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Studying an LLM (Master of Laws) in Washington DC

Studying law in Washington DC – Supreme Court Each city in the United States has its own distinctive characteristics and none more so than Washington DC. The uniqueness of Washington DC lies in its status as the capital of the USA. Washington DC – not to be confused with the state of Washington on the west coast – is also known as the District of Columbia and was established as the country's capital city by the Constitution in 1790. It was envisioned to be the seat of the US government and from the beginning has remained embedded in rich political history of the United States.

As the capital city, it is representative of the political set up of the country, including all three branches of the federal government. As a result, the city attracts foreign delegations from across the globe as well as government workers, members of Congress and lobbyists. The Capitol Building, Supreme Court and the White House are located here which makes Washington DC very influential in the USA and indeed across the world. These also hold special significance for law students, particularly those interested in constitutional aspects of law and governance.

Nearby states include Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.

Washington DC: an international city

Today, Washington DC is a bustling cosmopolitan city with a diverse population from all socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities. The population comprises of Latinos, a large community of African-Americans as well as immigrants from across the globe. The cultural mix and diversity makes studying in Washington DC an enriching experience and has been considered a highly weighted factor by international students in choosing to study in Washington D.C.

It goes without saying that as the capital of USA, the city is highly developed and offers modern and sophisticated urban life experience. There is also an influx of investment into the city due to its status as the nation's capital, so it is flourishing with economic growth and development.

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Why should you study law in Washington DC?

Washington DC is the legal and political hub of the United States, and as such it is the perfect place to study an LLM degree.

Here are some of the main reasons why Washington DC should be your Master of Laws study destination.

Prestigious law schools
Legal and political institutions
Great legal resources
Amazing career opportunities
Networking opportunities
International community
Cosmopolitan city

Studying an LLM in Washington DC

Best law schools in Washington DC

The city of Washington DC is a great place to study a Master of Laws program and of the six ABA-accredited law schools located in the city, five of them offer LLM degree programs.

This table shows the order these law schools are ranked according to the recently published US News Best Grad Schools Rankings 2024.

Position	Washington DC Law School	LLM Provisions
1	Georgetown Law Georgetown University	General LLM LLM International Legal Studies LLM Taxation LLM National Security Law LLM in National & Global Health Law LLM Technology LLM International Business & Economic Law LLM Environmental & Energy Law LLM Global Health Law & Governance
2	GW Law School George Washington University	General LLM LLM Business & Financial Law LLM Environmental Law LLM Energy & Environmental Law LLM Government Procurement Law LLM Government Procurement Law & Environmental Law LLM International & Comparative Law LLM International & Environmental Law LLM Intellectual Property Law LLM Litigation & Dispute Law LLM National Security & US Foreign Relations Law LLM National Security & Cybersecurity Law
3	Columbus School of Law The Catholic University of America	LLM Law & Technology LLM Corporate & Securities Law LLM Comparative & International Law
4	American University Washington College of Law	LLM Advocacy Law LLM Gender, International & Comparative Law LLM Intellectual Property & Technology LLM International Arbitration & Business Law LLM International Business & Trade Law LLM International Human Rights & Humanitarian Law LLM International Legal Studies LLM Law & Government LLM Legislation Spanish Language LLM
5	Howard University School of Law	General LLM
6	David A Clarke School of Law University of the District of Columbia	None

Studying an LLM in Washington DC

Washington DC is the perfect city to study a Master of Laws degree program – and there are plenty of courses and law schools to choose from. Here we take a closer look at some of the law schools based in the capital city.

Georgetown Law – Georgetown University

Georgetown University was established in 1789 and its campuses cover over 100 acres of Washington DC and comprises 54 buildings.

Almost 8,000 students graduate from Georgetown Law every year, and in 2023, 1,857 were undergraduates, 4,804 were masters students and 1,065 were doctoral students. The LLM programs at Georgetown Law are suitable for US-educated and foreign lawyers – and students can choose from the General LLM or the LLM in International Legal Studies. Georgetown Law also offers specialised LLM degrees including LLM in Taxation, LLM in National Security Law, LLM in National & Global Health Law, LLM in Technology, LLM in International Business & Economic Law, LLM in Environmental & Energy Law and the LLM in Global Health Law & Governance.

GW Law School – George Washington University

Studying law at George Washington University George Washington University offers over 240 postgraduate programs across its various different campuses – including at the two centrally located Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses.

Established in 1865, GW Law School is the oldest law school in Washington DC. It is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools and is located in the downtown neighbourhood known as Foggy Bottom. There are around 1,700 students enrolled at GW Law School.

GW Law School has 12 LLM degree programs for students to choose from. These are the General LLM; LLM Business & Financial Law; LLM Environmental Law; LLM Energy & Environmental Law; LLM Government Procurement Law; LLM Government Procurement Law & Environmental Law; LLM International & Comparative Law; LLM International & Environmental Law; LLM Intellectual Property Law; LLM Litigation & Dispute Law; LLM National Security & US Foreign Relations Law; and LLM National Security & Cybersecurity Law.

Howard Law – Howard University

Howard University was founded in 1867 and is a private research university offering 143 programs, including undergraduate, postgraduate and professional degree courses.

Howard University School of Law admitted its first students in 1869. In 1931 it was the first predominantly African-American law school to be accredited by the American Bar Association, and its first ten graduates included America’s first Black woman law student. Howard Law offers a General LLM degree program.

LLM degree tuition fees in Washington DC

The LLM tuition fees in Washington DC vary between the different universities. Georgetown Law is the highest ranked law school in Washington DC, and it also commands the highest LLM tuition fees at $82,264 for the academic year 2024–2025. Meanwhile, the full-time LLM tuition fees at the second ranked Washington DC law school, GW Law, are $61,152 for the nine months. At Howard Law the LLM tuition fees are considerably lower, with the General LLM tuition fees being $37,496.

LLM student accommodation costs in Washington DC

As one of the main cities in the United States, Washington DC has relatively high accommodation costs. The basic living expenses at Georgetown Law are estimated to be $21,764 for the nine months, GW Law budgets for them to be $24,310, while at Howard Law the combined costs for accommodation and dining for LLM students is estimated to be $22,216.

LLM degree program costs at GW Law

This table shows the estimated costs of studying an LLM degree program at GW Law, including the LLM tuition fees and student accommodation.

GW Law LLM Costs 2024–2025	Amount
LLM tuition fees	$61,152
Accommodation	$24,310
Transport	$1,550
Books and supplies	$2,100
GW Student Health Insurance Program	$2,841
Personal miscellaneous expenses	$3,150
Total	$95,103

Source

LLM degree program costs at Howard Law

This table shows the estimated costs of studying an LLM degree program at Howard School of Law including the tuition fees. Due to the substantially lower tuition fees charge by Howard Law for the LLM degree program, the overall cost for studying a Master of Laws at this Washington DC-based law school are estimated to be approximately $25,000 less than at GW Law.

Howard Law LLM Costs 2024–2025	Amount
LLM tuition fees	$37,496
University mandatory fees	$1,116
Accommodation	$15,972
Dining costs	$6,244
Transport	$3,355
Miscellaneous expenses	$3,889
Books and supplies	$1,900
Total	$69,972

Source

Student living in Washington DC

Washington DC is a really exciting city to live and study in, and boasts plenty of great student neighbourhoods to live and spend time in. It is home to a diverse community of over 680,000 people – here are some of the best student neighbourhoods to choose from.

Georgetown is in the central part of Washington DC and an ideal base for Georgetown University students. It is also within close proximity of George Washington University and just three miles from Howard University. It’s an area with a great nightlife and student-budget-friendly dining options.

Foggy Bottom is near George Washington University and has a lively student atmosphere and buzzing nightlife. With cobblestone streets and green spaces, it is a great area to live as a student.

Adams Morgan is a more affordable area to live in and as such as a popular choice for students from many of the universities. It offers a good nightlife and a wide range of multicultural dining options.

Capitol Hill is close to the Capitol and a good choice for law students that want to be within striking distance of this and the US Supreme Court. The Eastern Market area in this neighbourhood is the direction to head for markets, cheap eats and fun events.

Washington DC Bar Exam

If you want to practice law in Washington DC you will need to pass the Washington DC Bar Exam. The Washington DC Bar Exam is commonly referred to as the DC Bar Exam and it is part of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), which means that people who take and pass the test can transfer the qualification to other states in America that also follow the UBE systems.

Studying an LLM in Washington

Best sightseeing in Washington DC

As the nation’s capital, Washington DC is bursting with historic sites and landmarks – here are some of the top must-sees.

The White House – official residence of the President of the United States.
US Capitol – home of the US Congress.
Washington Monument – obelisk honouring George Washington.
Lincoln Memorial – massive statue of President Abraham Lincoln.
Jefferson Memorial – neoclassical memorial dedicated to Thomas Jefferson.
National Mall – green space surrounded by the iconic monuments and museums.
Smithsonian Institution – comprising several museums and galleries in Washington DC, including the National Air & Space Museum, American Art Museum, Natural History Museum and American History Museum.

Where else in the United States can you study an LLM degree?

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:

Use the LLM course search on LLMstudy.com to find your ideal LLM degree program in the United States.

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