LL.M. - How to Apply

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis starting September 1 each year with a March 1 priority application deadline for scholarship consideration.

Students who require an F-1 Student visa to attend UC Hastings: All application materials, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, must be received by the UC Hastings Admissions Office by May 31. Applications received or missing supplemental materials after May 31 will not be considered.
US Citizens, U.S. Legal Permanent Residents, and students who have a valid status in the United States that allows them to engage in a full course of study: Students who do not need a visa to attend our program, but still meet eligibility requirements, must have their complete applications and all supplemental materials, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, reach UC Hastings by June 30 to be considered for admission. Applications received or missing supplemental materials after June 30 will not be considered.

We encourage applicants to submit their applications early in order to receive an enrollment decision in a timely manner. Enrollment is limited to the fall semester, which begins in early August.

Please note that in order to be eligible for the UC Hastings LL.M. program, you must be an attorney licensed outside of the U.S. or have completed (or expect to complete prior to enrollment at UC Hastings) a first degree in law outside of the U.S..

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NOTE ON THE ELIGIBILITY TO BE ADMITTED TO A U.S. BAR AND OUR LL.M. DEGREE

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, but have a first degree in law, you may apply to sit for the California State Bar exam if (1) your law degree is equivalent to a Juris Doctor (JD) degree awarded by an American Bar Association (ABA)-approved or California-accredited law school in the U.S. and (2) you have the required number of years of study. In general, this means that in addition to your first law degree you must have been awarded an LL.M. degree from an ABA accredited law school with a minimum of 20 credits of legal education. You must also have taken at least 12 credits of courses related to subjects tested on the California Bar exam, including Professional Responsibility. For more information, you should consult the California State Bar Examiners Rules.

The requirements for taking the New York Bar Exam are similar to those of California. To learn more about the eligibility requirements for the New York Bar exam, visit the New York State Board of Law Examiners website.

If you are interested in being admitted to another state bar, please consult the rules for that state bar.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us at llm@uchastings.edu.

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Completed Application submitted via Law School Admission Council (LSAC)*
$75 Non-Refundable Application Fee paid though LSAC
Proof of English proficiency (see below)
Official Transcripts
Please follow official transcript instructions to submit your official transcripts to LSAC. UC Hastings strongly recommends (but does not require) that applicants register for the LSAC CAS LL.M. International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation service, which requires an additional fee of $135. This includes the authentication and evaluation of transcripts/mark sheets, copies of degrees/diplomas, degree and graduation certificates, and rank statements so that US law schools better understand your academic credentials.
Two Letters of Recommendation
Please follow letter of recommendation instructions to submit letters of recommendation to LSAC. If you have graduated from your law degree program within the past two years, at least one of your recommendation letters must be from a former or present law teacher.
Personal Statement
Please tell us more about your experiences, your reasons for seeking an LL.M. degree, and the course of study you wish to pursue. Your personal statement should be typed and is limited to 3 – 5 pages. Your statement must be electronically attached to your LSAC application.
Current Résumé or CV
You will electronically attach your most recent resume or CV outlining your academic and professional achievements to your LSAC application.
Scholarship Application Form (optional – see below)

*The LSAC requirement will be waived and we will accept paper applications if you are a current student or a graduate of one of our exchange partner universities or a nominee of an international partner institution. Please contact us at llmadmissions@uchastings.edu if you have any questions about the application process.

If English is not your native language, UC Hastings requires that applicants submit either a TOEFL or IELTS score through LSAC. TOEFL and/or IELTS scores should be less than two years old.

We prefer a minimum TOEFL score of 90 (iBT) or 600 (PBT). Applicants should register for the TOEFL in time to ensure that your scores will be received by LSAC in advance of the UC Hastings application deadline. To have your TOEFL score report sent to LSAC, place an order to LSAC institution code 8395. Please visit http://www.toefl.com/for more information on the test and exam dates.

Applicants may also choose to submit scores through LSAC from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). We prefer a minimum IELTS score of 7. To have your IELTS score report sent to LSAC, you MUST indicate before or at the time of your exam that LSAC should receive a score report. Please visit http://ielts.org for more information on the test and exam dates.

TOEFL/IELTS Waiver Request

TOEFL/IELTS waiver requests will be considered if you have successfully completed and received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution where English is the primary language of instruction. To request a TOEFL/IELTS waiver, please submit an attachment to your LSAC application explaining why you are eligible for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver.

Name: Vasiliki “Vanessa” Kiou
Class: 2015
Country: Greece

“The LL.M. program prepared me for a career in Business and Intellectual Property law, helped me develop a set of valuable skills, and expanded my professional network. Living in the heart of the global innovation ecosystem and studying in such a diverse academic environment was one of the most intellectually and socially stimulating experiences I have ever had.”

Name: Katlyn Anne Carlos Aguilar-Bilgera
Class: 2017
Country: Philippines

“Being an LL.M. student at UC Hastings was a rewarding experience. The school’s intellectually stimulating and enriching learning environment enabled me to go beyond my perceived limitations. Because of the knowledge, skills, and discipline I acquired and developed from the program, I am now able to contribute in preparing and shaping students to become competent and productive members of the legal profession in my home country. It is my hope that I will be able to exhibit the same commitment and competence which I have witnessed from my professors at UC Hastings.”

Name: Tripti Sharma
Class: 2006
Country: India

“The faculty at UC Hastings are very engaged with their students. Most have an “open door” policy and are extremely reachable. I was interested in Immigration Law at the beginning of my coursework and my professor guided me through the process of getting an externship in that area. It was a valuable experience and helped me improve my writing and researching skills.”