Master of Laws (LLM)

Traditional LLM degree

Graduate students are admitted for at least two semesters in residence, leading to the degree of Master of Laws (LLM). To qualify for the LLM degree, students must:

• Complete at least 24 hours of course credit;
• Complete one academic year in residence in the Law School;
• Complete B504 Introduction to American Law for 2 credits and B530 Legal Discourse and Writing for 2 credits;
• Carry no fewer than 8 hours of course credit per semester;
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0; and
• Complete the degree requirements in no more than three consecutive semesters.

Applicants who will have received a J.D. degree from an American law school prior to matriculation in the LLM program at Indiana University may not earn an LLM degree without thesis and may be subject to alternative requirements.

LLM with Thesis degree

LLM students who want experience in academic legal writing and plan to continue on to an SJD or PhD program may be interested in the LLM with Thesis degree. LLM with Thesis students must complete the following requirements:

• Complete at least 24 total hours of course credit;
• Complete 6 hours of B704 Thesis Research credits for the thesis;
• Complete one academic year in residence in the Law School
• Complete B504 Introduction to American Law for 2 credits, B530 Legal Discourse and Writing for 2 credits, and B560 Academic Legal Writing for 1 credit;
• Carry no fewer than 8 hours of course credit per semester, except in the last semester;
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0; and
• Complete the degree requirements in no more than four consecutive semesters.

Other LLM Options

The LLM Learning and Working (LAW) Program

The LAW program gives you hands-on, real-life experience while you're studying the law. Depending on your interests and qualifications (including visa status), you could earn law school credit by participating in unpaid experiential opportunities. Learn more the LLM Learning and Working degree.

LLM with English for law two-year program

Our two-year program enables you to earn an LLM while you learn about the US legal system and work to improve your English and Legal English skills. Learn more about the two-year LLM degree program.

Summer programs for graduate students

LLM applicants who need to improve their English and legal English skills prior to starting a graduate program may be admitted to our Summer Start Program, which begins in June each year.

LLM and JD in three years

At Indiana Law you could complete an LLM and a JD degree in as little as three years. Indiana Law invites advanced applications from individuals who have completed the equivalent of an undergraduate or graduate degree in law (LLB) from an approved foreign university that allows the individual to sit for the bar examination in the jurisdiction in which the foreign law school is located. Successful advanced standing applicants can have one semester to one full year (29 units max) of our three-year JD degree requirements waived based on previous academic coursework and professional accomplishments.

Spring Start LLM admission

In addition to the traditional two-semester LLM program starting in the fall, students may elect to start the program in the spring semester (January). Spring start LLM students may complete their degrees in two semesters, or they can choose to complete the degree requirements at a slower pace, taking three semesters. The spring start LLM admission may be required for students taking classes in the Intensive English Program in the fall semester.