Table of Contents
Comparison Chart
| OPTION 1 Fall 2020 + Spring 2021 |
OPTION 2 Spring 2021 + Summer 2021 |
OPTION 3 Spring 2021 + Fall 2021 |
OPTION 4 Defer to Fall 2021 + Spring 2022 |
|
| Deadline to pay deposit and choose start option | May 15, 2020 | May 15, 2020 | May 15, 2020 | May 15, 2020 |
| Deadline to defer to a future start date | August 10, 2020 (may change to option 2, 3, or 4 | January 18, 2021 (may change to option 3 or 4) | January 18, 2021 (may change to option 4) | Deferral is good for one year only |
| NY Bar Exam Eligibility | Petitioning NY State Court of Appeals | Petitioning NY State Court of Appeals | Yes | Yes |
| CA Bar Exam Eligibility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Certificates Available | – Business Law – Law & Tech – Environmental Law – Energy & Clean Technology Law – International Law – Public Interest & Social Justice |
– Business Law – Law & Tech |
– Business Law – Law & Tech – Environmental Law – Energy & Clean Technology Law – International Law – Public Interest & Social Justice |
– Business Law – Law & Tech – Environmental Law – Energy & Clean Technology Law – International Law – Public Interest & Social Justice |
| Tuition and Fees | Vary slightly based on option, see detail below | Vary slightly based on option, see detail below | Vary slightly based on option, see detail below | Vary slightly based on option, see detail below |
| $500 Technology Credit | Yes | No | No | No |
| Thesis Track Available | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Job Fair Eligibility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OPT | Yes if all classes are taken on campus; no if fall classes are taken remotely | We are getting clarification on this now; TBA | Yes | Yes |
| Clinics, Field Placements, Pro Bono | Yes | Yes in spring, but not available in summer | Yes | Yes |
| Commencement | May 2021 (Law graduation) | July 2021 (Law graduation) or December 2021 (UC Berkeley graduation) [may attend one or both] | December 2021 (UC Berkeley graduation) or May 2022 (Law graduation) [may attend one or both] | May 2022 (Law graduation) |
Options and Deadlines
Where can I find the form to submit my decision?
Here: https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ezzmsTTrzSbpFIN.
Is there a maximum number of students allowed for each option?
No, we want you to be able to choose the option that works best for you.
If I choose an option but later my circumstances change and I need to change my selection or defer, can I do that? If so, what is the deadline?
Students who choose to start in fall 2020 can change their selection to spring start or deferral until August 10. Students who choose to start in spring 2021 can change their second semester or defer until January 18.
Deferral
How likely is my deferral request to be granted?
We are granting deferral requests to everyone who asks this year.
Is there a limit to how many people you’ll allow to defer?
Not at all! We are granting deferral requests to everyone who asks this year.
If a lot of people defer now will that make the next incoming class extremely large?
No, we will limit the number of students admitted to next year’s incoming class to accommodate the number of deferred students who will be beginning their studies that year. You will be studying with a normal-sized group of classmates regardless of when you begin your LL.M. at Berkeley Law.
When is the latest date for me to request a deferral?
The day before your chosen program begins.
Can I defer for two years to begin in 2022?
No, the deferral is only for one year. If you were admitted in 2019 and deferred, you can defer for a second time only this year due to COVID-19.
If I pay the deposit and then decide to defer, what happens to my deposit?
We will hold your deposit and apply it to next year’s tuition. This is an exception to our normal policy for this year only. Please note that deposits are non-refundable under any circumstance.
Can I defer without putting down a deposit?
No, a deposit is required in order to secure your spot in next year’s class.
Will my scholarship be honored if I defer?
Yes!
If I defer but can no longer attend that year can I get my deposit back
No, deposits are non-refundable under any circumstance.
Deferring to fall 2021 is the best option for me. How do I request the deferral?
Pay your deposit through CalCentral (if you have not done so already) and then fill out this form. Once we process both your deposit and your form response, we will send you an email to confirm that your deferral is in place.
If you previously chose a different enrollment option but need to defer your admission to fall 2021, email llmadmits@law.berkeley.edu; please do not submit the form twice.
Deposit
What do I do if I can’t pay my deposit because all the banks in my country are closed due to COVID-19?
Please email llmadmits@law.berkeley.edu about this issue. We can either extend your response deadline further or consider waiving the deposit on a case-by-case basis.
Academics
What will fall 2020 look like, in terms of on-campus and remote classes?
Our goal at Berkeley Law is to have in-person classes as much as the situation allows, but this may not be possible because of social distancing requirements or public health restrictions. Every in-person class will include the opportunity for students and faculty to participate by Zoom throughout the fall semester. If you cannot attend the fall 2020 semester in person, you may attend your courses via Zoom at the same times listed in the Schedule of Classes. If those scheduled class times don’t work for you because of time differences, you may access the class recording. There likely will be a small number of classes, such as trial advocacy, where live presence in the class will be required.
If I can make it to Berkeley in August, can I start my LL.M. program on campus in fall 2020?
Assuming we are able to hold in-person classes this fall, yes. We’d be happy to see you on campus in August!
I can’t make it to Berkeley in August, but I’d like to start my LL.M. program in fall 2020. Will the remote instruction take into account our time differences?
Our fall 2020 classes are already scheduled and we can’t make any changes to class times. If you can’t join the live Zoom portion of class due to time differences, you will be able to access the recordings.
If fall 2020 classes are remote, can I work while I study?
The fall 2020 semester will be full-time. It is strongly discouraged and inadvisable for you to plan to work during this time.
Which certificates are being offered in each option?
You may pursue all of the certificate options usually offered in the LL.M. traditional track in the following options: fall 2020 + spring 2021, spring 2021 + fall 2021, and deferral. Given the long-standing interest of our LL.M. professional track students in business law and intellectual property law, we focus on these two subject areas over the summer and offer only our two most popular certificates in summer 2021: the business law and law & technology certificates. Only these two certificates will be available to spring + summer students.
How do I apply for a certificate?
Certificates are designed to help you focus your studies and should be kept in mind when you’re enrolling in classes. You “apply” for your certificate during your last semester by confirming with the Center that administers your certificate that you have completed the stated requirements (often by sharing your transcript to show you took the requisite classes).
When do I have to decide which certificate to pursue?
You won’t officially “apply” for the certificate until the semester you graduate, but you should keep in mind the requirements for any certificate you’re interested in pursuing when you enroll in classes. You can change your mind about certificates at any time, though, and many students do!
Where can I find the academic calendar for each of the options?
- Fall 2020 + Spring 2021
- Summer 2021
- Fall 2021 + Spring 2022: to be announced in July 2020
When will I enroll in courses?
Students starting in fall 2020 will enroll in courses at 9am on July 31; we save seats in classes just for LL.M. students. You should make sure to fill your CalCentral shopping cart ahead of time so that you can enroll as soon as your enrollment appointment starts. LL.M. students who begin in the fall will receive prioritized spring enrollment appointments, which are earlier than those for most other students. These appointments will happen in November at the same time as 3rd year J.D. students.
Students starting in spring 2021 will enroll in courses in November at the same time as 2nd year J.D. students. Summer or fall enrollment for those who started in spring will happen before their second semester begins.
What courses are offered in summer 2021?
We don’t yet have our course schedule set for summer 2021 but you can get a good sense of what we’ll offer by looking at the course schedule for summer 2020 and summer 2019. We expect to offer as many courses as possible on campus in summer 2021, geared toward business and IP practice areas. The summer 2021 Schedule of Classes will be released in January 2021.
Tell me more about the course taught by the Dean in fall 2020!
Dean Chemerinsky will teach a 1-unit class (credit/no credit) especially for LL.M. students in fall 2020. The class will examine how the U.S. courts, administrative agencies, and political systems have reacted to COVID-19 and its looming financial and social crisis, especially in an election year. Dean Chemerinsky will bring in prominent legal scholars and judges to discuss these cutting-edge topics.
This special and totally optional class does not appear in the Schedule of Classes because it is not available to the rest of the school; it was created especially for those of you who start in fall!
Why can’t I attend Dean Chemerinsky’s class if I don’t start in fall 2020
Dean Chemerinsky is only available to teach that semester.
I’m interested in experiential education (clinics, practicums, pro bono work, externships, etc.). Which option(s) should I choose?
Students may apply for clinics in advance of arrival for the fall or spring semesters. Clinic availability is limited (typically only 5-10% of clinics students are LL.M. students) and is determined by the Clinical Program itself after a competitive application process. The workload required by a Berkeley Law clinic is significant, and may exceed that of a class of comparable units. We recommend scheduling a meeting with an adviser prior to submitting a clinic application to discuss whether it would be a good fit for your academic and professional goals if you are accepted for enrollment.
Pro-bono opportunities are available during fall and spring semesters, based on the needs of pro-bono organizations or student groups for LL.M. student assistance. Students interested in pro bono for the purpose of the NY Bar are able to begin pro bono work up to a year before they come to Berkeley and after their graduation. Pro bono work for NY Bar qualification can be performed under the supervision of an attorney anywhere in the world.
Practicums and externships (field placements) are also available during fall and spring semesters, but are dependent on enrollment availability and the needs of local non-profit organizations for LL.M. students’ assistance.
There are no clinics, practicums, or pro bono opportunities available in the summer term due to the intensity of the academic schedule. However, there are many simulation-based experiential classes (negotiation, drafting, advocacy) that are available to LL.M. students in fall, spring, and summer, and these are very popular with LL.M. students.
I’m interested in participating in a scholarly journal. Which option should I choose?
Students who are interested in a scholarly journal should choose to begin in fall because students are selected for journals in the fall and continue their work in the spring. Students cannot join a journal for the first time in the spring or summer.
My goal is to apply for your J.S.D. program after I graduate. Which option will be best for me?
We accept applications for the J.S.D. program from all of our LL.M. tracks, and any of the enrollment options would work equally well. The most important factor in a successful J.S.D. application is to earn good grades and build a relationship with a faculty member who will be willing to advise you in your research. It is not dependent on whether you start in Fall or Spring, or whether you take courses remotely or on campus.
Note that if you plan to apply for the fall 2021 J.S.D. program, you would need to begin your LL.M. in fall 2020. Students who choose to start in spring 2021 or later can apply to the J.S.D. program starting fall 2022 or later.
Bar Exam
I’m interested in taking the California bar exam. Which option(s) will let me do that?
All of them!
I’m interested in taking the New York bar exam. Which option(s) will let me do that?
Right now, we know that attending Berkeley Law during any combination of a spring and fall semester on campus will preserve eligibility for the New York bar exam. We are currently petitioning the New York State Court of Appeals to enable classes taken in the summer semester or remotely in the fall semester to provide eligibility for the New York bar. When we receive a decision from the Court, we will let you know!
When will the New York State Court of Appeals respond to your petitions regarding bar eligibility?
The New York State Court of Appeals responded to our petition the same way it did to those of all other law schools: On May 5, 2020, the Court said that it would not decide on waivers of New York Bar Exam eligibility requirements at this time, due to the Court’s closure to all but “essential business.” The Court indicated that it would reconsider the waiver requests when there was more clarity on the course of the global pandemic and its effect on legal education and international travel. We will provide updates as soon as available, but we will not have this information by May 15th and it may be later in the summer before we, or other law schools, have an answer.
OPT
I’m interested in applying for OPT status. Which option(s) will let me do that if fall is attended in person, on campus?
You will be able to apply for OPT on an F-1 visa for ALL of the options: fall 2020 + spring 2021 (assuming you are in Berkeley on an F-1 Visa and not online ); spring 2021 + summer 2021; spring 2021 + fall 2021; and fall 2021 + spring 2022 (deferral of admission).
Graduation
When will the commencement (graduation) ceremony be held for each of the options?
- Fall 2020 + Spring 2021: May 2021 Graduation (Law graduation)
- Spring 2021 + Summer 2021: July 2021 (Law graduation) or December 2021 (UC Berkeley graduation) [may attend one or both]
- Spring 2021 + Fall 2021: December 2021 (UC Berkeley graduation) or May 2022 (Law graduation) [may attend one or both]
- Defer to Fall 2021 + Spring 2022: May 2022 (Law graduation)
Student Life
How will you ensure that all LL.M. students get to know each other and are integrated if we all start and end in different semesters?
The Advanced Degree Programs Office plans to host an orientation at the start of the semester and extra events, online and in person, to facilitate students networking and socializing with one another. Also, Berkeley Law’s student-led organizations create a significant part of the campus culture. LL.M. students connect with each other and the J.D. students through all of these, but there are two main groups that unite the class: SOALS, which is a social organization for LL.M. and J.S.D. students, and Bear Buddies, which facilitates networking between LL.M. and J.D. students with common interests. Both of these groups are already gearing up for next year!
Will there be programs and events to participate in remotely during fall 2020?
As shown this past spring semester, after the shelter-in-place order was instituted, the law school continued to provide a wide variety of scholarly and student-focused events online. These included talks on COVID-related legal developments and cutting-edge practice issues. Our Berkeley Law centers, including the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology and the Berkeley Law Center for Law and Business, have also continued to sponsor talks and conferences. You can see an example of these past events. For the coming year, the Advanced Degree Programs Office has also set up a robust schedule of events tailored to our LL.M. students, including live and recorded guidance on professional developments and online networking events with attorneys around the world.The rich intellectual and communal life of the law school will continue in fall and spring next year, with events streamed on Zoom if they are not accessible in person.
Visa
I have a visa question. Can I email you?
All visa questions should be directed to the Berkeley International Office https://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/contact-us
Housing
If I choose a spring-start option, will I be able to live in on-campus housing or International House?
Yes! Currently campus housing remains available to you for all options.
Tuition and Fees
Is there any difference in tuition and fees among all the different options?
Yes, the tuition fee total for each option will be slightly different. The tuition fee total for the 2020-21 academic year will be available in the next few weeks and will be posted on our Cost of Attendance page, once known.
The cost of tuition fees for option 2 (Spring 2021 + Summer 2021) will be the same as option 1, with the exception of Student Health Insurance Plan fees which may be different, and possibly lower.
The cost of tuition fees for option 3 (Spring 2021 + Fall 2021) will be somewhat higher than option 1. Because LL.M. tuition fees increase by about 5% each year, fall 2021 tuition fees will be more than spring 2021 tuition fees.
The cost of tuition fees for option 4 (deferring to Fall 2021) will be somewhat higher than option 1. Because LL.M. tuition fees increase by about 5% each year, 2021-22 tuition fees will be more than 2020-21 tuition fees.
No discounts will be given to offset the standard tuition fee increase for future semesters.
If I choose the spring 2021 + fall 2021 option and am paying for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), will I be covered for the summer in between the two semesters?
Yes!
Technology Credit
How does the $500 technology credit work?
We will provide you a $500 technology credit, applied to your tuition fees, so you can purchase anything you may need in order to help you study remotely, whether that’s a wireless booster, better headsets, expedited shipping on your textbooks, or games to occupy your kids so you can study!
Why don’t I get the $500 technology credit if I choose a spring-start option or if I defer my admission?
Our goal at Berkeley Law is to have in-person classes during fall 2020 as much as the situation allows, but this may not be possible because of social distancing requirements or public health restrictions. Every in-person class will include the opportunity for students and faculty to participate by Zoom throughout the fall semester. We want to help you make a remote study experience as positive as possible in the fall, and the technology credit is designed to facilitate that goal. We are currently planning for all classes in spring 2021 and beyond to be on campus.
Thesis Track
I’m a thesis track student. Can I choose to start in spring 2021?
Yes, thesis track students can choose to start in spring 2021 and finish in fall 2021. Thesis track students cannot enroll in spring + summer 2021 as thesis units cannot be completed during the summer.
I’m currently admitted to the thesis track but the spring + summer 2021 option works best for me. Can I change to the traditional track and choose that option?
Yes, please email llmadmits@law.berkeley.edu with this request.