LLM (Master of Laws) Students In The USA

Whether you are an international students or an American resident planning to continue your postgraduate law studies in your home state, we have the lowdown on being an LLM student in the USA.

Domestic in-state students studying their LLM in the USA

Domestic students in the US There are many reasons why American LLM students may choose to study in their home state – and there are many advantages to making this decision.

Reasons to study your LLM in state

Here are some of the reasons US students choose to study their postgraduate program in state.

Personal restrictions – as a postgraduate student you may well have family or work commitments in a particular state that make it impossible for you to move to a new state to study your Master of Laws student. However if you have to remain in state but wish you could experience the whole on-campus experience – you can still opt to live in uni accommodation. That way you can remain close to your family/work commitments whilst still feeling like you’re a ‘proper’ LLM student.

Local support network – studying an LLM can be very demanding so it is important to make sure you have a strong support network around you. Studying in your hometown and home state means that you’ll already have familiar people around (parents/spouse/friends) to offload on when the going gets tough. You’ll also be able to ‘visit’ home as often as you want without having to shell out on expensive bus or plane tickets.

Financial necessity – studying your LLM program in state can reduce your tuition fees by a few thousand dollars. Also, if you opt to stay at home while studying your LLM program you won’t have any relocation costs – nor will you have to pay for uni accommodation as you will be able to stay in your current living accommodation.

Tuition fees for domestic students studying their LLM in state

As a rule in the United States the public universities charge lower fees for students from within the same state compared to those from out of state. For example the tuition fees for an LLM program at the University of Iowa in 2015-2016 is around $4,000 cheaper an in state student – with Iowa residents paying $22,179 versus $26,249 for out of state students. Private universities in the US usually have one set fee for everyone.

Tuition fees for Master of Laws programs throughout the USA vary significantly from state to state and from university to university in the United States. For example while the 2015-16 tuition fees for LLM students at the University of Iowa in the Midwestern state of Iowa is $22,179, whereas the cost of studying an LLM course at Harvard Law School in Boston Massachusetts is $57,200.

There are some good funding opportunities available at law schools in the United States – so make sure you do your research to see what funding your chosen law school has on offer to out of state students.

Other costs associated with being an in-state LLM student in the USA

Whether you’re an in state LLM student or an out of state LLM student you will still have to cover the costs of your books and other academic resources which are estimated to be around $3,000 for the year. You may also have travel costs depending on how far away your home is from the law school – obviously if you opt to live on campus even though you are remaining in your home state your travel costs will be negligible.

Domestic students travelling out of state to study an LLM in the USA

Domestic students in the US There are many reasons why American LLM students choose to study in a US state other than their home one – and there are both advantages and disadvantages of doing so. Generally speaking the tuition fees of a Master of Laws program at law school in the United States can be slightly lower if you are studying in state – but the cost comparison is nowhere near as extreme as it is for undergraduate degree programs.

Reasons to study your LLM out of state

Personal growth – studying out of state could be a great way to develop personally. Maybe as an undergrad student you lacked the financial resources and/or personal independence to move out of state. Now, as a postgraduate student, you’ve got a great opportunity to move away from home without it being too comparatively financially disadvantageous.

Different climate, different surroundings – postgraduate study can provide you with a great opportunity to experience a whole new location. Living somewhere chilly? Maybe you want to experience a warmer climate… Are you based in a rural environment? Then why not go for city living for a year and see if that’s where you want to be based for your future – and let’s face it this could be particularly advantageous if your future career is in law. Your Master of Laws program will probably be one year long (if studying full time) and this is the ideal length of time to experience living in a whole new place to see if it’s something you want to do on a more permanent basis.

Career advantages – think about your future career plans and see how the location of your preferred law school can help you do this… Law schools often have networking opportunities with nearby lawyers, law firms and businesses. So if your career plans are to be a hotshot lawyer in Wall Street – then it may well be worth your while upping sticks and studying your LLM program at a laws school near New York City. However if you are interested in a career in the field of oil, gas or energy law – moving to the state of Texas could mean you can study a relevant LLM course while getting the right contacts for your future career.

LLM specialisation – obviously only certain LLM specialisations are available at certain US law schools. This means that if you need to travel out of state to find the right LLM program for you then you should definitely consider this. It is important not to let location stand in the way of studying the right Master of Laws for your future.

Tuition fees for domestic students studying their LLM out of state

As a rule in the United States the public universities charge lower fees for students from within the same state compared to those from out of state including international students obviously. For example the tuition fees for an LLM program at the University of Iowa in 2015-2016 is around $4,000 more expensive for an out of state student – with Iowa residents paying $22,179 versus $26,249 for out of state students. But if you consider the fact that studying an LLM program is an investment in your career and future – an additional $4,000 is a worthwhile investment. Private universities in the US usually have one set fee for everyone.

However, tuition fees for LLM programs do vary significantly from university to university in the United States. For example while the 2015-16 tuition fees for out of state LLM students at the University of Iowa in the Midwestern state of Iowa is $26,249, whereas the cost of studying an LLM course at Harvard Law School in Boston Massachusetts is $57,200.

Other costs associated with being an out-of-state LLM student in the USA

As well as funding your tuition fees, as an out of state student you will also have to find yourself somewhere new to live. Some US law schools provide on-campus living accommodation – the cost of this varies from university to university – but expect to pay at least $15,000. Other costs associated with your studies will include books and academic supplies (around $3,000), health and dental insurance, and travel costs. Plus, as an out-of-state student you may also want to factor in the costs associated with travelling back home for the holidays and to visit your family.

International students studying an LLM in the USA

International students in the USA There are many reasons why international students choose to come to America to study their LLM program – it is after all the original land of opportunity. However as an international student there are a few things you need to do in preparation to ensure a smooth arrival and stay in the US.

Applying for a visa as an LLM student

Pretty much everyone from a country other than the United States will need to obtain a visa before being granted entry to the country – and as a student you will need an F-1 student visa. It’s important to note that this is necessary even if you are studying a distance learning Master of Laws program if part of the course requires you to spend time on the campus, even for a short duration.

Applying for a student visa to study in the US will differ slightly according to which country you are from and thus the US Embassy or Consulate where you apply, therefore it’s really important to look at the website of the embassy/consulate that you are applying to, to make sure you read the relevant instructions to you. However, generally speaking you will need to complete an online visa application form, upload a photo of a specific format and schedule an interview.Once you have been accepted at your US law school you will be enrolled on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and after paying the registration fee your US law school will give you a Form I-20 to take to the consular officer when you attend your visa interview.

LLM student visa interview

The waiting list for interviews will vary according to country and the time of year – so make sure you schedule yours in plenty of time. It’ll also be necessary for your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States. Additional documents may be required for the interview, such as; academic certificates; standardised test scores required by your US school; evidence of your intent to leave the United States upon completion of the course of study; evidence of funds for the payment of educational, living and travel costs.

During your visa interview, the consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa to study in the United States. You can receive your visa up to 120 days before starting your LLM program, however you cannot enter the country until a maximum of 30 days before your course starts.

Tuition fees for international LLM students

Unlike UK law schools, law schools in the United States don’t usually differentiate between domestic and international students in terms of tuition fees for Master of Laws courses. Although, as a rule the public universities charge lower fees for students from within the same state compared to everyone else, both out of a state and international. Private universities in the US usually have one set fee for everyone.

Tuition fees for LLM programs in America do vary significantly from university to university – and it is a well-know fact that studying postgraduate law in the USA is a costly business, in fact you can expect to pay up to $50,000 for a one-year full-time Master of Laws program. But bear in mind that this is a great investment in your future and there are some great funding opportunities and scholarships available to help you fund your LLM in the USA, so make sure you do your research. International students are not eligible for federal aid provided by the US government, however many universities in the US do provide their own aid schemes for international students – so do find out what’s on offer at your chosen law school.

Other costs associated with being an LLM student in the USA

As well as funding your tuition fees, as an international student you will also have to prove that you can fund your living costs as well as any other relevant costs such as course resources, health insurance, travel costs, etc. Living costs vary widely from state to state, so for example what you can expect to pay in rent for accommodation near a law school in New York City will be considerable higher than one in Ohio State – so you need to take this into consideration when selecting your law school. Plus, as an international student you may also want to factor in the costs associated with flying home for the holidays – and this will obviously depend on how far away your home country is and what US airport you are living near.

Apply for a Global LLM Study Bursary

Reasons To Study Your LLM In The USA

Popular LLM Specialisations In The US

Hurdles For International Students

Global LLM Study Bursaries