Indiana University Law School: Programs, Rankings, and Opportunities
For graduate students exploring options, Indiana University offers two law schools: the Maurer School of Law in Bloomington and the Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. Each provides unique programs and opportunities, catering to diverse interests and career goals.
Indiana University Maurer School of Law (Bloomington)
Established in 1842, the Indiana University Maurer School of Law is located on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. Named after alumnus Michael S. Maurer, the school boasts a rich history and a strong reputation.
Rankings and Recognition
In 2024, the Indiana University Maurer School of Law was ranked 45th, a slight decrease from 43rd in 2023. The school maintains a strong standing in international law, tied for 25th. PreLaw Magazine has repeatedly recognized programs at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney for inclusion in the "Top" and "Best" lists.
Academic Programs
The Maurer School of Law offers a variety of programs:
- Juris Doctor (JD): The school accepted 46.86% of applicants for the class entering in 2023.
- Joint and Dual Degrees: The school offers 11 joint and dual degrees, including a JD/MBA with the Kelley School of Business and a JD/MPA with the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
- Master's Degrees:
- LLM: Standard LLM (24 credit hours), LLM with Thesis (30 credit hours), and LLM with English for Law Two-Year Program (36 credit hours). The standard LLM degree allows students to concentrate on areas of law most important to them. Students can complete the standard LLM degree program in two semesters, completing approximately 12 credits each semester. The program can also be completed in three semesters for students who prefer to spend more time in the US, or who need a reduced course load.
- MCL: A degree for international students who do not hold a first degree in law but wish to gain familiarity with American law and legal institutions. The MCL degree program requires two semesters in residence and the completion of 20 credit hours.
- MS in Cybersecurity Risk Management: A 30-credit program in conjunction with the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering and the Kelley School of Business. Students can earn concentrations within the MS, including law, business, or informatics.
- Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD): The SJD program provides students the opportunity for study, research, and scholarly writing. Upon matriculation, SJD students must spend at least one year in residence at the law school.
- PhD in Law and Democracy: A program focused on the role of law in new and fragile democracies.
Experiential Learning
The Maurer School of Law emphasizes practical experience through various opportunities:
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- Clinics: Community law, conservation, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and mediation.
- Externships: Opportunities in the US and abroad.
- Pro Bono Projects: Noncredit advocacy projects.
- Learning and Working (LAW) LLM program: The LAW program gives you hands-on, real-life experience while you're studying the law.
Centers and Institutes
The Maurer School of Law houses several centers and institutes:
- Center for Constitutional Democracy (CCD): Focuses on studying and promoting constitutional democracy.
- Center for Law, Society & Culture: Promotes and disseminates a multidisciplinary understanding of law.
- Milt and Judi Stewart Center on the Global Legal Profession: Focuses on the role of lawyers in society, the business of lawyering, and the organizational context housing legal practice.
Admissions and Costs
The tuition is full-time: $38,472 (in-state) and full-time: $59,522 (out-of-state). The student-faculty ratio is 6.2:1.
Campus and Resources
The Indiana University campus is located in Bloomington, Indiana. The Jerome Hall Law Library houses nearly 725,000 volumes. IU offers technology resources, including support, software streaming, and online services.
Student Life
Indiana Law has more than 40 active student organizations, including the International Law Society and the Public Interest Law Foundation. All new international graduate students select a Student Ambassador.
Career Services
The Career Services Office conducts a regular series of workshops called The Professional Development Series. Each year, Indiana Law participates in the New York University School of Law International Student Interview Program (ISIP).
Read also: Applying to IU Bloomington
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (Indianapolis)
The Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University Indianapolis (McKinney) has an application deadline of May 15.
Rankings and Recognition
IU McKinney was tied with Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington; the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law; Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Herbert Law Center in Baton Rouge; the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia; and the Louis D. Among part-time law school programs, IU McKinney tied for the No. 22 spot with Seattle University School of Law.
Academic Programs
The school offers a variety of programs/courses in clinical training, dispute resolution, environmental law, health care law, intellectual property law, international lawbusiness/corporate lawconstitutional lawcontracts/commercial lawcriminal law.
Admissions and Costs
The full-time program application fee at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University Indianapolis (McKinney) is $0. Its tuition is full-time: $29,232 (in-state); full-time: $47,415 (out-of-state); part-time: $21,168 (in-state); and part-time: $34,335 (out-of-state). The student-faculty ratio is 7.8:1.
Recognition & Accolades
We are proud of our reputation for excellence! Programs at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney have been chosen repeatedly for the “Top" and "Best" lists in PreLaw Magazine. The magazine Lawyers of Color named Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law to its issue titled “The Black Law Student’s Guide to Law Schools” 2019 edition. IU McKinney ranked 17th for Health Care Law, 15th for Legal Writing, and 23rd for the part-time law program in U.S. News & World Report. Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law has twice been honored by the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA) with the association’s Erik Chickedantz Law School Fitness Award.
Read also: Explore the impact of the IU Foundation
Choosing the Right School
Both the Maurer School of Law and the McKinney School of Law offer robust academic programs and resources. Consider your specific interests, career goals, and preferred location when making your decision. Indiana Law is special. We have a deep and rich history of educating international students for more than 100 years, and we are happy that you are considering an LLM, SJD, MCL, or PhD with us. Indiana Law is located in Bloomington, a beautiful, safe, and friendly community with all the amenities of a larger city. With its low tuition and ample scholarship availability, Indiana Law is one of the best values in graduate legal education, offering exceptional quality at affordable rates. Applicants who do not yet meet the English proficiency requirements for direct admission to the standard LLM degree program may be admitted to the two-year program. In the first year, students learn about the US legal system and master legal English while earning 12 English for law credits and four credits toward the LLM degree. Students in the LLM and MCL programs can choose to specialize in a specific area of law. Indiana Law has a process that enables our LLM students to apply to transfer to the JD program upon completion of their LLM degree. Students who apply successfully to take part in the highly selective process are graded like JD students (rather than LLM students) in their second semester as an LLM student. Students then must apply to the JD program, and if admitted, students may count those JD-graded credits, as well as credits from a prior LLB degree (in some cases up to 29 credits in all), toward the JD degree and enter the JD program with advanced standing.
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