Studying for an LLM (Master of Laws) in Pennsylvania

Studying an LLM in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania is located in the north-eastern part of the United States, in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is bounded to the north by Lake Erie and New York state; to the east by New Jersey; to the south by Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia; and to the west by Ohio. Philadelphia is the largest city in the state (and the sixth largest city in the United States), Pittsburgh is the second largest city, and Harrisburg is the state capital.

Studying an LLM degree program in Pennsylvania offers students excellent academic opportunities in a great location that is more affordable to live in than many of the other US states.

Some of the reasons students choose the Keystone State for their Master of Laws studies are:.

Prestigious universities
Good range of postgraduate programs
Affordable cost of living
Vibrant student communities
Historical significance
Dynamic and robust job market
Outdoors pursuits and national parks

Search our database of LLM programs in the USA

Best law schools in Pennsylvania

There are nine law schools in Pennsylvania that are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) – here they are in ranking order according to the US News Best Grad Schools 2024.

Position	Pennsylvania Law School	Location	LLM Provision
1	Penn Carey Law University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	General LLM LLM Intellectual Property & Technology Law LLM Energy, Security & Human Rights
2	Charles Widger School of Law Villanova University	Villanova	LLM Taxation LLM International Studies
3	Beasley School of Law Temple University	Philadelphia	LLM Taxation LLM Trial Advocacy LLM Transnational Law LLM Asian Law LLM for Foreign-Trained Lawyers LLM in Beijing, China
4	Penn State Law Pennsylvania State University	University Park	General LLM
5	Thomas R Kline School of Law Drexel University	Philadelphia	LLM American Legal Practice LLM Cyber Law & Data Privacy LLM Global Financial Regulation LLM Health Care & Pharmaceutical Compliance
6	Penn State Dickinson Law Pennsylvania State University	Carlisle	General LLM
7	Pitt Law University of Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh	LLM for Foreign-Trained Lawyers
8	Thomas R Kline School of Law Duquesne University	Pittsburgh	LLM for Foreign-Trained Lawyers
9	Commonwealth Law School Widener University	Harrisburg	None

Studying an LLM in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is home to over 100 degree-granting institutions including many top-tier universities, for example the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania and other highly ranked institutions including Penn State University and Villanova University.

Nine of the law schools in Pennsylvania have been accredited by the Pennsylvanian Bar Association and most of them offer Master of Law programs. Here is some information about some of the universities and law schools in Pennsylvania that offer LLM programs.

Penn Carey Law – University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution located in Philadelphia, was founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin and is one of the oldest institutions in the US. Known for its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary education and research, it is home to renowned law school, Penn Carey Law.

Penn Carey Law was originally established in 1850, making it one of the oldest law schools in the US. The Penn Carey Law LLM is a full-time Master of Laws program designed for lawyers trained outside the United States. It is a General LLM degree allows students to customise the curriculum to focus on a specific area of law. Students can also choose from two concentrations – LLM in Intellectual Property & Technology Law; and LLM in Energy, Security & Human Rights.

Beasley School of Law – Temple University

Temple Law Temple University is also located in Philadelphia and was established in 1884. This public research university is now one of the largest universities in Pennsylvania, with a student body of over 30,000 – of these over 8,500 are studying postgraduate or professional courses.

Beasley School of Law opened in 1895, although at this time it was under a different name and didn’t take the name Beasley until 1999. The law school offers an excellent selection of LLM programs – these include LLM in Taxation; LLM in Trial Advocacy; LLM in Transnational Law; and LLM in Asian Law. Temple Law has also launched an LLM for Foreign-Trained Lawyers and an LLM program that is taught in Beijing, China.

Penn State Dickinson Law – Penn State University

Penn State University has 24 campuses across Pennsylvania and an alumni network of over 788,000 people!

Penn State Dickinson Law is based in a historic campus of Carlisle, a charming place to live – in fact the Harrisburg–Carlisle region has recently been named as one of America’s most liveable cities. The LLM degree at Penn State Dickinson Law is suitable for both domestic and internationally trained legal professionals. It is a flexible, one-year program that allows students to specialise in various areas of the law according to their interests and career aspirations.

LLM tuition fees & living costs in Pennsylvania

The LLM tuition fees at law schools in Pennsylvania vary widely between the different law schools and according to what Pennsylvanian city they are located in. For example, at Temple Law the estimated tuition fees for the academic year 2024–2025 are $36,000 – this is considerably less than many other Master of Laws course in the United States.

LLM degree costs at Temple Beasley School of Law

This table illustrates the estimated costs that will be incurred by an LLM student at Temple Beasley School of Law.

Temple Law LLM Costs 2024/25	Amount
LLM tuition fees	$36,000
University service fee	$1,016
International student fee	$350
Law school matriculation fee	$423
Accommodation and living expenses	$15,000
Books, health insurance, transport etc	$8,700
Total	$61,489

Source

LLM degree costs at Penn State Dickinson Law

This table illustrates the estimated costs that will be incurred by an LLM student at Penn State Dickinson Law.

Penn State Dickinson Law LLM Costs 2024/25	Amount
LLM tuition fees	$58,872
Additional fees	$182
Accommodation	$11,000
Utilities	$3,150
Food	$4,500
Transport	$3,400
Books, materials, supplies & equipment	$2,050
Miscellaneous expenses	$2,700
Total	$85,854

Source

Studying an LLM in Philadelphia

Reasons to study in Philadelphia

Three of the ABA-accredited law schools in Pennsylvania are located in Philadelphia – and there are many reasons why this is a great city to live and study in as an LLM student – here are just a few:

Birthplace of America
One of America’s biggest cities
Large international population
Extensive legal network
Excellent transport links
Reasonable cost of living
Large public park system

Pennsylvania Bar Exam

To practice law in the United States, law graduates must pass the Bar Exam – a professional licensing test is designed to assess whether a candidate has the necessary legal knowledge and skills to be an effective lawyer. Every state in America 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 it.

Check the suitability of the courses with your preferred law school, for example Penn State University’s Dickinson School of Law offers an extension of studies from the standard two semesters to three, for students wishing to study for a Bar Exam.

What can you do in Pennsylvania?

At approximately 280 miles wide and 160 miles long, the state of Pennsylvania is a reasonable size – and being home to the Appalachian Mountains as well as cosmopolitan, historic cities there is plenty to keep you occupied when you’re not studying.

The state of Pennsylvania has historic importance. The Gettysburg Battlefield is a great place to visit and find out about the American Civil War. Philadelphia has iconic landmarks including the Liberty Bell – a powerful symbol of American independence and liberty, Independence Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The state capital of Harrisburg is also known for its rich historical significance with the Pennsylvania State Capitol, National Civil War Museum and other historic landmarks.

Pennsylvania is also a great place for outdoor enthusiasts, with the Appalachian Mountains, Pocono Mountains, rivers and plains, as well as Allegheny National Forest, Presque Isla State Park, Lake Erie and Valley Forge National Historical Park – activities available for LLM students to enjoy in their downtime include skiing, hiking, kayaking, camping, swimming and boating.

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: