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Pennsylvania State University: Penn State 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, the law school has produced some of the world’s finest attorneys, judges, government and corporate leaders, and legal educators.
The Penn State Dickinson Law Difference
The LL.M. program at Penn State Dickinson Law is ideal for both domestic and internationally trained legal professionals seeking to gain a competitive advantage in the legal field. This flexible one-year program allows LL.M. students to enroll in a diverse array of courses, enabling specialization in various areas of law. The LL.M. degree is for ambitious legal professionals dedicated to advancing next-generation legal scholarship and practice.
Two Vibrant Law School Locations
Penn State Dickinson Law offers one school with two vibrant locations in Pennsylvania: Carlisle and University Park. Both locations offer access to an affordable, high quality legal education and rich experiential, social, and cross-disciplinary academic opportunities. Please see more information on our two vibrant locations.
Carlisle is the historic home of Penn State Dickinson Law, with unique access 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. Take a virtual tour.
The University Park location is in State College, enabling law students to study at Penn State’s largest campus. It’s the academic home of a diverse population of about 46,000 graduate, undergraduate, and professional students, including about 7,500 international students. Take a virtual tour.
A Generalized Curriculum that Supports Specialized Concentrations
Penn State Dickinson Law offers a generalized LL.M. degree program designed to allow students to concentrate in distinct areas of law. Students may complete required coursework necessary to sit for the New York bar examination. Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits and complete the following courses:
- Legal Analysis, Writing and Research (2 credits)
- Introduction to the U.S. Legal System (2 credits)
Students may enroll in a wide variety of courses that allow concentration in certain areas of law. LL.M. students must complete 9 total credits of required and elective coursework to satisfy a specific concentration requirement. Popular concentrations include:
- Arbitration, Business Law, and Corporate Law
- Civil Rights, Equal Protection, and Social Justice
- Intellectual Property, Technology and Privacy Law
- International, Foreign, and Comparative Law
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- National Security, Administrative and Immigration Law
A World-Class Faculty with a Personal Touch
LL.M. students benefit from a distinguished and committed full-time faculty complemented by adjunct faculty consisting of practicing attorneys and judges. The faculty at Penn State Dickinson Law bring extensive experience from years of legal practice and actively engage in national and international realms through their research and scholarship. At Penn State Dickinson Law, faculty members maintain an “open door” policy for LL.M. students, fostering close mentorship and support. Explore more about Penn State Dickinson Law faculty.
Scholarships & Funding
Penn State Dickinson Law is committed to providing every student access to a world-class education. All LL.M. applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships at the time of admission. No application is required for scholarship consideration. Scholarship awards are based on several criteria, including: 1) academic performance, 2) professional experience, and 3) other professional and personal experience (e.g., volunteer activities and initiatives demonstrating exceptional leadership skills). For the most current information on tuition and fees, please see Cost of Attendance.
A Commitment to Professional Development and Career Success
LL.M. students have access to career-related support and guidance to navigate future career decisions. Additionally, Penn State Dickinson Law participates in the annual International Student Interview Program (ISIP) which facilitates the hiring of highly qualified foreign-trained lawyers enrolled in U.S. LL.M. programs. International LL.M. graduates are generally eligible for Optional Practice Training, which allows one-year of paid employment in a legal setting.
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 a first degree in law from an international law school. Applicants should have 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 Procedures
Penn State Dickinson Law takes a holistic approach to admission. When reviewing applications, the law school values life and work experience, leadership, community service, advanced degrees, and other personal and professional accomplishments.
Prospective students have the option of applying directly to Penn State Dickinson Law or via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Penn State Dickinson Law does not charge application fees, making the process accessible to all prospective applicants. For more information see, LL.M. Application Instructions
Contact Us
For questions about Penn State Dickinson Law's LL.M. program, please email DickinsonLawLLM@psu.edu or Connect with Admissions.
Available courses
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