Admission Requirements
English Language Requirement
The university and the law school require Official Score Reports of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before admitting an applicant whose primary language is not English. The minimum score required is 100 on the internet based test (IBT) or 600 on the paper based test (PBT). For futher details on the English language requirement, including how to request a waiver, please see the TOEFL page.
Master of Laws (LL.M.) Program
Applicants for admission to the Master of Laws LL.M. Program must have completed a regular curriculum at an accredited college and/or law school, and must hold a professional degree from a law school by the time they begin the LL.M. program at Berkeley Law.
Preference is given to those students who are in or are likely to enter either academic life or public service. Applicants who already hold an LL.M. degree from an American law school will not be considered for admission.
Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) Program
Applicants for admission to the J.S.D. Program must meet the same requirements as those for admission to the LL.M. Program. In addition, applicants must have earned an LL.M. degree at Berkeley Law or another American law school with a comparable program before applying to the J.S.D. program. Preference is given to applicants who have secured the support of a Berkeley Law faculty member to be the dissertation adviser.
The J.S.D. Program is severely restricted in size, and admission is normally limited to individuals who are engaged in or are outstanding candidates for academic work or other careers that emphasize legal scholarship. Applicants must demonstrate a high potential for completing a scholarly dissertation of the required quality. The approved dissertation must be completed and submitted within three years of the candidate’s initial registration.
Application for Admission
To apply, please see How to Apply - Application Forms & Deadlines.