office.

    Additional Requirements

    International students (i.e. students studying on a non-immigrant visa status) must submit additional requirements to the Office of International Students & Scholars after they are admitted to the university in order to be eligible to receive a I-20 or DS-1029 certificate of eligibility for F1 or J1 status.

    Additional Requirements

    English Proficiency

    St. Thomas policy requires international students to demonstrate a minimum level of English proficiency. Score reports must be sent to St. Thomas directly from the testing center or in your CAS report from LSAC and must not be more than 2 years old. Candidates who do not meet the language requirements but can offer other strong educational or professional evidence of English proficiency may qualify for admission and can submit alternative documentation. Contact the admissions office for more information.

    English Proficiency

    Transcripts

    If you completed your undergraduate or graduate work at a college or university outside of the U.S., you must obtain a complete transcript evaluation from an organization that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Two recommended services are the Education Credential Evaluators or World Education Services.

    Transcripts

    Letters of Recommendation

    Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters of recommendation should come from someone who knows you and can attest to your ability to succeed in a graduate program. You can submit more than two letters. Refer to the instructions in the St. Thomas application or via LSAC on submitting your letters of recommendation.

    Letters of Recommendation

    Personal Statement and Resume/CV

    Your personal statement should discuss the reasons you wish to obtain an LL.M., the aspects of St. Thomas Law’s program that are meaningful to you and why you believe that you will be a successful student. It should be no more than 1,000 words. There are no formatting requirements. Refer to the instructions in the St. Thomas application or via LSAC for submitting your personal statement and resume/CV.

    Admission Interview

    Each candidate is required to participate in a virtual interview with the admissions office.

    Additional Requirements

    International students (i.e. students studying on a non-immigrant visa status) must submit additional requirements to the Office of International Students & Scholars after they are admitted to the university in order to be eligible to receive a I-20 or DS-1029 certificate of eligibility for F1 or J1 status.

    Additional Requirements
    Campus in the fall

    Admission Decisions

    Once you have submitted all the required elements of the application and completed an interview, the admissions committee will review your file and make a decision. This typically takes 4-6 weeks. The admissions office will send an email notifying you of your acceptance.

    Minneapolis clock tower and skyway

    Admissions Timeline

    The application is available in September and orientation for new students is typically around the third week of August. We are rolling admissions so the timeline will vary depending on the time of admission. We recommend you apply as early in the cycle as possible.

    Tuition and Scholarships

    We know studying abroad will have a big impact on your life, including your finances. Our goal is to make an exceptional American legal education affordable for top lawyers from around the world.

    Two LL.M. Grads at Commencement

    2024-25 Academic Year

    Estimated Tuition and Fees

    Tuition = $49,272 per academic year ($24,636 per term)

    Fees = $567 per academic year ($283.50 per term)

    • Technology Fee = $259 per year ($129.50 per term)
    • Student Activity Fee = $160 per year ($80 per term)
    • Health Fee = $148 per year ($74 per term)

    One academic year is two terms.

    Students should budget an additional $24,000 (USD) for the duration of the program. This includes living costs, health insurance, miscellaneous expenses, books, and supplies.

    Note: Tuition, fees, and living expenses are subject to change each academic year.

    See the Estimated Cost of Attendance for the LL.M in U.S. Law Program (used to determine your eligibility for Financial Aid).

    LL.M. students collaborate on a project in class

    All students admitted to the LL.M. in U.S. Law program are considered for generous scholarships. You don’t need to submit a separate application.

    If you receive a scholarship from an outside agency, please forward the information to the Office of Admissions at lawschool@stthomas.edu. You will also be asked to provide this information to our Office of International Students and Scholars as part of the financial certification process.

    LL.M. students walk through the atrium in conversation

    International students with an F-1 student visa status do not qualify for student financial aid through the U.S. federal government.

    Student workers behind the desk

    There are opportunities to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week while you are enrolled as an LL.M. in U.S. Law student. Click below to view job listings.

    Student Employment

    Meet Our Admissions Team