Applying for LLM & JSD degrees
For general information about the LL.M. and J.S.D. program, see Academics.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
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 received their LL.M. from Berkeley Law. 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.
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 600 on the paper TOEFL, 250 on the computerized version of the TOEFL, and 100 on the internet based test (IBT). more about the TOEFL...
Application for Admission
Application forms are currently available for the 2009-2010 academic Year LL.M. and J.S.D programs and the 2009-2010 Summer LL.M. Program beginnning in 2009.
2009-2010 Academic Year Electronic Application
The deadline to apply for the 2009-2010 academic year LL.M. or J.S.D. program is December 1, 2008.
We are currently accepting electronic applications only. Please DO NOT also send us a paper copy after applying online - this will significantly delay processing as we try to reconcile your two sets of applications. If you do not have ready access to a computer or the internet, you may request a paper application form from the Advanced Degree Programs Office.
2009-2010 Summer LL.M. Application
The deadline to apply for the summer LL.M. program at Berkeley Law is September 30. You may apply using the following methods:
2009-2010 Summer LL.M. Electronic Application (preferred)
We strongly recommend summer applicants to apply online. When applying online, please DO NOT also send a paper application - this will significantly delay processing as we try to reconcile your two sets of applications. Please email or call the Advanced Degree Programs Office at (510) 642-1476 if you have questions or difficulties.
Online application form
Additional application materials
Application instructions
After submitting an online application, you must print, sign and mail back to us the Certification Letter. To fill out this PDF form on your computer, you will need the free Adobe Reader.
Summer 2009-2010 Summer LL.M. PDF (paper) Application
Paper applications generally take much longer to process than electronic applications; however, submitting a paper application will not in any way affect admissions decisions. When submitting a paper application, you can help streamline the process by applying as early as possible, and by sending all of your application materials together in one packet. We recommend you use a delivery confirmation or other tracking method to verify delivery.
Downloadable paper application form
Additional application materials
Application instructions
To fill out PDF forms on your computer, you will need Adobe Reader. Print your completed application form and submit it to:
UC Berkeley School of Law
Advanced Law Degree Programs
421 North Addition
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
USA
LL.M. Credential Assembly Service
We recommend international LL.M. applicants to subscribe to the Law School Admission Council's (LSAC's) Credential Assembly Service. For a $185 fee, applicants need only send one set of transcripts and TOEFL scores to LSAC, who will then assemble and distribute law school reports to up to 5 participating schools of your choice. If you decide to use this service, please do NOT send your TOEFL scores or transcripts to Berkeley Law; instead you must send these promptly to LSAC so that they can be transmitted to us before the application deadline. Further details about this service may be found on LSAC's website: http://www.LLM.LSAC.org
Contact Us
The Advanced Degree Program Office handles admissions and inquiries for the LL.M. and J.S.D. degree programs.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
Telephone: (510) 642-1476
Email: LLM@law.berkeley.edu
Mailing Address:
University of California, Berkeley
School of Law
Advanced Law Degree Programs
421 North Addition
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
USA