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Posted Sept. 23, 2026

How do you apply to study a Master of Laws in the United States?

Applying for a master of laws in United States

Applying to study a Master of Laws in the United States varies depending on whether you are applying as an international student or as a US student.

Some of the stages will be the same for either type of student, but international students will inevitably have to complete more documentation.

If you are from the United States and want to study your LLM degree program at a US law school, applying for a course is quite simple.

  • Check your eligibility
  • Choose your course
  • Select your law schools
  • Create an LSAC account
  • Collate your documentation
  • Meet the deadline


For an international student, these will also need to be followed and in some instances there will be extra things you need to do, and these will often involve extra fees, too.

Let’s take a look at the US application process in more detail.

Applying as a US and international student

1. Check your eligibility – most US Master of Laws degrees will require you to have an undergraduate law degree (LLM) or equivalent.

2. Choose your course – there are many areas of law that you can choose to specialise in when it comes to choosing your LLM degree program at a US law school, from General Law and Human Rights Law to Dispute Resolution Law and AI Law.  Find the area that interests you the most and that is most relevant to your future career plans.

3. Select your law schools – when deciding where to study your LLM degree in the US, you can apply to several different law schools and universities. Don’t spread yourself too thin by applying to countless programs, instead narrow your choices down to between five and 10, and tailor each application to each specific law school. Points to consider when narrowing down your options include.

  • Master of Laws specialisms
  • Law school location
  • Tuition fees
  • Associated living costs
  • Law school rankings
  • Application deadlines
  • Bar school eligibility of the LLM


Please note, different law schools will have different application fees, and these will need to be paid when you apply for the Master of Laws. Therefore, the more law schools you apply for, the more application fees you will need to pay.

4. Create an LSAC account

Many US law schools use the LSAC for Master of Laws degree program applications – LSAC stands for Law School Admissions Council. There is a selection of associated fees for LSAC, and these are likely to be higher for international students as English language test results and other international-related documentation (passports/ID, etc) may also need to be submitted and processed.  

5. Collate your documentation

Getting your documentation together is a relatively simple process for US students, especially those who are moving straight from their undergraduate law-related degree to study a Master of Laws. The documents are likely to include:

  • Personal statement
  • CV / resume
  • Letters of recommendation
  • References – academic and professional


International students will need to provide additional documents, including:

  • University transcripts
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Degree certificate
  • Academic records of any other HEI attended


6. Meet the deadline

This may sound obvious, but it is paramount that you meet the deadline for Master of Laws applications to give yourself the best chance for application success. If you need to apply through LSAC, make sure you don’t leave the LSAC documents to the last minute. LSAC currently says that the evaluation of international credentials can take more than two weeks or even longer during busier times, so bear this in mind when consider law school application deadlines.

7. Apply for a student visa

A student visa is only necessary for international students. So, if you fall into this category, make sure you deal with the US F-1 student visa application as soon as you can, as there has been plenty of news recently about delays and other issues surrounding this visa. Your US law school or university should provide you with the necessary immigration documents once you have enrolled and made the necessary financial payments – but make sure you deal with this in plenty of time if you are planning to study on campus at a US law school.

Looking for the perfect Master of Laws degree program? Use our LLM course search to find your ideal course.

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