Master of Studies in Law (MSL)

Students can enroll full-time (12-20 credit hours per semester) and complete the MSL degree in one year, or enroll part-time (6-11 credit hours per semester) and complete the MSL degree in two years. Whether enrolled full-time or part-time in a given semester, students must complete the degree by the end of their second academic year, and can enroll in no more than 20 credit hours in a single semester. MSL students will take coursework from the same curriculum offerings available to JD and LLM students. To obtain the MSL degree, students must successfully complete 32 hours of credit in College of Law courses (including all required courses described below), complete a faculty-supervised research paper, and attain a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

The College of Law at Illinois is one of the oldest law schools in the country, with influential faculty, a smart and collegial student body, and a strong alumni network.

Students

Illinois Law students are talented and ambitious, academically strong as well as geographically and experientially diverse. They are competitive, yet collegial, and place a high value on teamwork. Many are actively engaged in the array of opportunities available outside of the classroom. The College of Law regularly welcomes students from over 25 different countries with varying levels of professional experience. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign community at large has over 10,000 international students from over 110 different countries.

Faculty

The University of Illinois’ law faculty has a long and distinguished tradition of advancing scholarship and research, training students in the knowledge, skills, and temperament to achieve professional excellence and leadership, and seeking beneficial change in law and society. They are:

• Industry leaders
• Acclaimed teachers
• Interdisciplinary experts
• Committed to public engagement

The LLM Program

The Illinois LLM program is designed to prepare students with or without any prior legal training to excel in their professional careers. Foreign-educated students in the LLM program are introduced to the U.S. legal system and provided the opportunity to specialize in their own area of academic or professional interest. U.S.-trained lawyers can also enhance their legal expertise to meet their professional and career goals in the LLM program.

Read on below to learn more about the LLM program and what makes us unique:

Flexibile Study Options

Students may choose to complete the LLM degree in two or three semesters. The optional third semester can allow a student time to engage in a more intensive program of study, enjoy greater internship opportunities, and have additional time to study for the bar exam.

To offer students additional flexibility, the LLM program may be started in either the fall semester (August) or the spring semester (January).

Customizable Curriculum

Students complete a total of 32 credit hours (typically eight courses) for the LLM degree. With only two required courses (waived or waivable for students with a JD from an ABA-accredited law school), students can customize their LLM program to meet their academic or professional needs while choosing from over 100 courses offered at the College of Law each year. Students may choose to add a concentration to their LLM program, and students interested in learning across disciplines may seek approval to take a select number of University of Illinois courses outside the College of Law.

Bar Examination Eligibility

The Office of Graduate and International Programs offers support to students interested in taking U.S. bar exams and works with individuals to determine their eligibility and the requirements they need to meet. Although a bachelor’s degree in law is not required for admission to the Illinois LLM program, applicants without a bachelor’s in law should be aware that they may not qualify to take a bar examination in the United States, even after completing the Illinois LLM.

Individualized Counseling

Students are provided individualized counseling and advising to assist them in career planning, academic success, and bar eligibility.

The University of Illinois

Since its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. With our land-grant heritage as a foundation, we pioneer innovative research that tackles global problems and expands the human experience. Our transformative learning experiences, in and out of the classroom, are designed to produce alumni who desire to make a significant, societal impact.