UCLA Law LLM Program: Requirements and Opportunities

UCLA School of Law stands as a premier institution in Southern California, renowned globally for its commitment to academic excellence. The LL.M. program at UCLA Law offers a dynamic and flexible curriculum, attracting a diverse range of interests and taught by leading scholars. The school fosters an encouraging and supportive learning environment, preparing students for outstanding careers in various legal fields.

Overview of the UCLA Law LL.M. Program

The LL.M. program at UCLA Law is designed for those holding a J.D. or equivalent law degree, offering an opportunity to learn from world-class faculty and enhance their credentials. The program utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to legal studies, with a dynamic, flexible curriculum that appeals to a range of interests. UCLA seeks to admit students of outstanding intellectual ability who will bring a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to the classroom.

Consistently ranked in the top tier of law schools, UCLA School of Law distinguishes itself through its world-class faculty and commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment. The faculty prepares students for careers in transactional and litigation practices, government, academia, business, international law, public policy, and public interest. The school's global network of over 22,000 alumni further solidifies its position as a preeminent law school dedicated to educational excellence, collaboration, and diversity. Graduates have attained high levels in the legal profession, working across diverse industries.

Specializations and Curriculum

LL.M. students have the option of pursuing general studies or specializing in fields such as Media, Entertainment, Technology, and Sports Law and Policy; International and Comparative Law; Technology Law; Environmental Law; four Business-related tracks (Business Law, Bankruptcy, Securities Regulation, and Tax); Human Rights; Native Nations Law; Public Interest Law and Policy; Critical Race Studies; Law and Sexuality; and Law and Philosophy. Students may also develop their own specializations with the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. These optional specializations permit LL.M. students to pursue their academic and professional interests in depth through an intensive course of study while at UCLA. The LL.M. curriculum includes attendance in upper-division law school classes alongside J.D. students.

Twenty-two semester units of class credit, over two semesters, are required for the LL.M. degree. There are no required courses for LL.M. students who already hold a J.D. or equivalent law degree.

Campus Environment and Location

UCLA's campus is ideally located in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Los Angeles, just 15 minutes from the beach and 5 minutes from Beverly Hills. Los Angeles provides a rich and distinctive environment, with a multitude of opportunities for civic and community involvement. UCLA’s colors were chosen to represent regional attributes: blue to symbolize the ocean and local wildflowers, and yellow to reflect “the Golden State,” the California poppy, and sunsets.

Application Requirements and Process

To apply for admission to the UCLA Law LL.M. Program, prospective applicants must submit an application and supporting documents through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Document Assembly Service. Creating an account requires one-time fees charged by LSAC. UCLA does not charge an application fee for its LL.M. program.

Applicants are not required to register for the LSAC CAS LL.M. International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES), for which LSAC charges an additional fee. Domestic applicants should note that LSAC's LL.M. CAS is separate from the LSAC service through which they previously applied to J.D. programs, requiring a new LSAC LL.M. account.

The application must be completed online via LSAC LL.M. CAS and requires basic data regarding career interests, academic qualifications, and references.

Required Documents

Résumé: A standard résumé listing academic qualifications and relevant work experience is required. A more detailed curriculum vitae may be submitted if desired.
Personal Statement: An important aspect of the application is the personal statement, in which applicants describe their objectives in pursuing graduate legal studies at UCLA School of Law. This statement should discuss matters relevant to the applicant’s ability to succeed in law school and the practice of law, and any attributes, experiences, or interests that would enable them to make a distinctive contribution to UCLA and the legal profession. The personal statement should be typed, double-spaced in 12-point font, and should not exceed three pages in length.
Transcripts: Applicants must arrange to have transcripts submitted to the LSAC LL.M. CAS Document Assembly Service from all graduate and undergraduate coursework evidencing their completion of a prior degree in law, such as an LL.B. or J.D. Transcripts should include all courses taken and grades received for university work and must be translated into English.
Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must arrange to have two (2) to four (4) letters of recommendation submitted to LSAC from knowledgeable persons who can speak to the applicant’s academic qualifications and career interests. The letters are most helpful when the writer can provide the committee with specific firsthand information on the applicant’s academic and (if applicable) professional capacity and performance. If possible, please include at least one academic reference.
TOEFL/IELTS Score (if applicable): International applicants who are not native English speakers or do not hold a law degree from an institution at which the primary language of instruction is English are required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. UCLA School of Law prefers a score of at least 96 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 600 on the paper-based exam. An overall IELTS score of at least 7.5 will also be viewed favorably. International applicants whose native language is English or who have earned a law degree from an institution at which the primary language of instruction is English are not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score.

Review Process and Timeline

After the application is complete, some applicants may receive an invitation to complete a recorded interview through the Kira Talent platform. The Graduate Studies Committee will begin reviewing an application after all of its corresponding supporting documentation has been received. Admission results are announced on a rolling basis from February through April.

Read also: MPH Curriculum at UCLA

Financial Aid and Scholarships

All applicants receive full consideration for the limited number of Dean's Tuition Fellowship awards. No separate application is necessary, and grantees will be notified by the LL.M. Program after receiving their offer of admission. All applicants to the program-both international and domestic LLM students-are eligible for consideration for the Dean’s Tuition Fellowship, a competitive need- and merit-based award that can cover a portion of tuition expenses. Most LLM students, however, will frequently pursue independent, alternate financial aid resources to help supplement the cost of the program.

English Language Support

UCLA offers incoming LL.M. students an exciting opportunity to strengthen their English skills and prepare for law school before the regular academic year begins. The Law and Culture Institute (LCI) is designed for international students who have not previously studied, lived, or worked in an English-speaking environment.

The American Language Center (ALC) at UCLA Extension offers intensive English language courses for international and local participants seeking to improve their English. The Academic Intensive English Program (AIEP) is a full-time program offered on a quarterly basis during the fall, winter, spring, and summer, or - alternatively - on short-term bases during the summer for condensed, six-week periods. The Intensive English Communication Program (IECP) is offered on a quarterly basis during the fall, winter, spring, and summer, or - alternatively - on short-term bases spanning three-, four-, or eight-week periods. The American Culture & Communication (ACC) Course is offered on a quarterly basis for short-term periods spanning three or four weeks at a time.

The Dashew Center for International Students & Scholars (DCISS) offers an American Culture & Conversation Program (AC&C), which is free of charge to enrolled UCLA students. Dashew’s Language Exchange program enables students and scholars at UCLA to request to be paired with a native speaker of the language they are learning to have one-on-one conversations, held at their convenience.

UCLA’s Graduate Writing Center (GWC) provides a variety of workshops and programs throughout the year to assist graduate and professional students with general writing matters as well as more specialized and targeted writing issues. Students may arrange individual writing consultations by appointment at no cost.

UCLA Extension offers a variety of English as a Second Language (ESL) courses ranging from Advanced English as a Second Language to Writing and Grammar for Professional Purposes. Although they are not typically available during the regular academic year, UCLA Summer ESL Program course offerings include a variety of courses to aid students in improving their pronunciation, fluency, writing skills, and more in English.

Career Services

The School of Law’s Office of Career Services features two career counselors solely devoted to working with LLM students. In addition to founding and organizing the annual UCLA LLM Interview Program, they assist our LLM students with creating and editing résumés, improving interviewing skills, launching their job search, and more. UCLA Law also offers guidance to students navigating the complex US bar exam qualification process.

Housing Options

While there are on-campus university housing options available for single graduate students as well as those with families, the majority of UCLA’s graduate students do not live in university housing because there are many desirable off-campus housing options available in the local area. LLM students have lived in private apartments in Westwood and surrounding neighborhoods such as Santa Monica, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Culver City, Palms, and others.

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