Overview
The LL.M. Program at Penn State’s Dickinson Law gives students and lawyers trained outside of the U.S. a high-level understanding of the American legal system. The program’s foundational courses introduce you to our unique analytic methodologies. Students then may choose courses from our “The Lawyer As…” curriculum divided by specialized fields of study, and create personalized tracks based on areas of interest.
Admissions Requirements
Dickinson Law awards both the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree. Our LL.M. program gives students and lawyers trained outside of the United States a high-level of understanding of the American legal system.
Application to the LL.M. program at Dickinson Law is highly selective. The LL.M. Admissions Committee reviews completed applications on an ongoing basis. Although the Admissions Committee attempts to notify candidates whose files are incomplete, it is ultimately the applicant's responsibility to ensure timely completion of his or her application.
Learn more about the admissions requirements for the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree including how to apply and the admissions timeline.
Program Requirements
The LL.M. program is a course of study that requires a minimum of 24 credits, which can be taken full-time over one academic year or part-time over three to four semesters. Full-time students must enroll in at least 12 credits but no more than 17 credits per semester but may take advantage of the third-semester option by enrolling in at least six additional credits of study for a total of 30 credits for their LL.M. degree.
To earn the LL.M. degree, students must earn a minimum of 24 credits, and complete with a passing grade the following courses:
- LL.M Legal Research (1 credit)
- LL.M. Legal Writing (2 credits)
- Introduction to the United States Legal System (2 credits)
In addition, students must enroll in one course from the following list:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law I
- Contracts
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Property
- Torts
The academic deans may waive any of the course requirements where students have satisfactorily completed equivalent courses at another United States law program or in a common law country.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER OF LAWS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Professional Licensure/Certification
Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.