Applying for Admission

Applicants for admission to the LL.M. Program in US Legal Studies must hold a J.D. or equivalent degree from a law faculty outside the United States. The admissions committee considers the applicant's academic performance, intellectual curiosity and professional experience. The School of Law admits approximately 20 LL.M. candidates each year; the number of applications and expressions of interest significantly exceed that number. Consequently, admission is selective and limited to those who demonstrate academic excellence.

Unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption as outlined below, any international applicant who earned his or her first law degree outside the U.S. must obtain a minimum TOEFL IBT® score of 85 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, in order to be considered for admission to the LL.M. Programs at the University of Connecticut School of Law.  However, if the applicant meets this required minimum but does not attain a score of 90 or higher on the TOEFL IBT® or 7.0 or higher on the IELTS, the applicant must further substantiate proficiency in English through additional evidence of English language skills. This substantiation must include, but is not limited to, a strong writing sample in conjunction with an interview with an Admissions representative, conducted in-person, by phone, or online (using Skype or similar service). 

If the applicant’s TOEFL IBT®/IELTS score is lower than the required minima of 85 on the TOEFL IBT® or 6.5 on the IELTS (or if the applicant is unable to substantiate proficiency in English through additional evidence as defined in the prior paragraph), the applicant may nevertheless be considered for conditional admission. Such conditional admission would require the applicant to successfully complete an ESL program in the U.S. that is satisfactory to the Admissions Committee plus then obtain a new TOEFL IBT® score of at least 85 or a new IELTS score of at least 6.5 before being permitted to undertake the LL.M. Program.

The applicant may, however, be exempt from submitting a TOEFL IBT® or IELTS score if:

• the applicant earned a law degree from a recognized institution of higher learning at which the primary language of instruction was English;
• the applicant earned a prior academic degree from an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States;
• the applicant has resided and worked speaking English in an English-speaking country for not less than two years prior to the date of application; or
• the applicant’s native language is English.

Please note that any international applicant claiming exemption from the TOEFL IBT®/IELTS requirement must submit a written request with his or her application for admission that includes an explanation of the applicant’s proficiency in English along with original documentation supporting the requested exemption on the basis of one or more of the above categories.  Exemptions are not automatic and require the approval of the Admissions Committee.

In all instances, regardless of TOEFL IBT® or IELTS score or requested exemption, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to deny an application and to require a writing sample and an online, phone, or in-person interview as a condition for consideration of any application.

All international student applications should be received by June 1 for fall enrollment, or November 15th for spring enrollment. Applications received before these dates will be given priority consideration. Admission decisions will generally be made within several weeks of when a full application is received. Application forms should be downloaded from the website at:  http://www.law.uconn.edu/llm-program-us-legal-studies/applying-admission/application-instructions.  The application form must be submitted electronically.