Introduction
The IU McKinney Masters of Law (LL.M.) program has several missions
to give currently practicing U.S. lawyers a place to hone their skills and deepen their knowledge base on a specific subject.
to help licensed lawyers from other countries get to know American law in preparation for passing the Bar in the United States.
to provide a focused curriculum for legal scholars who are interested in advancing their knowledge in a specific area of law in order to prepare for the S.J.D./Ph.D. in law and an academic career.
LL.M. courses are taught by Judges, Justices, and an Attorney General
Our Master of Laws students come from around the world to study with the best our state has to offer. Courses for the LL.M. program have recently been taught by:
Justice Steven David, ’82, Indiana Supreme Court
Justice Robert D. Rucker, Indiana Supreme Court
Judge John G. Baker, Indiana Court of Appeals (former Chief Judge)
Greg Zoeller, Indiana Attorney General
As an LL.M. student, you’ll complete a 24-credit program. If you attend on a full-time basis, you can complete your degree in a single year. Foreign students, note that to satisfy visa regulations, you must finish within eighteen months.
However, if you are a domestic student, you have up to three academic years to complete the degree requirements, and can take classes on a part-time or evening basis.
The program includes
Area-specific coursework with a wide range of elective options
Externships, clinical courses, or pro bono legal service and optional practical training (OPT) opportunities
A research component and Master's thesis (optional for the American Law for Foreign Lawyers track)
Advanced English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction (the law school will provide a 50% scholarship for these courses if required)
The opportunity to publish your thesis, if in a thesis track, on the ScholarWorks network at Indiana University. This network makes your research available to lawyers and legal scholars worldwide.
American Law for Foreign Lawyers track
If you are a lawyer or law graduate from outside the United States, the American Law for Foreign Lawyers track at IU McKinney School of Law can create the following opportunities for you:
Gain practical and theoretical knowledge in selected areas of American law
Learn the skills of legal research, analysis, and communication essential to understanding and applying American law
Strengthen your ability to effectively represent foreign clients in transactions with American entities
Enhance your ability to provide representation in your native countries to American clients
Obtain a degree that can make you an attractive candidate for an academic appointment in your native country or elsewhere
Build an international network of professional contacts
Refine your English language skills and understanding of American culture
Obtain a degree permitting you to sit for bar examinations in several American jurisdictions
Curriculum
Required courses for international students (6 credits required)
Contract Law for LL.M. Students (2 credits) or Tort Law for LL.M. Students (2 credits)
Introduction to the American Legal System (2 credits)
LL.M. Legal Writing and Analysis I (1 credit)
Legal Research for LL.M. Students (1 credit)
Recommended courses
Contract Drafting for LL.M. Students (2 credits)
LL.M. Legal Writing and Analysis II (1 credit)
U.S. Constitutional Law for LL.M. Students (2 credits)
American Law and elective courses (18 credits)
Students in the ALFL program will create a customized program of study in collaboration with your Faculty Advisor. Students are encouraged to take a wide range of courses that provide a strong foundation in American law and lawyering skills. Many courses have specific prerequisite requirements, and you should always consult with your Faculty Advisor when building your schedule.
Online options
IU McKinney offers a substantial and increasing online course catalog, with most courses open to students in the LL.M. degree program. LL.M. students may earn nearly 50% of their required credit hours online (up to 11 credit hours). These courses are built, and taught, with the same attention to excellence in law school pedagogy that students enjoy in live classes.
Eligibility Requirements
To gain admission to the LL.M. program at the law school, you must demonstrate a combination of academic achievement, professional accomplishment, and English language competency (although work experience is not required). In addition, you must satisfy one of the following education requirements:
Hold a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school in the U.S.
Hold a first degree in law or comparable from a university outside of the U.S.
Prove that you are licensed to practice outside the U.S. (foreign applicants only)
Language Requirements
If English is not your first language, you must provide proof of language proficiency by:
Earning a composite iBT TOEFL score of at least 81, or a composite IELTS score of at least 6.5
An official transcript showing satisfactory completion of Level 7, Advanced & Academic English at the Program for Intensive English (PIE) at IUPUI
Successfully completing Intensive English Master Level 112 at any ELS Language Center in the United States
Earning a "First Grade" on the national Japanese English Proficiency STEP Exam
Having earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university in a country designated by the Office of International Affairs as predominantly English-speaking
Qualifying language scores must be less than two years old at the time of application.
