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#Master of Laws (LLM Degrees)

Types of graduate law degrees

In English-speaking countries such as Australia. New Zealand. Canada. Ireland and the UK. the most common graduate law degree program is the LLM degree (Master of Laws ), which is internationally recognized and takes one year of full-time study to complete. Although an LLM degree is not compulsory to be able to undertake legal practice training, it is often chosen by students wishing to improve their knowledge and employability within a certain area of law.

In the US meanwhile, the first professional law qualification offered in the country is the JD degree (Juris Doctor), a graduate-level program taking three years of full-time study to complete, in addition to undergraduate study. Some JD programs can also be completed in combination with another master’s degree (e.g. public policy ), but these will take longer to complete. If you’re hoping to study law in the US, remember that the application process can be lengthy, meaning that forward-planning (ideally 18 months ahead of your start date) is a must. As well as being offered in the US, the JD degree is also available at universities in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan .

Other types of graduate-level law degree on offer include a law PhD (Doctor of Laws), offered worldwide, or a JSD (Doctor of Juridical Science), which is offered mainly in the US. Both advanced qualifications are directed mainly at students pursuing careers in academic research.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to apply for the JD degree offered in the US, you’ll often only need an undergraduate qualification, which can be in a broad range of subjects. However, LLM degree candidates are often required to hold an undergraduate law degree (e.g. the LLB – Bachelor of Laws) or extensive related work experience. In some instances, an unrelated undergraduate degree will suffice. If this is not the case, you can also consider undertaking a one-year law conversion program such as the Graduate Diploma in Law/Common Professional Examination (GDL/CPE).

Some top law schools in the US and Canada may also ask candidates for LSAT results. The LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) is a type of admissions test used to assess candidates’ suitability for law school. A high score in the LSAT could also land you more financial aid!

Course structure

The JD law degree remains the standard professional law qualification in the US, enabling graduates to take the US bar exam. But if you’re looking to build your international credentials, you may be better suited for an LLM ‘Master of Laws’ program, with a more global focus and application.

Undertaking a either a JD or LLM program should allow plenty of scope for specialization and focused research within a particular area of personal and professional interest. Depending on what your interests and career prospects are, you’ll be able to specialize in a huge array of legal areas, from human rights to labor law. The LLM in particular is highly regarded for its freedom of specialization, while also providing a widely recognized professional qualification.

If you’re looking to study law outside of the traditional LLM route, a growing number of universities – particularly across Europe – are introducing more specialized graduate degree options and joint degrees within law. The University of Oxford. for instance, offers specialized master’s degrees in dual subjects such as law and finance, criminology and criminal justice and international human rights, while other leading universities offer varied LLM degree specializations appealing to the needs of the local environment. One example of this is Hollywood-based UCLA. which offers an LLM in entertainment, media and intellectual property law.

To learn more about the areas of law you can focus on, click on the ‘law specializations’ tab above.