Frequently Asked Questions

LL.M. Program Questions
Applying and Application Questions
TOEFL, IELTS, and LSAT Questions
Cost, Scholarship and Financial Document Questions
Exchange Students and Visiting Scholar Questions

LL.M. Program Questions
1. Is the LL.M. program only for international students?
  The LL.M. program is designed for foreign-trained lawyers. However, those with a U.S. J.D. degree may apply for the LL.M. thesis, S.J.D. or Ph.D. programs.
  
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2. What is the difference between the LL.M. practicum and the LL.M. thesis?
  LL.M. Practicum: The practicum provides legal practitioners and jurists with direct experience in the American legal system. Students enrolled in this program have the opportunity to observe judicial proceedings at various stages and venues and to interact with practicing attorneys and judges. This program requires the completion of 27 credit hours of course work. The practicum will include lectures and graduate seminars about the American legal system and scholarship, study visits to legal institutions, and a short paper. This program is ideal for students who wish to pursue practice careers in the United States or abroad.
  
  LL.M. Thesis: The LL.M. thesis provides an excellent foundation in scholarly research and writing. The program is ideal for those interested in pursuing academic careers or in-depth research knowledge of a particular area of law. The LL.M. thesis program requires the completion of 30 credit hours, 6 of which are dedicated to a thesis that focuses on the student's primary research interest. Students are assigned thesis advisors whose academic expertise is compatible with the student's interests and with whom they work closely in completing their thesis projects.
  
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3. What are the LL.M. program dates for the 2007-2008 academic year?
  Mandatory orientation for the Graduate Legal Studies Program is on August 12, 2007. Classes start August 22, 2007.
  
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4. Does completion of the LL.M. degree qualify students to take a bar exam in any state[d1]?
  Upon completion of either the LL.M. or M.C.L. degree, students with approved foreign-legal education may sit for the New York State bar exam. More information can be found at www.nybarexam.org.
  
  For more information about official American Bar Association standards, see http://www.abanet.org/legaled/standards/councilstatements.html. Also, the National Conference of Bar Examiners list of bar requirements can be found here: http://www.ncbex.org/comprehensive-guide-to-bar-admissions/. (Note that pages 30-34 give all rules for foreign lawyers.)
  
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5. May students begin this program in the spring semester?
  No, our curriculum is designed for students to begin their course of study in the fall semester.
  
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6. What programs are available to learn Legal English?
  Indiana University has an excellent Intensive English Program (http://iep.indiana.edu). During the summer session, there is a special course on legal English designed specifically for our international students. Graduate students at the School of Law are also required to take Legal Writing and Research during the fall semester and have access to a legal writing professor and teaching assistants throughout the academic year.
  
  Applying and Application Questions
  
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Applying and Application Questions
1. How can I obtain an application for admission to the LL.M. program?
  Application materials and instructions can be downloaded, or you can apply online with a credit card. Both forms are on the application page of our web site. If you need a paper copy of the application, you may request one from the Graduate Legal Studies Office.
  
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2. What materials must be included in a complete application?
  A completed application should include the following:
  - Application for admission and a $60 application fee, your signature, and a date
  - Official academic records -- in original language of instruction and English translation
  - Three letters of recommendation
  - Statement of purpose
  - Resume
  - TOEFL scores
  Evidence of financial support is needed for your visa application. You may send this with your other application materials or after an admission decision is made. If you wait to send in the financial support documents, your visa application may be delayed.
  
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3. May I submit my application through LSAC LL.M.?
  No, Indiana University does not currently accept application materials through the LSAC LL.M. application service. All materials must be sent directly to Indiana University.
  
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4. Is there a form required for letters of recommendation?
  Although the online application supplies a form for your references to complete, using the form is not required. Instead of using the form, your references can write the letter of recommendation on their own letterhead and send it to International Admissions in a sealed and signed envelope.
  
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5. How long should the statement of purpose be?
  There is no length requirement for the statement of purpose. Generally, applicants write 1-3 pages.
  
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6. How much is the application fee?
  The application fee is $60.
  
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7. Where should I mail my application materials?
  The application must be signed, dated, and returned with the supporting materials to:
  
  International Admissions
  Indiana University-Bloomington
  300 North Jordan Avenue
  Bloomington, IN 47405-1106
  U.S.A.
  
  The completed application should NOT be sent to the School of Law. Applications sent to the School of Law will be forwarded to International Admissions for processing. Students should read the instructions for submission of application materials carefully. Please contact the School of Law with specific questions or concerns.
  
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8. When is the application deadline?
  There is no deadline for applying to the LL.M. and M.C.L. programs. However, to be considered for financial aid awards and to allow ample time to apply for student visas, international students are encouraged to apply by March 1. Applications for admission and financial aid will be considered until the class is full, usually mid-June.
  
  Applications for the S.J.D. and Ph.D. programs must be completed by April 1. (Note: It normally takes International Admissions 2-4 weeks to process applications before forwarding them to the School of Law. Please allow enough time for your application to go through International Admissions to arrive in the Graduate Legal Studies Office by the deadline.)
  
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9. When should I hear from Indiana School of Law regarding my application?
  The application review process takes approximately one month.
  
  First, your application and all supporting materials go to Indiana University's International Admissions office for review, which takes 2-3 weeks. International Admissions then sends your application and materials to the Office of International Programs at the law school. We then notify you via e-mail that we have received your application.
  
  Your completed application file (which includes the application, transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials) is reviewed by the graduate committee. After the Graduate Committee makes an admissions decision, usually within two weeks, the file is then returned to the International Admissions office.
  
  We will notify you of the admissions decision via e-mail, and we will follow up this e-mail with letters mailed to your current address (as listed on your application). Two to four weeks after you receive the admissions letter from Indiana Law, you will receive a letter from the university International Admissions office, which will include visa documents.
  
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10. Does Indiana University School of Law grant deferrals?
  In some circumstances, an admission may be deferred for one year. Scholarship awards are never deferred, and students must reapply.
  
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11. Do you allow transfers of LL.M. or J.D. credits from other institutions?
  No, we do not allow any transfer credits. All credits must be earned in residence. Credits earned in the Certificate of Legal Studies program may later be transferred to the LL.M. or M.C.L. degree.
  
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12. What immunizations do I need?
  Indiana state law requires that all university students submit proof of immunization against several diseases including
  - measles,
  - rubella (German measles),
  - mumps,
  - tetanus
  - diphtheria,
  - meningitis,
  - and tuberculosis.
  You must also have a tuberculosis test done in the United States. More information about immunization requirements can be found here. If you fail to comply with this requirement, you risk losing the right to register for classes. One part of the orientation session includes a visit to the IU Health Center, where you will take part in a tuberculosis test.
  
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13. Why haven't I heard anything from you about my application?
  The application process is overseen by the University's International Admissions office and by Indiana Law's International Programs office. We use e-mail to keep you informed about the status of your application. It is vital that you include your e-mail address on your application and that you notify us if your e-mail address changes so that we can keep our files updated.
  
  TOEFL, IELTS, and LSAT Questions
  
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TOEFL, IELTS, and LSAT Questions
1. Is the LSAT required for admission to the LL.M. program?
  No, the LSAT is not required for admission to the LL.M. program.
  
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2. Is the TOEFL required for admission to the LL.M. program?
  Yes, all applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit a TOEFL score.
  
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3. Do I have to take the TOEFL if all my schooling has been in English?
  If your native language is not English and you did not attend a four-year institution in the U.S., you will need to take the TOEFL or IELTS. Please contact the Graduate Legal Studies Office if you feel your situation merits special consideration.
  
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4. Is there a minimum TOEFL score required?
  Most students who are admitted to the program have minimum scores of 560 (paper-based TOEFL) or 213 (computer-based TOEFL). Applicants with lower TOEFL scores but otherwise excellent qualifications will also be considered for admission.
  
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5. What are the ETS TOEFL institution codes for Indiana University-Bloomington School of Law?
  The ETS TOEFL institution code is 1324; department code 03.
  
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6. Does Indiana University-Bloomington School of Law accept IELTS scores?
  Yes, we accept the IELTS in lieu of the TOEFL. For the IELTS, we expect a minimum overall band score of 6.0 with no less than a 5.5 in any category.
  
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7. Where should my official TOEFL scores be sent?
  You should request that an official TOEFL score report be sent to International Admissions at Indiana University-Bloomington (institution code 1324, department code 03).
  
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Cost, Scholarship and Financial Document Questions

What types of financial documents are allowed?
Bank statements, certificates of deposit, and any official document showing liquid assets are acceptable. Statements showing capital investments, future earnings or any other non-liquid holding may not be used for the visa application.

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When do I have to submit financial documents?
Financial documents may be submitted with the other application materials and are NOT given to the School of Law. Financial support documents may be sent after an admission decision is made, but must be submitted before any visa documents can be processed.

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Does my sponsor need to submit financial documents?
If your sponsor is an individual (relative, friend, etc.), a bank statement must accompany the sponsor letter. If your sponsor is an institution (Fulbright, a university, etc.), a bank statement will not be required.

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Is financial aid available for completion of the LL.M. degree?
The School of Law offers a very limited number of fellowships to exceptional applicants. Applicants will automatically be considered for these fellowships, and will be notified if an award is made.

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What is the cost of the LL.M. program?

Most students find that the cost of their education is considerably less than they would have spent had they chosen a comparable program with a private university or a public school in a large metropolitan area.

2007-2008 Estimated Tuition & Expenses for the LL.M. Program:

Expense	Cost ($)
Tuition	33,154
Room and Board	11,700
Health Insurance	674
Miscellaneous Expenses	1,300
Total	46,828

Visiting Scholar Questions
1. How can I become a Visiting Scholar?
  A limited number of Visiting Scholar positions are available each year for outstanding scholars interested in spending time in residence at Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington. Scholars interested in applying should send a c.v., research proposal and proposed dates of residence to the School of Law's International Programs Office. Applications should be submitted at least four months prior to the anticipated arrival date. Decisions to accept Visiting Scholars are made on a rolling basis until available positions are filled.
  
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2. Are there any fees for Visiting Scholars?
  In addition to needing to provide their own living and housing expenses and adequate health insurance, Visiting Scholars will be assessed an annual fee of $1000 for the use of Law School facilities.
  
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3. How do I apply to be an exchange student at your law school?
  If you are a student nominated by one of the many universities and law schools with whom we have an exchange agreement in place, complete an application. If you have questions about the program or application, please contact our office [lgradadm@indiana.edu].
  
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Graduate Degree Programs

Frequently Asked Questions