LLM Program At a Glance
About the LLM Program
The Michigan Law LLM program began more than 130 years ago and continues to flourish today. Unique among its peers, our program stands out for many reasons.
In our LLM program, you will:
- develop meaningful and lasting relationships with your classmates
- be fully immersed in the US legal system by taking classes with JD students
- learn from our faculty of globally renowned scholars and practitioners
- become part of a community of more than 50,000 graduate and undergraduate students from six continents
- reside in a small city that is widely recognized for its high quality of living in the heart of the United States
- have easy access to restaurants, cafes, shops, theaters, museums, athletic venues, and parks
Do you have questions? We have answers!
We’ve asked our current and former LLM students to offer an insider’s view on some of the questions we hear most from prospective students. Browse popular questions, read student profiles, or submit your own.
Why Choose Michigan Law’s LLM Program?
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Flexible Curriculum
We offer a general LLM program that gives you the freedom to tailor your learning experience. You will design your own focus, and our flexible curriculum empowers you to select from nearly all of the Law School’s courses to advance your professional and personal goals.
Some LLM students aim to enhance their knowledge in a single area of law, and so they select almost all their courses in their chosen field. Others select their courses based on a professional goal, such as taking a bar exam in the United States. Many students take classes related to topics of personal interest or subjects they have never studied before. Our LLM program easily supports any of these objectives.
Mini-seminars Address Unique Topics in Intimate Settings
As an LLM student, you’ll have the option to participate in mini-seminars, which are small classes that typically meet in professors’ homes. Our mini-seminar topics have ranged from the explorations of the law behind book bans to the portrayals of lawyers in films to technology trends that are redefining the practice of law. The only limit is our faculty’s imaginations.
Interdisciplinary Opportunities from Across the University
By studying at one of the world’s leading public research institutions, you will have a wealth of interdisciplinary opportunities at your fingertips. We encourage you to take courses from across the University of Michigan’s multitude of other top-ranked programs.
In our innovative Problem Solving Initiative (PSI) courses, you’ll become part of a multidisciplinary team learning to address real-world challenges. Working with graduate students from other units on campus—such as business, engineering, public policy, and public health—our PSI students tackle issues related to autonomous vehicles, climate change, social media, human trafficking, and other societal concerns.
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Small Cohort
We purposely keep our LLM class small to maximize the quality of each student’s experience and engagement in life at the Law School. Because each LLM student is carefully selected, the cohort is extremely bright, inquisitive, and diverse. You won’t be just a number; we will get to know you very well.
With only a few dozen participants in the LLM program, you will become friends with your classmates and receive individualized mentoring and support (ranging from academic and professional advising to winter apparel suggestions) from faculty and staff. You will develop meaningful bonds that will last long after your LLM year.
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Full Integration into the Law School Community
LLM students attend class with our 1,000 JD students, who come from nearly every US state and more than 15 countries. By learning and studying with JD students, you will broaden your social and professional networks and be fully integrated into life at the Law School.
Your immersion into the Michigan Law community begins before you arrive on campus. During the summer before the academic year begins, we match each LLM student with a Michigan Law Ambassador, a second- or third-year JD student who acts as a mentor.
Outside the classroom, you have the option to join more than 70 student organizations at Michigan Law and more than 1,700 University-sponsored student organizations. By joining student organizations, you’ll connect with other students who share similar identities, affiliations, and interests.
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Learn from the Best
With an interdisciplinary mindset and a genuine love of teaching, our faculty are outstanding scholars, practitioners, and mentors with expertise in a wide variety of legal areas. Many have lived, studied, or worked outside the United States, and they are fluent in more than a dozen languages.
Thanks to our small student-to-faculty ratio, you will participate in rich classroom discussions. Most of our upper-class courses contain fewer than 49 students, so you will actively engage with your professors and classmates.
We pair each LLM student with a faculty mentor who offers advice on course offerings and resources at the Law School. If you would like to dive into an area of legal interest, you have the option to earn academic credit while pursuing independent research under the direct supervision of your professors.
Many of our faculty live within a 15-minute drive of campus, which allows them to spend a lot of time at the Law School, even when they aren’t teaching a class. Our faculty value connections with students in and out of the classroom, and they host seminars at their homes and invite students to group lunches. In fact, you’re welcome to invite faculty for lunches at the Lawyers Club (an on-campus dormitory for law students), and the Law School will cover the cost of lunch.
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Commitment to Global Education
Michigan Law has long been held in high esteem among the international legal community.
In 1878, the first students from Japan earned law degrees from the University of Michigan. The Law School established one of the first LLM programs in the United States, granting its first LLM degrees in 1890.
The Law Library became the first depository for European Union documents at an American university in 1957, and Ann Arbor is the birthplace of the American Society of Comparative Law.
We foster the development of international legal scholars and lawyers by providing our students opportunities to present research in the Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program and participate in the Overseas-Trained LLM Student Interview Program every winter.
The University of Michigan fosters a global campus, as evidenced by the more than 8,000 international students from more than 100 countries who enroll at the University every year. U-M consistently ranks among the top 15 universities in the United States in hosting international students.
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A Robust and Loyal Alumni Network
Graduates join the ranks of more than 22,000 Michigan Law alumni around the globe, becoming lifelong members of the Law School community.
Our alumni’s expertise and experience span six continents, and they:
- serve as members of the judiciary and government (international, federal, and local)
- teach and research at renowned law schools
- advocate for public interest and non-governmental organizations
- practice at elite law firms and businesses
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Quality of Life in Ann Arbor
Students enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Ann Arbor, a small city of about 120,000 permanent residents.
Consistently regarded as one of the top places to live in the country, Ann Arbor is a charming college town with many businesses and services geared toward students’ needs.
The Law School is just steps away from downtown Ann Arbor, the center of the city. With cultural activities (theater, dance, music, films, museums), more than 400 restaurants, an eclectic mix of independent shops, and sports venues (including the largest stadium in the United States), Ann Arbor has something to offer everyone.
Local businesses, such as Zingerman’s Deli, attract fiercely loyal residents and visitors, and Ann Arbor has a dynamic startup culture. Global companies housed in Ann Arbor include the headquarters of Domino’s Pizza, a Toyota research facility, and offices for Google and Thomson Reuters.
Affectionately nicknamed “Tree Town,” Ann Arbor is home to more than 160 parks. The Huron River bisects the University of Michigan campus, providing a scenic backdrop for walking, running, biking, kayaking, and tubing.
Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, is within a 45-minute drive of Ann Arbor. With spectacular architecture, world-class museums and theaters, a lively restaurant scene, and professional sports teams, Detroit offers all the attractions of a major US city. The Detroit Metropolitan Airport, a 30-minute drive from Ann Arbor, serves as an international hub with direct connections to more than 140 destinations in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
Ann Arbor is in Michigan, a northern US state that borders Canada. Consisting of two peninsulas surrounded by the magnificent Great Lakes, Michigan has the longest freshwater coastline in the United States. The Mackinac Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, connects the Lower Peninsula (commonly referred to as “the Mitten”) and the Upper Peninsula (“the UP,” as Michiganders like to call it).
LLM Degree Requirements
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Degree Requirement Details
- Earn at least 24 credits. At least 18 of these credits must be earned in Michigan Law School courses.
- Satisfy the constitutional law requirement. Successfully pass either Introduction to Constitutional Law and American Legal Process (Law 631, for LLM students only) or Introduction to Constitutional Law (Law 540, the JD required course).
Law 631 Law 540
- Satisfy the research requirement. Successfully complete a qualifying seminar or course or earn two credits of Independent Research (Law 900).
Law 900 - We encourage students not only to consider courses in their area of legal interest, but also to take courses that expand the way they think about the law and legal problems.
- Students should also consider the professor teaching the course. Many students select classes for the opportunity to engage with specific professors, not only for the course topic, but for the excitement of their intellectual approach to legal studies.
- Earn at least 24 credits. At least 18 of these credits must be earned in Michigan Law School courses.
Apply Now for Michigan Law’s LLM Program
The Michigan LLM is a full-time program, and all students begin classes in late August and graduate in early May. LLM students are permitted to enroll in most Law School courses, including several clinics. We offer two courses that are exclusive to LLM students (a constitutional law course and a research and writing course). Both courses are optional, though generally recommended.
I chose Michigan Law for its small class size, which fosters rich interactions and meaningful connections among peers. The close-knit environment is the ideal setting for building networks and forging lasting relationships.
LLM Program FAQs
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When does your LLM program begin and end?
We have a full-time, residential LLM program that begins in August and ends the following May.
The academic year is split into two semesters: the fall semester is from August to December, and the winter semester is from January to May.
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What types of classes can I take?
As an LLM student at Michigan, you can take almost all the classes the Law School offers. Although classes are subject to change every year, we have extensive breadth and depth in our faculty’s expertise and course offerings. In a typical year, students choose from more than 200 courses, and so you will find classes suited to your interests.
In the fall semester, we offer two classes for LLM students only: (1) Introduction to Constitutional Law and American Legal Process and (2) Research and Analysis in American Law. Neither of these classes is mandatory for an LLM degree, but we strongly recommend them for LLM students with prior legal training in civil law jurisdictions.
Apart from the two LLM-only classes, all other courses are with JD students, and LLM students participate in classes on the same level as JD students. Our LLM curriculum is demanding, and LLM and JD students are subject to the same grading curve.
This academic rigor leads to great rewards: our LLM students are immersed in life at the Law School, and they establish bonds with their classmates and professors through challenging, thought-provoking, and respectful discussions. By fully engaging in the classroom, you will develop enriching connections with the entire Law School community.
Even though most Law School classes are available to LLM students, there are a couple of restrictions. While LLM students can participate in many of the Law School’s transactional clinics, enrollment in litigation-based clinics is generally limited to LLM students who previously earned a JD from a law school in the United States. And although LLM students may not work for academic credit (i.e., externships), they have access to most other experiential learning opportunities, such as Problem Solving Initiative courses, practice simulations, and the pro bono program.
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May I take classes outside of Law School during my LLM year?
Yes.
All LLM students can count a total of six credits in non-law, graduate-level courses at the University of Michigan toward their degree. With the University of Michigan’s status as one of the world’s leading research institutions, you have tremendous options (ranging from business, art, physical sciences, information and technology, social work, music, public policy—just to name a few) for non-law classes.
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May I work during my LLM year?
Although international LLM students are eligible to work part-time in on-campus positions, we discourage LLM students from doing significant work outside of classes, especially during the first semester.
Our LLM curriculum is rigorous, and most students undergo an adjustment period with the course load and highly interactive US teaching style. We advise you to minimize external pressures and responsibilities as much as you can to ease the transition.
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Do you provide mentorship programs for LLM students?
LLM students have a range of advising resources during their time at Michigan Law.
The Law School’s Center for International and Comparative Law provides comprehensive resources for LLM students, including academic and professional advising, extracurricular programming, and connections to other parts of the University. In August, the Center for International and Comparative Law hosts a weeklong Orientation for all LLM students immediately before the start of classes.
During the summer before the academic year begins, we match each incoming LLM student with a faculty mentor and a Michigan Law Ambassador who is a second- or third-year JD student. Faculty mentors and Michigan Law Ambassadors provide insight into life at the Law School and in Ann Arbor and connect LLM students with other members of the community.
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Will I be eligible to sit for a bar exam in the United States if I earn an LLM degree from Michigan Law?
Approximately half of our LLM class elects to take a state bar exam in the United States after they earn their degree at Michigan Law. However, please be aware that an LLM degree—whether from Michigan Law or any other US law school—does not automatically qualify an internationally educated student to sit for a bar exam in the United States.
Each US state has a bar admission agency that sets the requirements for obtaining a license to practice law, and state bar admission agencies often have strict requirements for LLM students whose prior legal training was outside the US. For instance, some state bar admission agencies require the evaluation of a student’s previous legal education to determine their eligibility to sit for the bar exam.
New York and California are the most common US bar exams for our LLM graduates to take, and we provide informational programs and individualized advice to our LLM students who wish to take a bar exam in the United States. However, bar admission requirements are subject to change every year, and so it is imperative that you research the bar admission requirements of the states you’re interested in.
To do so, we advise you to contact the bar admission agencies for the specific US state(s) you’re interested in. The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) provides information about bar admission requirements in each state and a directory of state bar admission agencies, and you do not need to wait until after you begin an LLM program to contact bar admission agencies.
To apply to sit for a bar exam in the United States, you may need to submit academic records and other documentation to a state bar admission agency shortly after you begin your LLM year. It’s often easier to arrange for the delivery of these documents while you’re in your home country or country of legal education—in other words, we recommend collecting any required documentation before you begin your LLM year.
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What types of career resources does Michigan Law provide to LLM students?
The Law School’s Office of Career Planning (OCP) has a team of attorney counselors—including an attorney counselor who focuses on advising LLM students—that provides individualized guidance to students. OCP hosts specialized group seminars and programs that emphasize orientation to the legal employment market in the United States, the development of professional résumés and cover letters, and interviewing and networking skills enhancement. All LLM students have access to a career library and online databases and resources.
Each winter, Michigan Law participates in the Overseas-Trained LLM Student Interview Program, where LLM students can interview for positions with international law firms. OCP also compiles and distributes LLM students’ résumés to employers who have indicated interest in hiring internationally trained students for temporary or permanent positions.
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What are employment prospects like in the United States for LLM graduates?
We provide excellent support to our LLM students to explore postgraduate opportunities, whether in the United States or elsewhere. In fact, we have a dedicated career counselor at the Law School who works with LLM students. Michigan Law graduates are employed across the US and the world, reflecting the Law School’s extensive national and global reach.
As you consider employment options, please note that LLM programs for internationally trained students are well-suited for individuals who plan to practice law outside the United States. The vast majority of our LLM graduates work and live outside the United States, and a US LLM is often crucial for professional advancement in other countries.
Legal employers in the United States typically have a strong preference for JD graduates, and so employment opportunities in the United States for internationally trained LLM graduates are limited, regardless of the school an LLM student attends. (In other words, this is prevalent for all US law schools and is not specific to Michigan Law.) In addition, caps on H1-B visas (the most common work authorization for attorneys) and rising demand for visa sponsorship have caused legal employers to be increasingly cautious about sponsoring international employees.
Because there can be significant challenges in obtaining employment in the United States, we advise you to be proactive in networking and start applying for jobs early in your LLM year. You will put yourself in the best position to find opportunities if you use a variety of career development resources and make the most of all your networks.
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How cold does it get in the winter in Ann Arbor?
During the winter, we experience our fair share of cold, snow, ice, and wind—and sometimes a mix of all four! For students who are accustomed to mild or warm climates all year, we recognize winter may seem intimidating, as many regions in the US (not just Michigan!) are subject to freezing temperatures in the winter. However, nothing beats the majesty of our Law Quad on a snowy day.
As seasoned (pun intended) veterans of winters in Ann Arbor, we can provide tips to manage—and enjoy—cold weather. Suitable clothing goes a long way in wintry weather, and we’re ardent proponents of dressing in layers; even with cold temperatures outside, the inside of the Law School is often toasty. Waterproof and water-resistant coats, gloves, and boots with good traction are invaluable, and hats and scarves are useful to retain body heat.
Although appropriate apparel is key to enjoying the winter, you don’t need to bring any with you at the start of the academic year. Ann Arbor has a number of stores with winter clothing, and so you can get all your necessities here.
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Where do LLM students live?
One of the benefits of Ann Arbor is that LLM students can choose from a variety of housing options, including those administered by the University and others managed by independent landlords.
The Lawyers Club is an “on-campus” dormitory (managed by the University of Michigan) exclusively for law students. It typically houses about half of the LLM and first-year JD classes and some second- and third-year JD students. The Lawyers Club is part of the Law Quadrangle, which includes Michigan Law’s academic buildings. The Lawyers Club offers furnished single rooms with private or semi-private bathrooms, and a meal plan is included in the residence fee.
Another on-campus housing option is Munger Graduate Residences, which is open to all University of Michigan graduate students. Munger provides an interdisciplinary experience designed to foster community across academic departments. Residents live in a furnished 6- or 7-bedroom suite with single bedrooms and private bathrooms. Munger is located two blocks (about a 5-minute walk) from the Law School.
Northwood Community Apartments are a popular on-campus housing option for U-M students with partners and families, but single students are also welcome to live there. Northwood offers furnished and unfurnished apartment options, and it is a free, 30-minute bus ride away from the Law School.
About half the LLM class and the majority of JD students live “off campus” (renting from landlords who are not affiliated with the University of Michigan), with most living in apartments and houses within walking distance of the Law School. The University’s Off-Campus Housing Office has a website that includes listings of apartments, rooms, and co-ops. It has a roommate matching service and a list of landlords and management companies who have met certain criteria for inclusion. We also provide resources for LLM students to conduct a housing search.
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Do I need a car as an LLM student?
Although some JD students have cars in Ann Arbor, it is rare for LLM students to have them.
A car is not necessary for you to get around campus or Ann Arbor, as you have access to free public transportation options. For transit on campus, the University of Michigan has a bus system that is free to the public. In the greater Ann Arbor area, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) bus system is free for all University of Michigan students.
If you would like to use a car for errands, the University of Michigan has a partnership with Zipcar, where students can rent a car by the hour or day. Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are also readily available.
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What is Ann Arbor like for students with children?
In each LLM class, we have multiple students with children. Ann Arbor is a particularly wonderful city for students with families, as it has excellent public schools, libraries, parks, and cultural activities.
The University offers a variety of resources for students with children. Many students with families live in U-M’s Northwood Community Apartments. Northwood hosts social and recreational events for residents, which provide a convenient way to meet other students and their families.
The University also has children’s centers, a list of child care resources, and a posting board for families to indicate their needs for short-term child care assistance. Other options for child care include the Campus Child Care Homes Network and Kids Kare at Home Backup Child Care.
