www.law.uga.edu

General Questions about the LL.M. Program:

• What is the focus of the program?
  The program offers an LL.M. in U.S. Law. Students receive instruction in legal research and writing designed specifically for foreign-trained law graduates and are able to choose from the wide range of courses available to JD students to fulfill degree requirements. Students may choose the All-Courses track or the Essay track.
• Can I specialize?
  Yes. Although we offer no certificate programs, you can specialize in an area of your choosing by selecting specific subject matter courses from our expansive curriculum. You are not required to specialize. If you prefer, you can study varied courses in major subject areas of U.S. law.
• How long is the program?
  One year, comprised of the fall and spring terms. It starts in mid-August and exams end in May. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours. In limited circumstances, students may be allowed to extend their studies into the summer term.
• What are the dates of the program?
  The mandatory LL.M. orientation program will take place August 15-16 2013. Fall semester classes begin on August 20, 2013. Winter break is from December 19, 2013 to January 6, 2014 with spring classes starting on January 7, 2014. Commencement is May 17, 2014.
• Do you admit students to begin the LL.M. program in the spring or summer semesters?
  No, LL.M. students begin in the fall semester only.
• Do you have a part-time or summer LL.M. program?
  No. The LL.M. program is full-time only.
• How many students are in the program?
  Generally, there are 15-25 students each year.
• What is the cost?
  Tuition and fees total $37,196 for the year for non-residents of Georgia.
• How much does it cost to live in Athens?
  Housing, food, personal expenses, books and transportation will cost approximately $10,000 for the fall and spring terms.
• How can I pay my tuition and fees?
  Students can pay with cash, check, on-line with credit/debit card (American Express, Discover and MasterCard ONLY), web check, ACH, Secure Vault Payment and financial aid. Graduate assistants can use the payroll deduct payment option to pay tuition and fees only.
• Is there any financial aid available?
  The University of Georgia School of Law cannot certify educational loans for students who are not U.S. permanent residents or U.S. citizens. You may be eligible for a limited merit scholarship, but the majority of your costs will need to be covered by your own finances or loans secured through private granting agencies or your government.
• Is there on-campus housing available?
  Although most students choose to live off campus, there is some on-campus housing available. Contact the office of International Student Life for assistance.
• When will I get my I-20?
  Once an applicant has been approved for admission, the I-20 will be issued by the University of Georgia Graduate Admissions. This process may take 3 to 4 weeks.
• How do I obtain a visa?
  If admitted, you will be sent the required forms to apply for a visa with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.

Applying to the LL.M. Program:

• Do you require the LSAT for admission to the LL.M. program?
  No.
• What are the requirements for admission?
  Applicants must have the equivalent of a juris doctorate degree from a law school outside of the U.S. They must also have fulfilled the educational requirements for admission to practice law in a country other than the United States, and will need to demonstrate English fluency. • Official transcripts and proof of degree with appropriate translations. • An essay of approximately 500 words that indicates why you wish to attend the LL.M. Program at UGA and which track you intend to pursue. • A current resume or CV • Program of Study Form • Two (2) letters of recommendation • Official TOEFL score
• What are the TOEFL and IELTS score requirements?
  A TOEFL score of approximately 235 for the computer based exam, 575 for the paper test, or 90 for the internet based exam is required to be competitive for admission. An IELTS score of approximately 6.5 is required to be competitive for admission. The TOEFL/IELTS may be waived in limited circumstances.
• Where is information about applying for the TOEFL and/or IELTS?
  Contact Educational Testing Services (ETS). For IELTS visit their website at www.ielts.org.
• What is the University of Georgia School of Law TOEFL reporting code?
  The University of Georgia School of Law institutional TOEFL reporting code is 5813.
• How many letters of reference do you require?
  Two. Letters should be submitted directly from the recommender to the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS).
• Where do I send the application materials?
  Students should apply through the LLM CAS.
• Who can apply?
  The LL.M. program in U.S. law is for candidates who have received or will receive prior to enrolling at the University of Georgia School of Law a law degree from a law school outside of the U.S. and have fulfilled educational requirements for admission to practice law in a country other than the U.S. Graduates of U.S. law schools are ineligible.
• How do I apply?
  For complete instructions, visit our application page. http://www.law.uga.edu/llm-application
• When should I apply?
  All application documents must be received by March 1 to be considered for fall admission. Priority consideration for scholarships will be given to applicants who have submitted all required materials by February 1.

Admissions Decisions:

• If I am admitted, but am unable to attend, is it possible to defer my admission until the next year?
  Deferrals are granted on a case by case basis for compelling reasons, such as the inability to secure a visa or financial hardship. In any case, deferrals cannot be extended beyond one year.
• How long does the admission process take?
  The LL.M. admissions committee begins reviewing files in August. An admission decision is generally reached within 2-3 weeks of receipt of all application documents.

Degree Requirements:

• What courses can I take?
  In addition to the required courses, LL.M. candidates generally may take any courses offered at the School of Law subject to the course prerequisites or the permission of the instructor.
• Do LL.M. students take courses with J.D. students?
  All courses for LL.M. students except for Legal Research and Writing for International Students will be comprised of both LL.M. students and J.D. students.
• Must I write an essay or thesis?
  No. Only students who are interested in going into academia should choose the Essay track. Other students should choose the All-Courses track and will not be required to write an essay.

After Earning an LL.M.:

• Are LL.M. graduates eligible to take a bar examination?
  Bar examination eligibility rules vary among the states. In Georgia an LL.M. degree will not generally qualify an international lawyer to take the state bar exam. International LL.M. graduates may, however, qualify for the bar exam in other states (e.g. New York).
• If I receive an LL. M. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, am I eligible for admission to New York Bar?
  If you plan to take the New York Bar, please review the New York Bar Exam eligibility requirements for foreign-trained attorneys.
• What courses can I take to satisfy the New York Bar eligibility requirement of Section 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals?
  The complete list can be found here.
• What are the requirements for graduation?
  Successful completion of a total of 24 credit hours, including o Legal Research and Writing for LL.M. students (3 hours) o Constitutional Law I or Civil Procedure I (3 hours) o Law and the Ethics of Lawyering (3 hours)
• Who do I contact for information about the LL.M. program?
  Call, email, or write:

  University of Georgia School of Law
  Graduate Legal Studies
  Attn: Alex Sklut
  109 Herty Drive
  Athens, GA 30602-6012 USA
  706-542-5211 phone
  706-542-2489 fax
  intlgrad@uga.edu