Studying for an LLM (Master of Laws) in Michigan

LLM in Michigan The State of Michigan is a large, populous state in the United State of America. Located in the north of America, close to the Canadian border, Michigan shares a border with US states of Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin, and it shares a water boundary with Illinois and Minnesota.

Being situated in the Great Lakes region means it is surrounded by large expanse of water, including: Lake Michigan, the Grand River, Spring Lake and so on. The state is a major attraction to students as they’re never short of outdoor, water activities and water sports. There is a wide variety of activities to choose from such as: boating, canoeing, surfing, snorkeling, jet skiing, scuba diving, fishing and many more.

Having said that, students who are not water lovers need not despair as the state offers many historical places, landmarks and museums like The Detroit Zoo, Detroit Historical Museum, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History to name a few.

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Where & what to study in Michigan

There are many cities in the state of Michigan – Detroit, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Marquette, Traverse City, etc. An ample number of law universities are located in these cities: Michigan State College of Law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, University of Michigan Law School, and Wayne State University Law School.

The above universities offer different specialisations including Intellectual Property and American Legal System law.

Michigan State University College of Law (East Lansing, MI)

The Michigan State University College of Law (MSU) is a private law school located in East Lansing, Michigan and is affiliated with Michigan State University. The College of Law caters for both domestic and international students, where they have the option of studying on a part-time, full-time and online (distance learning).

At Michigan State University College of Law the LLM programs available include:
LLM Global Food Law (Online)
LLM Intellectual Property and Communications Law (East Lansing campus)
LLM American Legal System (East Lansing and Dubai campuses)

Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School is a private and independent school and fully accredited by the American Bar Association. The school is located in Lansing, Michigan, with three satellite campuses conveniently located in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Auburn Hill (Michigan). In a bid to further reach and meet the educational needs of students outside of Michigan State, Thomas M. Cooley Law School established another satellite campus in Tampa, Florida. The tentacles of Thomas M. Cooley Law School are not only limited to the United States; they are spread further afield to many countries offshore including: Australia and New Zealand.

The LLM programs on offer here are:
LLM Intellectual Property Law
LLM American Legal studies (international students)
LLM Insurance Law
LLM Corporate Law, Finance, and Tax Law

University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is located in the city of Ann Arbor, it is highly reputable and regarded for the quality of its research and distinguished academic teaching; it is ranked among the top 20 law schools in America. As a result the university has contributed to the quota of the crème de la crème of astounding legal minds in the country. Graduates from the University of Michigan have served at the state's Supreme Court as Chief Justices. Many other graduates became legislators, senators, and congressional representatives to name a few. Prospective students can study LLM in comparative law and international tax law.

Wayne State University Law School (Detroit, MI)
Wayne State University Law School (WSU) is situated right in the heart of the city of Detroit's cultural centre; the district is a tourist attraction that attracts a large influx of students and professionals alike. The district is famous for many architectural styles and designs, that fuses contemporary modern designs with traditional artistically wonders; the use of large atriums and sharp and irregular angles in many of the sculpted buildings will definitely stimulate the creative and legal minds of any student.

Studying your LLM in WSU will allow you to visit many historical landmarks such as: The Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Detroit Science Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art (Detroit).

WSU Law School is a public university and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association. Students here can study for an LLM in: Corporate and Finance Law, Labor and Employment Law, and Tax Law.

Application & admissions

Entry into any university in Michigan to study for an LLM program generally requires a good first degree (bachelor’s degree) in law and a proof of English language proficiency, which is measured using TOEFL and IELTS scores. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures the ability of international students to use and understand North American English as it is spoken, written, and heard in the university environment.

The application process is a little laborious, as it requires a lot of accompanying documents that are very important and key to gaining that much sought after admission. To study for an LLM you will need: the application form of your chosen university (completely filled in with your information), application fee, personal statement, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts and IELTS/TOEFL scores.

Studying for your LLM is an important decision to take as it is an educational platform that can help improve your employability and make your CV (curriculum vitae) more desirable to employers.

Tuition fees & living costs

It is imperative that you have your finances sorted to cover the length of time you will be studying. To study an LLM program in Michigan over one academic year it is recommended that students budget for about $50,000 – this should provide you with enough funds to cover living expenses, food, health insurance as well as your tuition fees.

What to do when you aren't studying

Michigan state is endowed with many magnificent views of the natural world, some of which are located around Mackinac State Park: Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City; the Upper Peninsula (Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls, Soo Locks) are breath-taking scenic areas to explore when you are not studying. Also if you like to get your feet wet, the Lake Michigan shoreline is abound with many scenic beaches.

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: