Admissions

How to apply

Neither the LSAT nor the GRE are required.

The LL.M. application process is done online through LSAC LL.M. Applicant Services.

LL.M. applications will be due by May 15, 2014.

To apply, you will need to provide the following documents to the LSAC LL.M. Applicant Services:

1. Law degree. The applicant must have a law degree from a recognized foreign university.  Transcripts from outside the United States must be submitted for evaluation and translation, if necessary, either (1) to a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or (2) to the Credential Assembly Service of the Law School Admission Council for transcript authentication and evaluation. This process will determine if your international degree satisfies this requirement. To view a list of NACES approved agencies visit www.NACES.org or call the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at (305)-348-8006. For the Credential Assembly Service of the Law School Admission Council visit http://www.LSAC.org/llm/Degree/LLM-intro.asp.
2. English proficiency. Students whose first language is not English must take a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and should score a minimum of 590 overall (250 for computer-based test or 90 for the Internet-based test), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Cambridge English Exam, and earn a score of 7.0 or higher.  Candidates must request that scores be sent directly to the FIU Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.  There are no conditional admissions for students that do not meet the required TOEFL or IELTS score.
3. Letters of recommendation. Two letters of recommendation are required.  If you have recently finished studying law in your home country, both letters should be from professors who know your academic work.  If you have been out of university for over a year, you may have colleagues or other professionals write letters for you.  Letters will be accepted in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
4. Resume or curriculum vitae.  Please state your educational background, professional experience, and language abilities.
5. Statement.  A brief statement of your interest in pursuing the LL.M. in English not to exceed 600 words is required.  Please tell us why you would like to study law in the United States and what you hope to do on completing your studies.  Please tell us about yourself and what perspectives and ideas you will bring to the College of Law.  If you are interested in any particular area of law, please make this clear in the statement.  This statement must be written solely by the applicant.
6. Application fee.  The $30.00 LL.M. application fee.  The fee must be paid by May 15 and is nonrefundable.
7. An interview by telephone, if requested by the LL.M. admissions committee.

Admissions Committee

The LL.M. admissions committee includes a small pool of faculty and administrators within the College of Law:

• Matthew C. Mirow, B.A. Boston University, J.D. Cornell University, Ph.D. (law) Cambridge University, Ph.D. (law) Leiden University
• Jorge L. Esquirol, J.D. & S.J.D. Harvard
• Manuel Gomez, Título de Abogado, Andrés Bello (Caracas), J.S.M. & J.S.D. Stanford
• Michelle Mason, B.A. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, J.D. Rutgers University School of Law – Camden
• Noah Weisbord, B.Sc., B.S.W., LL.B., B.C.L. & M.S.W. McGill University, LL.M. & S.J.D. Harvard

LL.M. to J.D.

In order for LL.M. students to begin the J.D. program, students must follow the same application procedure as all foreign lawyers applying for the J.D. You may receive credits from courses taken from a completed LL.M. degree or from courses from a completed bachelor’s degree in law that can potentially count toward the J.D. Determination of advance standing credit for the J.D. program are only made after admission into the J.D. program. Click here for more information about the JD for Foreign Lawyers, JD with Advance Standing.