LL.M. How to Apply: Application Overview

LL.M. Admission Standards

Admissions decisions to Miami Law’s Graduate Programs are made by each Graduate Program pursuant to the policies established by the Graduate Admissions Committee. The Director of each Graduate Program evaluates the applicant’s potential for excellence in the Graduate Program of choice. The standard indicators of such potential, prior academic achievements, and standardized test scores, are evaluated in light of the quality of the institutions attended and the rigor of the course of study selected by the applicant. In deciding among the applicants who satisfy the law school’s high academic standards, such factors as significant work experience, extracurricular activities, community service, individual characteristics, and background details will also be considered.

Because the process is selective, applicants are encouraged to provide a complete overview of their background and accomplishments. Prior to matriculation, applicants who are granted admission must have earned a Juris Doctor degree from an institution accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or a first degree in law from an accrediting institution outside of the United States with equivalent standing. Please note that the Graduate Program in Estate Planning (Heckerling) requires applicants to have earned a Juris Doctor degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

• LL.M. Graduate Programs Offered at Miami Law

  • Graduate Program in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law
  • Graduate Program in Estate Planning (Heckerling)
  • Graduate Program in International Arbitration (White & Case)
  • Graduate Program in International Law - includes U.S. and Transnational Law for Foreign-Trained Lawyers
  • Graduate Program in Maritime Law
  • Graduate Program in Real Property Development (Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig)
  • Graduate Program in Taxation
  • Graduate Program in Taxation of Cross-Border Investment

Application Forms

There are two different ways to submit an application:

• Graduate Program in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law

  Full-time applicants to the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. must start in the fall semester (priority deadline of May 1) and, at the discretion of the Director, may later convert to part-time status. Part-time applicants must start in the fall semester (priority deadline of May 1) and, at the discretion of the Director, may later convert to full-time status. Spring starts are possible in limited circumstances with the approval of the Director.

• Graduate Program in Estate Planning (Heckerling)

  Full-time applicants to the Estate Planning LL.M. must start in the fall semester. At the discretion of the Director, part-time applicants may start in either the fall or spring semester. Admission decisions are made as applications are received.  Applicants seeking admission for the Fall semester are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline of May 1.  Prior to enrollment applicants must have completed a Federal Income Tax and a Trust and Estates course at the J.D. level.

• Graduate Program in International Arbitration (White & Case)

  Students in the LL.M. in International Arbitration may study on a full-time or part-time basis depending on their individual preferences and visa requirements (where applicable). Applications for admission will be considered on a rolling basis for a Fall (August) or Spring (January) program start. Applicants intending to start in the Fall semester are encouraged to complete their application by the priority deadline of December 15 of the previous year; applicants intending to start in the Spring semester are encouraged to complete their application by the priority deadline of November 15 of the previous year. Students may submit their applications after the priority deadline has passed; admissions decisions will be made until the beginning of semester or until program spaces are filled. However, international students who will need to enter the U.S. on a student visa, should apply at least three months prior to their intended program start, as additional time may be needed for visa application and processing. Applicants who need to improve their English proficiency prior to embarking on their LL.M. studies may select the Intensive Legal English + International Arbitration LL.M. Program as their preferred study option; this 3-semester program only starts in Spring (application deadline: December 1 of the previous year).

• Graduate Program in International Law (includes specializations in LL.M. in U.S. and Transnational Law for Foreign Lawyers and General LL.M. in International Law)

  Our Graduate Program in International Law offers two specializatiOns: (1) U.S. and Transnational Law for Foreign Lawyers and (2) General International Law. 

  Students in the LL.M. in International Law may study on a full-time or part-time basis depending on their individual preferences and visa requirements (where applicable). Applications for admission will be considered on a rolling basis for a Fall (August) or Spring (January) program start. Applicants intending to start in the Fall semester are encouraged to complete their application by the priority deadline of May 1 of the same year; applicants intending to start in the Spring semester are encouraged to complete their application by the priority deadline of November 15 of the previous year. Students may submit their applications after the priority deadline has passed; admissions decisions will be made until the beginning of semester or until program spaces are filled. However, international students who will need to enter the U.S. on a student visa, should apply at least three months prior to their intended program start, as additional time may be needed for visa application and processing. Applicants who need to improve their English proficiency prior to embarking on their LL.M. studies may select the Intensive Legal English + International Law LL.M. Program as their preferred study option; this 3-semester program only starts in Spring (application deadline: December 1 of the previous year).

• Graduate Program in Maritime Law

  Students in the LL.M. in Maritime Law may study on a full-time or part-time basis depending on their individual preferences and visa requirements (where applicable). Applications for admission will be considered on a rolling basis for a Fall (August) or Spring (January) program start. Applicants intending to start in the Fall semester are encouraged to complete their application by the priority deadline of May 1 of the same year; applicants intending to start in the Spring semester are encouraged to complete their application by the priority deadline of November 15 of the previous year.  Students may submit their applications after the priority deadline has passes; admissions decisions will be made until the beginning of the semester or until program spaces are filled. However, international students who will need to enter the U.S. on a student visa, should apply at least three months prior to their intended program start, as additional time may be needed for visa application and processing. Applicants who need to improve their English proficiency prior to embarking on their LL.M. studies may select the Intensive Legal English + Maritime Law LL.M. Program as their preferred study option; this 3-semester program only starts in Spring (application deadline: December 1 of the previous year).

• Graduate Program in Real Property Development (Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig)

  Full-time applicants to the Real Property Development LL.M. must start in the fall semester. Part-time applicants, including distance learners, may start in the fall or spring semester.

• Graduate Program in Taxation

  Full-time applicants to the Tax LL.M. program must start in the fall semester. Part-time applicants may start in the fall or spring semester at the Director's discretion. Note that prior to enrollment, applicants must have successfully completed a basic Federal Income Tax course at the JD level.

• Graduate Program in Taxation of Cross-Border Investment

  Full-time applicants to the Taxation in Cross-Border Investment must start in the fall semester, which begins in the summer for this program, unless they obtain permission from the Director to start in the spring. Applicants seeking admission for the Fall semester are encouraged to apply 3 weeks before the semester begins. Part-time applicants may start in the fall or spring semester at the Director's discretion.  This program may be completed either remotely or in person.

• Intensive Legal English + LL.M.

  Applicants who need to improve their English proficiency prior to embarking on their LL.M. studies may select the Intensive Legal English + LL.M. Program as their preferred study option; this 3-semester program only starts in Spring. This program has its own deadline and offers limited spots. Applications will be considered as soon as they are complete, and ideally should be submitted by December 1; candidates needing an F-1 student visa to study in the U.S. are encouraged to apply sooner, by November 1.

Admission Requirements for LL.M. Applicants with a Juris Doctor from an ABA-approved Law School

The Application Checklist explains in detail which documents are necessary to complete an application. Please read carefully before applying and follow the below instructions to ensure your application is complete. For questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Graduate Program to which you are applying.

• 1. Application Fee

  If applying through Miami Law’s Online Application System, a $50 application fee is required, which may be paid by credit card through the online system.  Please note separate registration and report fees apply for using LSAC's LL.M. CAS service, in addition to the regular $50 application fee. The application fee is non-refundable and will not be credited toward tuition or any other account in the event of admission.

• 2. Law School and Other University Transcripts and Diplomas

  Applicants must arrange for official transcripts and diplomas for all academic work completed to be mailed by the institution directly to: University of Miami School of Law, Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 248087, Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087, USA. This includes law school and other academic work at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional level, completed in the United States or abroad. Alternatively, the institution may email transcripts and diplomas directly to the Graduate Program to which you are applying.  All documents not in English must be translated into English by an approved translation service of the American Translators Association, or the English translation must be certified as complete and accurate by the issuing institution.

  Submission of transcripts and diplomas through LSAC's LL.M. CAS is also accepted, but not required. Applicants who completed more than one year of post-secondary work outside the United States (including its territories) or Canada must submit their international transcripts through the LL.M. CAS’s International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES). The University of Miami School of Law’s LL.M. CAS school code is 5815. Transcripts for any work completed after an applicant has fulfilled all the requirements for LL.M. CAS submission, such as transcripts for a final semester or summer session, should be sent to us through LSAC’s LL.M. CAS prior to matriculation.  

  All offers of admission are conditional upon receipt of the applicant’s official transcript and diploma prior to matriculation conferring a Juris Doctor degree from an institution accredited by the American Bar Association or a first degree in law from an accrediting institution outside of the United States with equivalent standing. 

• 3. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report and LSAT Score

  Applicants who graduated with a J.D. from a U.S. law school must arrange for a copy of their LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, which includes their Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score, to be sent directly to the University of Miami School of Law, Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 248087

  Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087, USA.

• 4. Letters of Recommendation

  Applicants must obtain two letters of recommendation from law school professors, stating in detail their opinion of the applicant’s qualifications for graduate law study in the LL.M. Program. Applicants who have practiced law for more than two years may submit one letter of recommendation from an employer or colleague; the other letter of recommendation should be from a law school professor if possible. Letters of recommendation can be submitted through Miami Law’s Online Application System, LSAC or directly via email to the LL.M. Program to which you are applying.

• 5. Personal Statement

  Applicants must submit a personal statement of approximately 500 words in English through Miami Law’s Online Application System or LSAC. Applicants should address their own academic and professional background, professional goals, specific interest in the study and practice of your chosen field, and other matters they deem of importance. The personal statement must be prepared by the applicant without any outside help and should contain a statement to that effect.

• 6. Resume or Curriculum Vitae

  Applicants also must summarize their academic and professional background in a resume or curriculum vitae and submit it through Miami Law's Online Application System or LSAC.

Admission Requirements for LL.M. Applicants with a Foreign Law Degree

The Application Checklist explains in detail which documents are necessary to complete an application. Please read carefully before applying and follow the below instructions to ensure your application is complete. For questions, please do not hesitate to contact the LL.M. Program to which you are applying.

• 1. Application Fee

  If applying through Miami Law’s Online Application System, a $50 application fee is required, which may be paid by credit card through the online system.  Please note separate registration and report fees apply for using LSAC's LL.M. CAS service, in addition to the regular $50 application fee. The application fee is non-refundable and will not be credited toward tuition or any other account in the event of admission.

• 2. Law School and Other University Transcripts and Diplomas

  Applicants must arrange for official transcripts and diplomas for all academic work completed to be mailed by the institution directly to:  the University of Miami School of Law, Office of Admissions
  P.O. Box 248087, Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087, USA. This includes law school and other academic work at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional level, completed in the United States or abroad. Alternatively, the institution may email transcripts and diplomas directly to the Graduate Program to which you are applying.  All documents not in English must be translated into English by an approved translation service of the American Translators Association, or the English translation must be certified as complete and accurate by the issuing institution.
   
  Submission of transcripts and diplomas through LSAC's LL.M. CAS is also accepted, but not required. Applicants who completed more than one year of post-secondary work outside the United States (including its territories) or Canada must submit their international transcripts through the LL.M. CAS’s International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES). The University of Miami School of Law’s LL.M. CAS school code is 5815. Transcripts for any work completed after an applicant has fulfilled all the requirements for LL.M. CAS submission, such as transcripts for a final semester or summer session, should be sent to us through LSAC’s LL.M. CAS prior to matriculation.  
   
  All offers of admission are conditional upon receipt of the applicant’s official transcript and diploma prior to matriculation conferring a Juris Doctor degree from an institution accredited by the American Bar Association or a first degree in law from an accrediting institution outside of the United States with equivalent standing. Please note that the Graduate Program in Estate Planning (Heckerling) requires applicants to have earned a Juris Doctor degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.; foreign-trained LL.M. applicants who do not hold a J.D. are not eligible to apply to the Estate Planning LL.M.

• 3. English Language Proficiency Test

  Applicants whose native language is not English or whose university-level education was completed outside the United States are required to submit results of an English-language proficiency test. Miami Law will accept scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test. The minimum required TOEFL score for admission is 580 paper-based, 237 computer-based, and 92 internet-based. The minimum required IELTS score for admission is 7.0. Applicants must arrange for their official TOEFL or IELTS score reports to be sent directly to the University of Miami School of Law, University of Miami School of Law, Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 248087, Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087, USA. The University of Miami School Code is 5815, and the Department Code is 03. No institutional code is needed for the IELTS.

  Submission of TOEFL/IELTS scores through LSAC's LL.M. CAS is also accepted, but not required. LSAC’s institutional code to report the TOEFL score is 8395. No institutional code is needed for the IELTS. Scores from either test will be included in the authentication and evaluation feature of the LL.M. CAS Report.

  Prospective students may apply for admission even if they have not yet taken the TOEFL or Academic IELTS. Official TOEFL or IELTS score reports must then be provided as soon as available to finalize the application process.

  For applicants who did not achieve the minimum required TOEFL or Academic IELTS score, Miami Law may recommend or require enrolling in an Intensive Legal English course designed for foreign-trained law graduates who need to improve their English proficiency before embarking on their LL.M; studies. Depending on the TOEFL or Academic IELTS score achieved, students may enroll in Intensive Legal English courses at Miami Law during the Spring, Summer or Fall semester immediately preceding the LL.M. Program start, or concurrently during the student's first semester in the LL.M. Program. Learn more about Miami Law's Intensive Legal English + LL.M. Program here.

  At the discretion of the program director, waivers of the English-language proficiency test requirement may be granted in situations where the applicant can present other evidence of English language capability, such as a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution in the U.S. or other English-speaking country or from an accredited institution where courses are taught entirely in English. To apply for a waiver, please contact the LL.M. Program to which you are applying for further details. 

• 4. Letters of Recommendation

  Applicants must obtain two letters of recommendation from law school professors, stating in detail their opinion of the applicant’s qualifications for graduate law study in the LL.M. Program. Applicants who have practiced law for more than two years may submit one letter of recommendation from an employer or colleague; the other letter of recommendation should be from a law school professor if possible. Letters of recommendation can be submitted through Miami Law’s Online Application System, LSAC or directly via email to the LL.M. Program to which you are applying.

• 5. Personal Statement

  Applicants must submit a personal statement of approximately 500 words in English through Miami Law’s Online Application System or LSAC. Applicants should address their own academic and professional background, professional goals, specific interest in the study and practice of your chosen field, and other matters they deem of importance. The personal statement must be prepared by the applicant without any outside help and should contain a statement to that effect.

• 6. Resume or Curriculum Vitae

  Applicants also must summarize their academic and professional background in a resume or curriculum vitae and submit it through Miami Law's Online Application System or LSAC.

J.D. + LL.M.  Joint Degree Programs

Recognizing the increased need for specialization, Miami Law offers a wide range of options for advanced training in a complementary discipline through its J.D. + LL.M. Joint Degree Programs.

Current Miami Law J.D. students who wish to apply to one of Miami Law’s Graduate Programs under the J.D. + LL.M. Joint Degree Program option, should contact the LL.M. Program of their choice directly and review individual LL.M. Program pages for further details.  

Current Miami Law LL.M. students who hold a foreign law degree and wish to earn the J.D. through Miami Law’s LL.M. to J.D. Joint Degree Program “Transfer” Option, should contact their LL.M. Program directly and review their LL.M. Program page for further details. More information on the LL.M. to J.D. Joint Degree Program “Transfer” Option is available here.

Cost of Attendance and Scholarship Information

Cost of attendance information for international LL.M. students not receiving U.S. federal funding, including students on F-1 or J-1 visas, and for domestic LL.M. students can be accessed here.

For information on available scholarships, contact the LL.M. Program to which you are applying and review individual LL.M. Program pages.

Practicing Law in the United States

It is your responsibility to contact the Board of Bar Examiners of the state in which you desire to practice law to determine whether the foreign degree you received or the LL.M. degree will qualify you to sit for that state's bar examination. You should also be aware that successful completion of the LL.M. program, and even admission to a state bar, does not automatically give you the right to practice law in the United States. Thus, we urge you to carefully examine current immigration regulations and consult with a United States Consulate before applying to the Graduate Program.

Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of the University of Miami that no person within the jurisdiction thereof shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected factor be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination or harassment (including all forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence) under any program or activity of the University, regardless of whether such program or activity occurs on-campus or off-campus. Retaliation against an individual who files a complaint of discrimination, opposes a policy/procedure/practice because he/she believes it to be discriminatory, or who participates in the investigation of a discrimination complaint, is prohibited.