LL. M. Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
The LL.M. program in U.S. law is for candidates who have received or will receive prior to enrolling at Hastings a law degree from a law school outside of the United States. If you received a law degree from a U.S. law school you are ineligible.
What is the focus of the program?
The program is an LL.M. in U.S. legal studies.
Can I specialize?
Yes. You can specialize or you can simply do a general degree in U.S. law without specializing. The areas of specialization are:
- International Law and Human Rights
- Science, Technology and Intellectual Property
- International Business and Trade
- Dispute Resolution and Legal Process
- Taxation
- Family Law
One year. It starts in mid-August and exams end in May.
What are the requirements for admission?
First, you will need to show English fluency. LL.M. candidates are expected to demonstrate high standards of English fluency, including a TOEFL score minimum of 600 PBT, 250 CBT, or 90 IBT or an IELTS score of 7. In extraordinary cases if you are unable to take the TOEFL, we may consider other evidence of a high degree of English fluency.
Second, you must have received your law degree by August and you need to provide a transcript showing that you were a good student.
How do I apply?
We strongly encourage you to apply online through LSAC at www.LSAC.org. If you apply online through LSAC using the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service's International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service, we will waive our $75 LL.M. application fee. To apply you will need to fill out an application form and submit a personal statement and a current resume or CV. You will also need to provide two references, an official transcript with a certified translation and a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS score.
Where can I get information about applying for the TOEFL?
Contact the Educational Testing Services (ETS) on the web. The school code for the TOEFL is 4342.
Do you admit people in the spring semester?
No. We admit people only for the fall term beginning in August.
Do you have a part-time or summer LL.M. program?
Each year a number of students begin their LL.M. program by attending UC Hastings' Summer Legal Institute. However, do not yet have a formal part-time or summer LL.M. program.
What are the requirements for graduation?
You are expected to take a total of 24 credit hours, including the Introduction to U.S. Legal Systems course which teaches legal writing and research and one first-year course in the fall semester. You are allowed to take up to three semesters to complete your program, although most students complete their requirements in two.
What courses can I take?
In addition to the Introduction to U.S. Legal Systems course and one required first-year common law course (torts, contracts, criminal law, property or civil procedure), LL.M. candidates are generally free to take any courses subject to the course prerequisites or the permission of the instructor.
Must I write a thesis?
No.
How many students are in the program?
We generally have 20-30 students each year.
What is the cost?
Tuition is $41,200 for the year, subject to change by the Board.
How much does it cost to live in San Francisco?
We estimate that housing, food, personal expenses, books and transportation will cost you about $20,000 for the year.
Is there any financial aid available?
Hastings cannot certify educational loans for students who are not U.S. permanent residents or U.S. citizens. You may be eligible for a small tuition scholarship, but the majority of your costs will need to be covered by your own finances or loans you secure through private granting agencies or your government.
Is there housing available?
There is some housing available at Hastings in McAllister Tower. Apply early.
Where can I obtain additional information or applications?
For additional information, please email the Program Coordinator at llm@uchastings.edu or phone 415.565.4871. You can download an application form online.
How do I obtain a visa?
If you are accepted, you will be sent the required forms to apply for a visa with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
If I receive an LL. M. degree from Hastings, am I eligible for admission to a U.S. bar?
If you are already a practicing lawyer in your home country, you can apply to sit for the California State bar examination.
If you are not admitted to the bar in your own country, you may apply to sit for the California State bar exam if you have the required number of years of study. In general, this means you must have at least two years of university education in the equivalent of a bachelor’s program prior to receiving at least three years of university education leading to the equivalent of a J. D. degree. You may also be required to take certain courses during the LL. M. program in order to sit for the California bar examination. In general, California would require that you have at least 12 credits of courses related to subjects tested on the California Bar exam. For more specific information, you should consult the California State Bar Examiners Rules for qualifying to take the bar exam.
If you are interested in being admitted to another state bar, such as New York, you should consult the rules for that state bar.
I’m planning to immigrate to the States permanently. If I have an LL.M. degree, will I be competitive with J.D. graduates for permanent jobs in the U.S.?If you intend to remain in the States permanently, you should consider applying for a J.D. degree instead. Most U.S. law firms do NOT regard a one-year LL.M. degree as the same as a three-year J.D. degree, and consequently, it is more difficult to find a permanent legal job in the United States with just an LL.M. degree. That is true no matter what law school you attend and no matter where you apply for work in the United States. Some LL.M. graduates are successful at finding good permanent jobs in the United States, but it has been difficult, especially during periods of economic downturn. Most LL.M. graduates find that there have much more attractive job opportunities if they return to their country of origin.
Hastings Career Services Office assists LL.M. students looking for temporary or permanent employment in the United States with a range of services including individual counseling and regular workshops on finding employment, networking, interviewing skills, and resume writing. A few law firms are also interested in interviewing LL.M. students on campus, but most firms confine their on-campus interviews to J.D. students.
Depending upon your English ability, academic performance, personal effort, and geographic mobility, you may be able to find a good permanent job in the United States. You may also consider applying to transfer into the J.D. program. See the information below.
I've heard that as an LL.M. student I can apply to the J.D. program without taking the LSAT. Is that possible?
Hastings offers a J.D. transfer program which allows LL.M.s to apply to the J.D. program based on first semester grades and faculty recommendations instead of an LSAT score. At the end of your first semester of LL. M. studies, you can apply to transfer to the J.D. program. If accepted, the transfer will occur after you have completed requirements for the LL.M. program. However, if you are admitted into the J.D. program as a transfer student, you will not receive your LL. M. degree. Instead the credits you have obtained through the LL.M. program will be applied towards satisfaction of your J.D. degree, and you will be required to spend another two years of study to satisfy all the requirements for the J.D. degree. Read more about the J. D. program.