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.