Application Requirements

Admissions are made on a rolling basis, and applicants with completed applications are generally notified within 7-10 business days of the final decision.

Exams

Proof of English proficiency is required by submitting proof of a minimum score of at least:
TOEFL: 88
IELTS: 6.5 (with no individual score below 6.0)

Duolingo English Test: 115

Please note, applicants to the LL.M. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers do NOT need to take the LSAT or GRE.

Cost

Temple Law offers partial tuition scholarships based on need and merit. The amount of any award offered will only be indicated after a final admissions decision has been made. Even without financial aid, Temple’s LL.M. tuition is extremely competitive when compared to the tuition at many other U.S. law schools.

Please visit our Financial Aid for Graduate Students page for more information.

Tuition is due in two installments with the due dates posted on the Bursar’s Website.  Full-year students commencing in the Fall semester are required to make their first in mid-September of that same year. The second payment is due in January of the second year. If you are unable to make the payment as scheduled, you will automatically be enrolled into a Deferred Payment Plan.

Temple also offers a TIPP (Tuition Installment Payment Plan) which students can sign up for in order to break up tuition payments into 5 smaller monthly payments for each semester. You can enroll in the TIPP plan here.

Career

Only under a limited set of circumstances can international LL.M. students work while they are taking classes. As most LL.M. students are on student visas, they can only work on campus or, in certain instances, off-campus if they receive written authorization through Temple University ISSS. Moreover, full-time students rarely work while pursuing their LL.M. degree, as the amount of time needed to prepare for classes and exams is substantial. F-1 visa students approved for campus employment may only work part-time (not more than 20 hours per week) under U.S. immigration regulations.

U.S. permanent residents who plan to work while studying may consider attending on a part-time basis. International students on student visas, however, must be enrolled full-time.

 

F-1 visa students may apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), depending on the current regulations, to temporarily work in the United States after graduation. Students must find their own employment sponsors, although our office assists students in drafting resumes, preparing for interviews, and connecting with our alumni to support their job searches. Most of our LL.M. graduates, however, return to their home countries shortly after their graduation.

Post-LL.M. J.D. Study

Admission to Temple’s J.D. program is not automatic with admission to the LL.M. program or upon completion of the LL.M. degree. In the past, a limited number of LL.M. students have gained admission to Temple’s J.D. program. These LL.M. students have had an excellent LL.M. grade point average and strong letters of recommendation from their professors.

Only students who have completed the LL.M. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers entirely at Temple’s main campus in Philadelphia may be eligible for post-LL.M. J.D. study at Temple.  Students who have completed other Temple LL.M. degrees, or who have earned LL.M. degrees at other law schools, are ineligible.

The Faculty Admissions Committee has sole discretion to determine whether to admit an LL.M. graduate to the J.D. program as well as any LL.M. credits that may be counted toward the student’s J.D. degree. For more information, please contact J.D. admissions at lawadmis@temple.edu.

LL.M. graduates who wish to apply to Temple’s S.J.D. program must satisfy that program’s independent admission requirements.

The LL.M. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers is a program of general legal studies with two required courses (Legal Research & Writing and Introduction to the American Legal System), an advanced writing course, a first-year JD course, and a series of electives. Students may select all electives based on their interests in consultation with the program director. Students may earn degree credits at our campuses in Philadelphia, Tokyo, and Rome.

The LL.M. in Transnational Law is for students who have earned a first degree in law in a common law country, and all coursework must be in international law. Students may take courses at any Temple campus, but must study outside their home country for at least a summer session. As all coursework is in international law, the LL.M. in Transnational Law will not likely qualify students for U.S. bar examinations.

Miscellaneous

A limited amount of housing for graduate students is available, although most LL.M. students live in nearby private, off-campus housing. If you are looking to meet potential roommates, please contact our office. Please also visit the Temple University Housing Office website for other housing options.

Other Questions?

For questions regarding our international LL.M. programs, please email intllaw@temple.edu.

For questions regarding visas, please contact the Office of International Services.

For questions regarding housing, please contact the Temple University Housing Office.