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Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson Law: Dickinson Law
About the Law School
Penn State University is a tier one research university consistently ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world. Considered among the nation’s best law schools, Penn State Dickinson Law is the oldest law school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and one of the oldest in the United States. For over 190 years, Dickinson Law has produced some of the world’s finest attorneys, judges, government and corporate leaders, and legal educators.
Though its LL.M. Program, Dickinson Law welcomes the best and brightest students from around the world who come to advance their careers by studying with our distinguished faculty.
Our Campus
Dickinson Law offers LL.M. students an ideal environment with access to world-class resources and accomplished faculty. Our historic campus offers a state-of-the-art facility and a modern research library offering law-related resources and a wide range of services that support the advancement of legal scholarship. Take a virtual campus tour.
Our Reach
Penn State boasts a vibrant university community with 24 campuses located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a global alumni network of over 700,000 alumni that both prepares students to work in the global economy and ensures a Penn State connection almost anywhere in the world. Meet our current LL.M. students.
Our Faculty
LL.M. students learn from a distinctive and dedicated full-time faculty complemented by an adjunct faculty of practicing attorneys and judges. Our professors have spent years practicing law and engage nationally and internationally through practice, research and scholarship. Meet our faculty.
Our Curriculum
Penn State Dickinson Law offers a flexible one-year LL.M. program that can be started in the fall (August) or spring (January). Studying alongside J.D. students, LL.M. students can enroll in a wide variety of courses that allows concentration in certain types of law or law-related topics. The Dickinson Law curriculum provides all coursework necessary to sit for the New York bar examination. See our course listing.
Our Location
The Dickinson Law campus is located in Carlisle, which is strategically located close to Harrisburg — the capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania — and its judicial, legislative, and executive offices. Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore and New York City are all easily accessible by car or train.
Carlisle continuously ranks as one of the country's most livable small towns in the U.S. due in part to the diversity of the people and institutions, amenities, and array of community activities. Carlisle features a variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries, an independent movie theater, a downtown farmers market, and much more.
The cost of living consistently rates below the U.S. average, making it an affordable, cost-efficient option for attending law school. Generally, everything one needs is within easy walking or biking distance. Most LL.M. students find reasonably priced housing close to campus.
Master of Laws Courses
Penn State Dickinson Law offers a flexible, 24-credit LL.M. degree program designed to give students a high-level understanding of the U.S. legal system. Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits and complete the following courses:
- LL.M. Legal Research (1 Cr.)
- LL.M. Legal Writing (2 Cr.)
- Intro. to the U.S. Legal System (2 Cr.)
Additionally, students must enroll in one course from the following list:
- Civil Procedure (4 Cr.)
- Constitutional Law I (3 Cr.)
- Contracts (4 Cr.)
- Criminal Law (3 Cr.)
- Property (4 Cr.)
- Torts (4 Cr.)
- Criminal Procedure (3 Cr.)
LL.M. students have the option of pursuing a concentration in a specific area of law. To meet a concentration requirement, students must successfully complete 9 total credits of both required and elective coursework. Popular concentrations include:
- Business Law
- Civil Rights, Equal Protection and Social Justice
- Intellectual Property, Technology and Privacy Law
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
For more information, please see LL.M. Curriculum | Dickinson Law (psu.edu)
Scholarships & Funding
All LL.M. applicants are considered for merit-based scholarships. On average, LL.M. students receive 50-60% tuition scholarships.
For the most current information about our tuition and fees, please visit the website: Cost of Attendance
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants must have earned either a U.S. J.D. from an ABA-approved law school or the equivalent to the U.S. JD from a foreign law school. Applicants should be licensed to practice law or have significant experience in legal practice.
Applicants must provide evidence of a TOEFL score report of 88 or higher, an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher, a Duolingo English Test score of 120 or higher, or the equivalent.
Applicants for whom English is a native language or who have received an academic degree from a college or university whose language of instruction is English meet the language requirement.
For more information see, LL.M. Admission Requirements.
Application Prodedures
Penn State Dickinson Law takes a holistic approach to admission by considering accomplishments beyond test scores and college grades. When reviewing applications, the law school values life and work experience, leadership, community service, advanced degrees, and other personal and professional accomplishments.
Applications are accepted via LSAC. Penn State Dickinson Law does not assess any application fees. Completed applications are usually reviewed within 2-3 business days.
For more information see, LL.M. Application Instructions
Learn More
Dickinson Law offers monthly online information events throughout the academic year, allowing prospective students to gain valuable insights into the LL.M. program. These events provide an excellent opportunity for attendees to interact with faculty members, current students, and ask specific questions about the program. Attend an information session.
Contact Us
Please contact us with any questions. Prospective applicants may also direct questions regarding the LL.M. program to:
Anthony C. Ogden, Ph.D.
Director, International Programs and Graduate Education
Penn State University |Dickinson Law
127F Lewis Katz Hall
150 South College Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 USA
Office: 1+717-241-3532
Email: DickinsonGradEd@psu.edu
Website: https://dickinsonlaw.psu.edu/
Available courses
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