Candidates for admission should submit their applications online via LSAC. If an applicant is facing extenuating circumstances, they may apply by mail. Applications are available October 1; application review begins in November. Application deadline is May 1.
The nonrefundable application fee is $75.
No, the LSAT examination is not required for admission to the LL.M. program.
No, this is not required.
No. Participants in the University of Minnesota Law School's LL.M. Program are expected to complete the full academic year (a minimum of 24 credits) at Minnesota Law.
The class of 2022 program begins on August 9, 2021, with the mandatory "Introduction to American Law" course, and continues through graduation on May 14, 2022.
One-year deferrals are granted on a case-by-case basis. Historically, the Admissions Committee has granted a deferral for extraordinary circumstances, such as the inability to secure a visa or financial hardship.
To reapply, you must send a letter explaining what you have been doing since your previous application, requesting that your file be reactivated, as well as the application form, the current financial certification statement, your updated resume and transcript(s) for any additional course work you have completed.
No. The LL.M. program is a two-semester course, with a fall start only. All students are expected to complete the required 24 credits within one academic year.
Each applicant must prove English language proficiency either through an English proficiency exam or confirming their native language is English. Minnesota Law accepts TOEFL and IELTS scores, and applicants may request to submit a Duolingo score report instead of TOEFL or IELTS.
TOEFL: Minimum overall score is 4.5 for applicants who take the TOEFL exam on January 21, 2026, or after, with strong preference given to applicants with scores of 5.0 or higher. If applicants took the TOEFL exam before January 21, 2026, the minimum overall score is 80, with strong preference given to applicants with scores over 100. We do not accept MyBest scores.
IELTS: Minimum overall score is 6.5, with strong preference given to candidates who score 7.5 or higher.
Duolingo (if approved): Minimum overall score is 120.
Regardless of the exam taken, scores are considered valid if the exam date is within two years of your LL.M. program start date.
All TOEFL and IELTS official score reports should be sent directly to LSAC. The ETS TOEFL institution code for LSAC is 8395. The IELTS institution name is "LSAC LLM/JD Credential Assembly Svc".
Contact [email protected] with any questions about submitting a Duolingo exam instead and how to submit the official score report.
There are few circumstances where an applicant may be approved for a waiver and each request is considered on a case-by-case basis. For example, the admissions committee would consider a waiver if an applicant has completed a higher education degree where the language of instruction is English within the past two years, or if they are currently living and working in the United States and have been for several years.
It is important to note that admitted students who request a waiver and are approved are not eligible to apply for a language variance for law school final exams (extra time based on the fact that English is not the native language).
We receive approximately 250 applications per year on average. We typically enroll a class of 40–60 students annually.
You must have completed a law degree at an institution outside the U.S. The purpose of the LL.M. program is to provide international lawyers with exposure to the American legal system. International lawyers gain insight into the common law system and case analysis, while familiarizing themselves with American culture through interaction with J.D. students and other professional and social events.
The current school year's estimated cost breakdown is available on our LL.M. how to apply page. If offered admission to the program, you must provide evidence of financial support for tuition and fees, mandatory health insurance and textbook costs, and living costs for one year.
Limited funding is available from Minnesota Law for tuition only. Every admitted student is automatically considered for a scholarship. Students are encouraged to explore external sources of funding as needed, such as government or nonprofit organization scholarships, or LLM Study's bursary program. The University of Minnesota Law School does not endorse any particular organization or company.
The LL.M. degree may enable students to sit for the bar in jurisdictions that allow LL.M. graduates to take the bar. Each state has its own regulations regarding qualification for a state bar exam and students should do their own research regarding these regulations. The National Conference of Bar Examiners annual guide includes bar information for all individual states. Completion of the LL.M. degree does not qualify students to take the bar exam in the State of Minnesota.
The Business Law concentration is an option for students earning the general LL.M. degree. The general LL.M. degree with a Business Law concentration requires that you take 15 credits of business law courses. You must earn a 3.0 grade (B) in each of the business law classes to earn the certificate. You will still earn the LL.M. degree, even if you do not meet the grade requirements for business law courses.
The Business Law LL.M. is a separate degree from the general LL.M. Students must specifically apply for the Business Law LL.M. during the application process. The Business Law LL.M. requires 17 credits of business law courses and in order to earn the degree, a 2.0 overall grade average must be maintained.
In both cases, at least 24 total credits are required to earn the LL.M. degree.