Master of Laws (LLM) Applicants

The Admissions Committee reviews files in the order they are completed, on a rolling basis, space permitting. Therefore, it is to the applicant’s advantage to submit the complete application with supporting materials as early as possible. Applicants will be reviewed once all required documents and the application fee have been received.

Applicants will be evaluated on academic and personal criteria. All applicants are automatically considered for Merit scholarship as part of the review by the Admissions committee after a holistic review. A complete list of required application materials can be found in the “Requirements for Admission” Section below. Please note that all documents that are not in English, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, must be accompanied by an English translation. In addition, a credential evaluation assessment may be required.

There are two ways to apply to our LLM Programs - Directly through our department or through LSAC.org.  As you review the application requirements below we will highlight the different ways to apply.

If you apply directly through the LLM programs you will need to arrange to have documents sent to us via email or directly to our office at:

LLM and Masters Programs Admissions Office
2130 Fulton Ave, Suite 230
San Francisco, California 94117

1. Direct Application

If you are applying directly through our department, you will submit the online Application here.

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You may apply directly or you may submit your application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). All required sections of the application must be completed. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

On the application, you may select only one of the following options under entering status:

• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Intellectual Property and Technology Law (IPTL)

2. Education

All applicants are required to have a first degree in law (e.g., JD degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school by the time classes begin; or have completed in a foreign country the university-based legal education required to take the equivalent of the bar examination in that country; or are qualified to practice law in a foreign country; or are otherwise determined sufficiently qualified by the LLM Admissions Committee).

Original transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended are required.  The transcripts must be sent directly to the USF School of Law Office of LLM Admissions in sealed envelopes by your university. They should be sent to the following address:

LLM and Masters Programs Admissions Office
2130 Fulton Ave, Suite 230
San Francisco, California 94117

The transcripts should show your grades, approximate class rank, and any degree received. If the degree received is not printed on the transcript, you must provide a copy of the diploma certificate. If possible, please provide a grading system explanation sheet from each school. If not in English, transcripts and diplomas must be accompanied by an English translation. The School of Law may require a credential evaluation to be completed as part of the review process.

Applicants can also submit their international transcripts through the LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS). This service is included in the LLM CAS subscription fee. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your LLM CAS report. To use the LLM CAS, log in to your online account at LSAC.org and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it to them promptly.. Questions about the LLM Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at (215) 968-1001 or LSACinfo@LSAC.org.

More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts and applicants should plan accordingly.

3. Personal Statement and Resume/Curriculum Vitae

The Admissions Committee requires that each applicant submit a personal statement to supplement the application form.

The statement should focus on your reasons for applying to the LLM program, your preparation for the LLM Program, and career goals. The Committee is interested in your personal experiences, background and accomplishments. Other factors that are helpful to the Committee include co-curricular activities, areas of interest, past or present employment, and university honors.

A resume or curriculum vitae (C.V.) is required It should be current as of your application.

Additional statements may be requested to address issues with an application or to provide additional context for the Admissions Committee. In addition, applicants are welcome to include a diversity statement.

All documents must be sent as a PDF document. If applying directly to the School of Law your documents can be emailed to masterlaws@usfca.edu. If applying electronically via LSAC, your personal statement may be submitted as an electronic attachment.

4. Two Letters of Recommendation

The Admissions Committee requires two (2) letters of recommendation in support of your application. An optional third letter may be submitted, but no more than three (3) letters of recommendation will be considered for one application. Although the Admissions Committee will accept recommendation letters from any two individuals designated by the applicant, the Committee suggests:

• If possible, have the two recommendations completed by law school faculty members (or administrators) with whom you have studied. If you have been away from school for a considerable time, you may wish to substitute other individuals, including supervisors and business colleagues, with whom you have had more contact. 
• Choose individuals who have had substantial and recent opportunities to observe your professional and/or academic promise. Recommendations from people who have not had such opportunity are of little assistance to the Committee and your application.

Letters must be printed on letterhead, signed, and submitted in sealed envelopes. If submitted electronically they should be in PDF format. If not in English, the letters of recommendation must be accompanied by an English translation.

If applying directly to the School of Law the letters may be emailed to masterlaws@usfca.edu directly from your recommender. Alternatively, they can be mailed directly to the USF School of Law LLM Office of Admissions. Applicants applying through LSAC.org may have their recommenders submit their letters directly to LSAC.

5. $60 Application Fee

A $60 non-refundable application fee must be submitted with your application and paid using a valid credit card. If you are unable to pay the fee with a credit card, please email our office at masterlaws@usfca.edu for further instructions.

1. English Language Requirement

Strong English language ability is a prerequisite to admission. 

For foreign students whose native language is not English, this requirement may be satisfied by

1. having completed basic legal studies in an English-speaking country in a university where instruction was in English, or 
2. taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or 
3. successfully completing the USF LLM English Language Program (ELP).  

The recommended TOEFL score is 90 (iBT) and the IELTS is 7. Applicants with slightly lower scores can also still be considered for admission. Applicants should register to take these tests as early as possible so the scores will be received by the February 1 deadline. Only official TOEFL and IELTS scores from tests taken within two years of your application submission will be valid.

The TOEFL score report must be sent directly to USF by ETS. Use school code number 4792 to ensure the score will be forwarded to the LLM program of the USF School of Law. For information on taking the TOEFL exam, visit www.toefl.org. As an option, applicants that use the LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service can have the TOEFL report sent directly to LSAC using the code 0058. The score will be forwarded to USF along with an evaluation report of transcripts prepared by LSAC. 

IELTS testing locations and times may be obtained from www.ielts.org.  

2. Certification of Finances 

Foreign applicants (those who are not U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents) must submit the Certification of Finances Form (also available on our website) and supporting documents, showing funds covering the nine months of study at the university. Certification may be submitted either with your application or after you are admitted. If an applicant submits the certification and a copy of the passport identity page early and is subsequently admitted, he or she will receive the documentation required to apply for a visa more quickly. Please visit the above website for information on the cost of attendance, tuition, and fees.

Financial Aid

The University of San Francisco School of Law’s LLM Programs award merit based need only.  All applicants are automatically reviewed for  outstanding academic achievement. Since funds are limited, it is to the scholarship applicant's advantage to submit a complete application with supporting materials as early as possible.

In addition, information about external sources of financial aid for international students can be found here. Private loans are generally available for non U.S. citizens, if the student secures a credit-worthy cosigner who is either a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. Private loan options and details can be found here. Please select ‘Law Student’ when prompted for program type.

U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents needing financial aid may submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15 for federal aid and scholarship eligibility. Such students may qualify for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.. Additional federal aid is available through the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, a credit based loan offered through the federal government. U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents needing additional financial aid information should visit the law school financial aid website.

Disclosures/Character and Fitness Updates

All applicants are required to complete the disclosure questions in the Character and Fitness section of the Application. USF requires applicants to disclose any issues related to academic probation, suspension, disqualification (particularly from a previous law school). In addition all applicants must disclose any felony or misdemeanor charge, arrest, conviction, or pending adjudication including a DUI (or any alcohol or drug-related offense). This includes any charge, arrest or conviction that may have been dropped or expunged. Information should include the date of each incident, full explanation of the incident, including the name of the charge, and the final disposition of each charge.

In addition, all applicants are required to notify the School of Law if any changes to the information included in their Application for Admission occur after the application has been submitted. In particular, all applicants must immediately notify the Director of Admissions if any new academic probation, suspension, disqualification issues arise, or if any new charge, arrest or conviction of any felony or misdemeanor takes place after submitting the application.

Conviction is any of the following: (1) a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, (2) a verdict or finding of guilt regardless of whether sentence is imposed by the court. The Bar Examiners will receive reports of any such convictions from law enforcement agencies.

Newly admitted applicants are required to immediately submit a detailed written description of new disclosures to the Law School Office of Admissions if an incident occurs AFTER an offer of admission is made and to the Office of the Assistant Dean for Academic Services if an incident occurs AFTER classes begin. Information disclosed after an applicant has been offered admission will automatically result in a re-evaluation of the applicant's file.

Failure to disclose any changes to your application or any of the Character & Fitness information noted above, may result in revocation of your admission decision, dismissal from school, revocation of any degree awarded by USF School of Law, denial of admission to the Bar, and referral to the LSAC Subcommittee on Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process.

Application Materials

All materials and correspondence relating to admission or your Law School application should be directed to the Law School LLM Admissions Office. Once submitted, all materials become the property of the School of Law and will not be returned or copied. Please keep a copy of your application and any supporting documents for your records.

Status Checks

Applicants will be notified by e-mail once their application is received by USF and given login details to check status, including when your application file becomes complete, and as soon as an admission decision has been reached. Those who require an early decision may contact the Office of LLM Admissions by telephone or email to confirm the status of their application. All official decision letters will be sent electronically.