Frequently Asked Questions
- Applying for Admission
- English Proficiency Exams
- Transcripts
- Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statement & C.V.
- Finances
- Academics
Applying for Admission
What are the basic admissions requirements?
International applicants for the LL.M. program must hold an undergraduate or graduate law degree (LL.B., LL.M., etc.) from a foreign institution, and have an acceptable TOEFL or IELTS score if English is not their primary language. American LL.M. applicants must hold a J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. law school. J.S.D. applicants must hold an LL.M. degree from an accredited U.S. law school. To see a list of minimum degree requirements by country, visit http://www.lsac.org/LLM/Applying/min-degree-requirements.asp.
I don't hold a law degree, but I took courses in law and/or have work experience in law. May I apply?
No, applicants to the LL.M. program must hold a law degree equivalent to a J.D. or LL.B.
I already hold an LL.M. from another US university. May I apply?
No, we cannot accept applications from applicants who have already earned an LL.M. from a US university. If you wish to study at Berkeley Law, you may consider applying for the J.S.D. program instead.
What is the minimum GPA requirement for applicants?
Berkeley Law does not have a specific minimum GPA requirement for LL.M. applicants. Anyone who meets the above basic requirements may apply.
Is there a work requirement?
No. Although work experience may be a positive factor in an application, it is not required.
When is the application deadline?
Applications for both the Academic Year LL.M. and the Professional LL.M. programs must be submitted/postmarked by December 15, 11:59PM Pacific Time. This includes the online application form as well as all other materials such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal essays, etc. The online application can take quite some time to complete and submit, so applicants are strongly encouraged to begin early. Applications for the J.S.D. program must be submitted by February 1. Please note that we review Professional LL.M. applications as they are complete and will send decisions within two weeks of completion.
Is the application deadline strictly enforced?
Yes, late applications will not be accepted.
How much is the application fee and how do I pay it?
The application fee is $75.00 (U.S.), non-refundable. Pay online using a credit card when you submit your application electronically through the LSAC web site.
Can I have the application fee waived?
Only a limited number of application fee waivers will be granted. To request a fee waiver, please submit a written request for a waiver to the Advanced Degree Programs Office.
Must I apply online through the LSAC website?
Yes, we require that all applicants apply online via LSAC unless there is an extenuating circumstance such as complete lack of internet service. Applicants must register for LSAC's Document Assembly Service; the International Transcripts Authentication and Evaluation Service is recommended but not required for foreign applicants.
As long as you will have completed your degree by the time you would begin your LL.M. studies at Berkeley Law, you may be considered for conditional admission. You must submit academic records of all law coursework completed at the time you apply; if admitted, you will be required to submit final transcripts showing your degree was awarded before starting your first semester at Berkeley Law.
Do you require the LSAT or GRE?
No. The only exam which is required to apply for the LL.M. program is the TOEFL or IELTS, if English is not your primary language.
Decisions are made in August - December for the Professional LL.M. program and March - April for the Academic Year LLM. and J.S.D. programs. Professional LL.M. applicants will be notified of their admission status on a rolling basis, within two weeks of completion. We encourage Professional LL.M. applicants to complete their application as quickly as possible because there are more admission offers available earlier in the cycle; applicants who submit their application materials early have a competitive advantage. Admissions decisions for the Academic Year LL.M. program and the J.S.D. program are made at the same time, not on a rolling basis.
All admission decisions are sent by e-mail to the primary e-mail address listed on the application form. Please add our e-mail address, llm@law.berkeley.edu, to your address book to prevent messages from being filtered as spam. If you are admitted, you will also receive a hard copy of your admission letter by mail.
Can I request an early or expedited admission decision?
We unfortunately cannot provide any early or expedited decisions. Professional LL.M. applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so applicants can expect to receive a decision within two weeks of their application being complete. All Academic Year LL.M. and J.S.D. applications are reviewed at the same time, after the application deadline.
How can I check my application status?
Applicants can check their application status here. Because we process a very large number of applications each year, we ask that you do not telephone to inquire about your application status. If we discover critical information is missing from your file, we will contact you immediately. To expedite such a notification, please make sure that you keep us updated with your current e-mail address.
How are applications evaluated?
Applications are reviewed holistically. The review committee will consider every part of each application, including grades, universities attended, English language exam scores, the Personal Statement, C.V., professional experience, letters of recommendation, and achievements in nonacademic activities or public service.
How competitive is admission?
Admission to the Academic Year LL.M., Professional LL.M., and J.S.D. programs is quite competitive. We receive over one thousand applications for the LL.M. programs each year, and candidacy for the J.S.D. program is extremely selective.
How many students are in each program?
We seek to enroll a class of 135 students in the Academic Year LL.M. program. For the Professional LL.M. program, 50 new students begin each year, for a total of 100 first and second year students combined each summer. There is no specific number of students in the J.S.D. program; only the most qualified and committed applicants are admitted.
If I am admitted, may I defer for one or more years?
If you are admitted, you may request deferral for one year only. Deferrals are not automatically granted but reviewed on a case-by-case basis. They are generally only granted in the case of an extreme unforeseen circumstance.
English Proficiency Exams
What is the minimum accepted TOEFL/IELTS score?
The minimum score required for admission is:
100 on the TOEFL internet based test (IBT), or
600 on the TOEFL paper based test (PBT), or
7.0 on the IELTS
How do I submit my TOEFL or IELTS score?
TOEFL or IELTS score reports should be sent to LSAC for processing through their Credential Assembly Service. LSAC's institution code for the TOEFL is 8395. For more information, click here.
You are eligible for a TOEFL waiver if either of the following criteria apply:
1. You have attended a US university for full time study for a minimum of one academic year with a 3.0/B average or higher, or
2. You earned a degree from a foreign university in which the sole language of instruction is English.
These criteria must be verified by your official academic records. Click here for more information.
If your TOEFL score is close to our minimum and your application is otherwise strong, we may consider you for conditional admission and, in rare cases, give you the opportunity to take the TOEFL/IELTS again to attain an acceptable score.
I'm a US or Canadian citizen; do I need to submit an English Language Proficiency Waiver form?
Yes. Since most of our applicants are international, we do not assume English Proficiency for any applicant, regardless of citizenship. Please submit the Certification of English Language Proficiency form, available in the forms section of the online application.
Transcripts
My transcripts and/or recommendations are not in English. Do I need to have them translated?
Yes. While all official academic records must be issued in their original language, if they are not in English they must be accompanied by certified English translations. Translations should be made and certified by an official translator. You must submit both the original and the translated versions. Click here for more information.
How should my transcripts be submitted?
If you are using LSAC's LLM CAS International Transcript Authentication & Evaluation Service, follow their instructions for submitting academic records and have them sent directly to LSAC. Otherwise, request that your academic records be sent directly to the Advanced Degree Programs Office.
My university will not send academic records directly to another school, can I send them myself?
If your university has a policy against sending academic records to other schools, we can accept sealed, official records forwarded by the applicant. They will be considered "unofficial", but this designation will not have a negative effect on your application. We cannot accept copies of academic records.
Letters of Recommendation
Do both letters have to be from law professors?
It is preferable that both letters come from your law professors. However, if you have been out of school for five or more years, a professional reference from one current or former employers is appropriate, in addition to a letter from a law professor.
Can I submit more than two letters of recommendation?
Applicants may submit one additional academic or professional letter if they wish to do so.
How should letters of recommendation be submitted?
They should be sent directly to LSAC accompanied by the required recommendation form. Follow this link for more information: www.LSAC.org/LLM/Applying/LLM-letters-of-recommendation.asp
Personal Statement and C.V.
How long should the Personal Statement be?
Your Personal Statement should be limited to three pages of double-spaced text.
Is the three page limit strict?
We do ask that you keep your Personal Statement to no more than three pages, double-spaced. However, if you go a few words over the limit your application will not be automatically rejected.
Are there any formatting requirements for the Personal Statement or C.V.?
There are no specific formatting requirements, such as margins or font size, but we ask that you ensure that your documents are easily readable.
What information should be included in the Personal Statement?
The Personal Statement should describe you legal interests, the particular area of study you intend to undertake as a law student, the reasons you wish to study at Berkeley Law, and your professional plans or goals following completion of your degree. Since the Advanced Degree Programs Committee does not grant interviews, you may also use the statement to describe aspects of yourself that are not apparent from your other application materials.
How should the Personal Statement and C.V. be submitted?
The Personal Statement and C.V. should be uploaded to the Attachments section of the online application.
Finances
How much is tuition?
For the LL.M. program, tuition and fees for the 2012-2013 Academic Year are approximately $51,050. Tuition for the Professional LL.M. program is the same as the Academic Year tuition. Please note that precise fee levels change each year, and are subject to change at any time. Discounted tuition for California residents is not available for either the Academic Year or Professional LL.M. program. For the J.S.D. program, in-state tuition is approximately $15,000 while out-of-state tuition is approximately $30,000 for 2012-2013. Click here for more about tuition and fees.
How much money should I budget for living expenses while studying at UC Berkeley?
Based on self-reported student costs, you should plan to spend a minimum of $1,500 per month on living expenses. The Berkeley International Office recommends adding $583 per month for an accompanying spouse, and $333 per month for each dependent child accompanying the student. These amounts are in addition to student tuition and fees. Click here for more about living expenses in Berkeley.
Does Berkeley Law offer financial aid?
Financial aid funds are extremely limited, and only partial scholarships (in the form of tuition waivers) can be offered to a few outstanding LL.M. students each year. Financial aid through the Advanced Degree Programs Office is not currently available to J.S.D. students, although FAFSA-eligible students may qualify for certain loans and scholarships. Click here to find out what aid is available.
Can LL.M. students work during the program?
International graduate students may work up to nine hours per week in a campus job. Most campus jobs are work study positions limited to undergraduates, so LL.M. students who wish to work usually try to find research assistant positions within the law school. Students may contact faculty members directly to inquire, or check the Boalt Bulletin Board. Because the Professional LL.M. program is so intensive, we strongly advise that Professional LL.M. students do not work during the program.
Does Berkeley Law require a deposit from admitted students?
If admitted, you will be asked to submit a nonrefundable $1,000 deposit to reserve your place in the incoming class. Applicants admitted to both the Professional LL.M. and the Academic Year LL.M. program may transfer their deposit for the Professional program to the Academic Year program without penalty. The deposit will be credited toward your first term tuition fee. All other questions regarding deposits, fees or refunds should be directed to the Advanced Degree Programs Office.
Academics
Is it possible to specialize within the LL.M. program?
The LL.M. degree at UC Berkeley School of Law is generalized, although students may select classes according to particular areas of interest. Academic Year LL.M. students can earn Certificates of Specialization in either Energy & Clean Technology, Business Law, Environmental Law, Law & Technology, or International Law. Professional LL.M. students can earn a Certificate of Specialization in Business Law.
Are there restrictions on courses that Academic Year LL.M. students may take?
With a few exceptions, Academic Year LL.M. students may take any law courses they wish to fulfill their unit requirements. For details on specific course restrictions, e-mail the Advanced Degree Programs Office at LLM@law.berkeley.edu.
Can LL.M. students participate in clinics?
There are two clinics in which LL.M. students can participate: the International Human Rights Clinic and the Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic. LL.M. students participate in these clinics in their Spring semester and applications are due in October of the preceding Fall semester. Both LL.M. students and J.D. students apply to these clinics, with admission being offered only to those students with the strongest applications. There are no openings in the clinics reserved for LL.M. students. The clinic admission process gives particular weight to evidence of excellent legal research and English writing ability. By way of example, in Spring 2012, there was one LL.M. student in each of these clinics. We will provide more information on clinics at orientation.
Does the LL.M. program qualify graduates for the California or New York bar exam?
The Academic Year LL.M. program can qualify graduates to take the California or New York bar exam. The Professional LL.M. program can qualify graduates to take the California bar exam. Students should be sure to select courses that will allow them to take the bar exam of their choice, and specific advice will be available to students at orientation.
If accepted to the LL.M. program, would I automatically be admitted to the J.S.D. program after completing the LL.M.?
Candidacy for the J.S.D. degree is very restricted, and does not follow automatically from admission to the LL.M. program. It is open only to those who have completed the requirements for the LL.M. degree and are engaged in or planning careers in academic or other work that emphasizes legal scholarship. Click here for more about the J.S.D. program.
I have already begun an LL.M. program at another US university, can I transfer credits earned to Berkeley Law?
No, we cannot accept any transfer credits.
Can I transfer to the J.D. program from the LL.M. program ?
No. LL.M. students cannot be considered for admission to the J.D. program either as transfers from the LL.M. program or as incoming first year J.D. students if they have enrolled in the LL.M. program.
Are any part-time or distance learning programs available?
We currently do not offer any part-time or distance learning programs.
Can I begin the Academic Year LL.M. program in the spring?
No, Academic Year LL.M. students may only begin in fall.
