Law
Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate and International Legal Studies: Charlotte Ku
Correspondence and Admission Information: Ann Perry, Office of Graduate and International Legal Studies
244 Law Building
504 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-6066
E-mail: llm@law.illinois.edu
Major: Law
Degrees offered: LL.M., J.S.D., J.D., M.S.L.
Joint Degree Program: the J.D. in Law can be earned jointly with the following
Graduate Degrees Offered:
Accountancy, M.A.S.
Business Administration, M.B.A.
Chemistry, M.S.
Computer Science, M.C.S.
Human Resource Education, Ed.M.
Human Resources and Industrial Relations, M.H.R.I.R.
Journalism, M.S.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, M.S.
Philosophy, Ph.D.
Political Science, Ph.D.
Urban Planning, M.U.P.
Medical Scholars Program: Juris Doctor (J.D.) in Law and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The LL.M. and J.S.D. programs of graduate study in law are designed for foreign law graduates who wish to pursue advanced study and conduct independent research under the direction of the College of Law faculty. Two advanced degrees are conferred by the College of Law: the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree and the Doctor of Science of Law (J.S.D.). Overall coordination of the graduate program is the responsibility of the Office of Graduate and International Legal Studies, and individual inquiries should be addressed to this office. The M.S.L. is a one-year, nonprofessional, terminal degree program designed for those who have had no legal training and who do not desire a professional law degree.
Admission
The Graduate College admission requirements and English language proficiency requirements apply. In addition, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) requirement is 79 internet-based. Students are not required to take the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students are admitted on an individual basis according to a review of their prior accomplishments with an emphasis on academic achievement. Admission is made for the fall semester only. Applications are not being accepted for the M.S.L. program at this time.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the College of Law's graduate degree requirements and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Laws
| Required Courses | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| LAW 501 | 4 |
| Total Hours | 32 |
| Other Requirements: | |
| One academic year in residence | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
The Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree is designed to introduce foreign law students to the U.S. legal system. Applicants are eligible for admission if they have met the requirements to practice law in their home country.
The LL.M. degree requires the completion of a total 32 graduate hours of credit and is normally completed in one academic year. All candidates are required to take Introduction to U.S. Law (Law 501), a four hour graduate course. The remaining 28 graduate hours are selected from any College of Law course.
Master of Studies in Law
| Required Courses | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| LAW 609 and 627 | 3 |
| Two of LAW 601, 602, 603, 604, 606 or 607 | 8 |
| Completion of the Upper-Level Writing Requirement | 2 |
| Total Hours | 32 |
| Other Requirements: | |
| A faculty supervised research paper is required | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
A bachelor’s degree is required for admission, and admission will be granted to a limited number of students on a competitive application basis.
The elective hours can be any graduate-level Law course offered by the College of Law, pursuant to a plan of study formulated in consultation with the college’s academic advisors. Law credits earned in the M.S.L. program will not count toward the minimum credit hours required for the J.D. degree.
Doctor of the Science of Law
| Required Courses | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Hours of residence credit | 64 |
| Thesis Hours Required – LAW 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 16 min |
| Total Hours | 96 |
| Other Requirements: | |
| A J.D. or LL.M. is required for admission | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
The Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) degree provides students who primarily intend to pursue an academic career an opportunity for extended study, research, and scholarly writing. Those admitted to the program must have demonstrated analytic and research ability, possess outstanding academic credentials, and have completed the LL.M. or other law degree from the University of Illinois or other accredited American law school. In exceptional cases, consideration will be given to applicants who have completed programs of study in common law countries. All candidates must provide evidence of excellent reading and writing skills in English. There is no financial assistance available from the College of Law for the first year of the J.S.D. program. The J.S.D. program normally takes a minimum of three years, including one to two semesters of course work. J.S.D. candidates are assigned a primary faculty advisor with expertise in the student's research area and an additional three faculty members, who form the student's doctoral committee. Each student must successfully pass a preliminary examination in the general field of study. The student's faculty committee then will assess the student's thesis research and writing progress, make recommendations, and conduct an oral examination on the final draft of the dissertation. The final dissertation will then be completed and deposited with the Graduate College.
Financial Aid
Applicants to the College of Law graduate programs are welcome to apply for scholarship assistance. Scholarships typically are awarded to applicants with a combination of excellent academic and professional credentials and proven financial need. Awards usually provide part of tuition and do not cover living expenses. There are always more qualified applicants than there are funds available. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to explore alternative sources of funding.