Studying for an LLM in Connecticut

LLM in Connecticut Connecticut is located in New England on the north-eastern coast of the United States. It borders New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and its capital city is Hartford. Connecticut is home to Scoville Memorial Library, America’s oldest free public library – a piece of trivia that might come in handy, considering all the studying you will be doing for your LLM!

Where & what to study in Connecticut

Universities in Connecticut that offer LLM programs include: Quinnipiac University School of Law; University of Connecticut School of Law; and Yale Law School. Master of Laws courses available at these institutions include Health Law, US Legal Studies and Insurance Law. Yale Law School offers a general LLM that is designed for applicants who intend to pursue careers teaching law. It is important that you are seriously considering an academic career before applying to this program. Quinnipiac’s School of Law offers a choice of full or part-time studying and University of Connecticut’s School of Law’s US Legal Studies is aimed at foreign students.

Find LLM programs in the USA

Law student’s perspective

“I find that going to the theatre or opera relaxes me after a particularly intense period of study. Interestingly I never used to go to the theatre in my country! So when I return home I will not only have an LLM, I will have a new passion for the arts.”
Aaron Stevenson, Yale Law School

Connecticut law school alumni

Notable alumni from Connecticut’s law schools include former Heads of State of Germany and the Philippines, former judges at the International Court of Justice, CEOs, diplomats, US Attorneys General, US Senators, US Supreme Court Judges and US Presidents including Bill Clinton, who graduated from Yale Law School.

Applications & admissions

To apply for an LLM program at a law school in Connecticut a first degree in law is required. If you studied in America, you would need to have a JD (Juris Doctor) before applying for an LLM. If you earned your first degree outside the United States then an LLB (first degree in law) or the equivalent is required.

Applicants are expected to show a strong academic record in their previous studies and those from outside the United States are encouraged to have completed the professional requirements for qualifying as a lawyer in their home countries.

English test results are an essential part of the application. TOEFL (the Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) are the two popular tests but it’s a good idea to find out which test your preferred institution requires and importantly, what the minimum acceptable scores are. Some institutions require students whose native language is not English to undergo an English language program prior to starting the LLM. You’ll likely be exempt from English language requirements if your first degree was obtained in a country where the native language is English and the language of instruction at the university was English (e.g. the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.)

You also need to submit transcripts (make sure they have been translated into English), a personal statement stating why you’ve chosen to study at that institution, and strong letters of recommendation from references that can attest to your academic achievements and potential. Some institutions request CVs (resumes) and information about your professional achievements and personal interests.

Remember to also confirm the application deadline, as it sometimes varies depending on whether you’re a US resident or international student. Also, some institutions have fixed deadlines while others have a rolling admissions process where applications are accepted all year round. Do check with the institution to find out whether you’d have to take an admissions test such as the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) as some institutions require it and some don’t. We’ve got some useful advice about applying for an LLM here.

Every state has a bar association with its own rules and guidelines so if you got your first law degree outside the US and you’re planning to take the bar exam after your LLM it’s important to find out whether you would be eligible to take the bar exam. Graduates of Yale’s LLM would be eligible to take the bar exam in some (not all) states.

Tuition fees & living costs

Tuition fees at Connecticut law schools range from around $27,000 to over $50,000 for full time LLM programs, for example the tuition fees for Quinnipiac’s part-time program costs around $33,000.

Living costs in Connecticut average $20,000 for the year, based on a moderate lifestyle, covering accommodation, food, utilities, books and health insurance. Look out for additional costs such as university administrative fees, which could range between $1,000 and $2,500. This means that the total cost of doing an LLM in Connecticut could be anything from $47,000 to $75,000.

Financial aid, scholarships, grants and student loans are available for US citizens and, in some cases, private funding is available to international students. Find out from each institution what specific funding you might be eligible for. More general information on fees and funding can be found here.

Visa requirements for international students

If you’re an international student who requires a visa to study in the United States you will, as part of your visa application, need to submit a letter from the university confirming your admission to the LLM program, evidence that you have funds available to cover your tuition and living costs (or proof that your application for a grant or scholarship was successful), evidence of accommodation arrangements and the all important health insurance. Do check with the US embassy in your country as visa requirements may vary.

What to do when you aren’t studying

There is plenty to do in Connecticut when you aren’t studying. You can visit the museum home of Mark Twain, the famous American writer who created the Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer characters. If you’re interested in outdoor pursuits you can go river boating down the river or hiking on the Appalachian Trail. If you prefer thrill to chill you could spend the day watching motor racing at a NASCAR race track or go on an adventure tour. There’s golf, cycling, or after a hard week of studying you might just want to spend a relaxing weekend at one of Connecticut’s many farm guesthouses where the food is as fresh as can be.

What other US states can you study in?

There are plenty of LLM opportunities for those interested in the living and studying in the United States and we have essential LLM study guides to over 20 US states, including: