LLM (Master of Law) in USA isย offered in various specialized fields like taxation, commercial law, social justice, human rights, environmental law, criminology, and others. It is 9 months to 1-year course available as a residential program in most of the universities. Some institutes also offer it as a distance-learning program.

Are you a legal professional looking to advance your career with a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in the United States? If so, you may be interested in pursuing one of the top LLM scholarships available in the country. In this list, we highlight some of the most prestigious scholarships offered by the government and other organizations, providing financial support to students seeking advanced legal education in the US.

Top 5 LLM Scholarships in USA Here is a list of the top LLM scholarships in the USA offered by the government and other organizations


Scholarship Name Meant for Benefit
Fulbright-Nehru Masterโ€™s Fellowship Those wanting to pursue International legal studies, etc J-1 visa support, round-trip economy class plane travel from the fellowโ€™s home city to the host institution in the United States, financing for tuition and fees, housing and associated costs, and accident and illness coverage
New York University (NYU) Scholarships Freshman students Full/partial tuition fees
Columbia Law School (CLS) scholarships For LLM students Full/ partial tuition fees
UCLA Law Distinguished Scholars Program Meritorious students Covers full tuition fees
Hauser Global Scholars Program 10 best students applying for LLM Tuition fees/living stipend


To be eligible for these LLM scholarships, applicants must meet certain admission requirements set by the respective scholarship providers. Typically, applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree in law or a related field, along with a strong academic record. Some scholarships may also require applicants to have a certain level of work experience in the legal field, as well as demonstrate proficiency in English through standardized tests like the TOEFL or IELTS.

When applying for these scholarships, candidates will need to follow a specific admission process set by each scholarship provider. This process usually involves completing an online application, submitting required documents such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement, and potentially attending an interview. It is important for applicants to carefully review the admission guidelines for each scholarship to ensure they meet all the necessary requirements and deadlines for consideration.

Top 3 LLM Scholarships in USA

Scholarship NameMeant forBenefit
Columbia Law School (CLS) scholarshipsFor LLM studentsFull/ partial tuition fees
UCLA Law Distinguished Scholars ProgramMeritorious studentsCovers full tuition fees
Hauser Global Scholars Program10 best students applying for LLMTuition fees/living stipend

Top Universities offering LLM in USA

According to QS News Ranking, following are the top 10 universities in the USA offering LLM or Master of Law program: 

QS Ranking 2022UniversitySchoolSpecializationTotal Program FeesBrochure
5Harvard UniversityHarvard Law SchoolLLM; 1 year65,875 USDBrochure
14Yale UniversityYale Law SchoolLLM; 1 year43,300 USDBrochure
3Stanford UniversityStanford Law SchoolLaw, Science & Technology; Corporate Governance & Practise;  etc; 9 months62,175 USDBrochure
32University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley LawTradition & Thesis Track; 9 months63,362 USDBrochure
19University of ColumbiaColumbia Law SchoolLLM; 1 year72,360 USDBrochure
42New York University (NYU)NYU LawCompetition, Innovation & Information Law; Corporation Law; Taxation etc. 66,036 USDBrochure
10University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago Law SchoolLLM; 1 year66,651 USDBrochure
248Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown University Law CentreTaxation; Securities & Financial Regulation; National Security Law, etc; 1 year62,244 USDBrochure
40University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)UCLA LawLLM; 9 months66,571 USDBrochure
23University of Michigan โ€“ Ann ArborMichigan LawLLM; 9 months64,526 USDBrochure

Why Study LLM in USA?

Following are some of the reasons that attract the study abroad aspirants towards LLM in USA: 

  • With career opportunities like Diplomat or Policy advisor, the law graduates learn to negotiate treaties and maintain international relations.
  • On 1st January 2019, American Bar Association (ABA) shared the report of steady growth in the number of active lawyers i.e. 12.4% (highest since 2010).
  • USA legal studies focus on the Socratic method of teaching to improve the argumentative dialogue among the students which is an important skill for lawyers.
  • Through the academic year, the students get opportunities to work on pro bono cases due to high requirements in legal clinics of USA.
  • The legal profession in the USA warmly welcomes female lawyers. In 2019, there was a hike of 5% (as compared to the last 10 years) in the number of female lawyers practicing in legal clinics.
  • Law firms in the USA celebrate diversity. Only 20% of minorities were working as associate lawyers in 2009 whereas in 2018 the number raised to 24%. 
  • International graduates can practice law without any kind of discrimination in these law firms.
  • Entry-level salaries in legal firms range between 58,000 USD and 70,000 USD.

LLM in USA Course Curriculum

LLM in USA is an abbreviation of Legum Megister (a Latin word) which means Master of Law. Students are required to complete at least 24 units while studying in the USA. Approximately 18 units consist of academic courses and rest can be completed by attending seminars or submitting a project, depending upon the university. 

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Following are some of the common courses taught in LLM in the USA: 

  • Fundamentals of US Law
  • Legal Research & Writing
  • Constitutional Law, Regulations and Public Policy
  • Criminal Justice
  • Legal History and Legal Theory
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution
  • Social Justice and Human Rights

LLM in USA Admissions 

In the law schools of the USA, the students get the opportunity to work as pro bono and get acquainted with the legal issues. A JD, LLB, or bachelor’s degree in law is required for admission in LLM in this country. Most law schools have their own portal for accepting applications. Students should send their transcripts for evaluation to LSACโ€™s LLM CAS 3 to 5 weeks before applying so that the agency could complete the evaluation on time and forward it to the university. All the other documents must be directly submitted to the universityโ€™s address either via post or mail. 

LLM in USA Deadlines

The application deadline in USA universities for LLM mostly lies in the month of December. Some colleges have a rolling admission policy. Some of the deadlines are discussed below:

SchoolDeadline
Harvard Law SchoolDecember 1
Yale Law SchoolDecember 1
Stanford Law SchoolDecember 1
University of California, Berkeley LawDecember 18
Columbia Law SchoolDecember 18
NYU LawDecember 20
University of Chicago Law SchoolDecember 15
Georgetown University Law CentreFebruary 4
UCLA LawNovember 29
Michigan LawJanuary 15

Eligibility for LLM in USA Admission

  • Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-approved US Law School or first degree (JD, LLB or equivalent) from a foreign law school
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale or 83% at bachelors level (varies with the university)
  • Minimum 2 to 2 years of work experience (depends upon university)
  • Proof of English proficiency

Documents Required for LLM in USA Admission

  • Transcripts of 10th, 12th and bachelors degree
  • Evaluation of foreign transcripts by LSACโ€™s LLM Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
  • Minimum 2 letters of recommendations
  • Essays based on the questions asked by the university
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)

English Proficiency Requirement for International Students

Proof of English proficiency is required for admission of international students belonging to non-English speaking countries. The minimum score requirement for most of the top-ranking universities of USA are given below: 

  • TOEFL (iBT): 100
  • IELTS: 7.0

US Visa Requirements for International Students 

The USA has different types of visa. F1 is used for those who want to pursue academics in universities in the USA. The US student visa is issued post submission of the following documents:  

  • University Acceptance Letter
  • Migration, provisional, character and birth certificates
  • Original I-20 signed and approved by both the university authority and candidate
  • GRE scorecard and proof of language proficiency
  • 2 letters of recommendation; Resume; Statement of purpose
  • Financial Proof: Last 6-monthโ€™s bank transaction and balance certificate; Sponsorship letter from sponsor and relationship certificate with sponsor
  • Assets valuation
  • SEVIS Fee receipt

Once these documents have been submitted, the applicant will be invited for an interview process. Visa will be issued only if the applicant has cleared their visa interview.

Cost of Studying LLM in USA 

The total cost of studying abroad for any program depends upon the universityโ€™s tuition fees, cost of living of the area where the university is located, and lifestyle of a student. Thus, it can be divided into three categories: Pre-arrival Cost, Tuition Fees, and Cost of Living. 

Pre-arrival Cost

This is a one-time expense incurred while applying for a university. It includes visa application fees, registration fees of tests required to study in USA, and LSACโ€™s CAS fees.  

Type of ExpenseCost (USD)
Application Fees80 โ€“ 100
USA Student Visa Fees160
IELTS Fees185-190
TOEFL Fees160-250
LSAC CAS Fees195

Tuition Cost of LLM in USA

USA has been an expensive country to sustain a livelihood. International students who wish to pursue LLM in USA can get a superficial idea from the table given below about the tuition fees across universities.Tuition Fees

Cost of Living in USA

The major contributor to the cost of living for an international student is housing in the USA. On-campus housing is obviously more convenient than off-campus accommodation but most of the universities have only limited space available. Other costs include meal plans, transportation and health insurance. 

Type of AccommodationAverage Monthly Expenses (in USD)
AccommodationOn-Campus: 1000;
Off-Campus: 600 -800
Meals120-160
Transportation100 โ€“ 300
Personal Expenditures300 โ€“ 600
Health Insurance450 โ€“ 700
Total1,570 โ€“ 2,813

Scholarships for LLM in USA

Due to high tuition fees, the international students opt for scholarships in the USA to waive off the cost. Though LLM in the USA is a 9-10months course program, the students require scholarships for easy completion of course. The commonly availed scholarship in USA  and its amount is given below 

UniversityScholarship OfferedAmount (in USD)
Harvard UniversityInlaks Shivdasani FoundationFull tuition fees; living expenses; travel allowance
Stanford UniversityFulbright scholarshipTuition fees and travel allowance
New York University Hauser Global Scholars Program$25,000
University of California, BerkeleyFulbright Scholarship$20,000 to $40,000
Columbia UniversityJagdish Bhagwati FellowshipFull or partial tuition fee
Georgetown University General Merit ScholarshipsVary
University of California, Los Angeles UCLA Law Distinguished Scholars ProgramPartial tuition fees

Details on more scholarships available for international students in the USA can be found here

Job Prospects for LLM in USA 

The graduates of LLM from the USA can try for Optional Practical Training (OPT). At least 6 months before completion of the degree, the LLM students should apply for this training. The maximum duration for OPT is 12 months. The job can be on a contractual basis, paid or unpaid. After completion of the OPT, graduates can apply for an H1B visa to start working under a US employer. Every year 65000 H1B visas are being issued for the foreign nationals.

You are required to pass the Bar examination of the state in which you are interested to practise as a lawyer. Most of the states, including New York and California, allows students to take this examination even with a foreign degree in law. However, approximately 23 states of the USA have this rule that only those students will be allowed to sit for Bar exam who have a degree from ABA-approved law school. Thus, pursuing LLM in USA becomes necessary for international students with a foreign bachelors degree in law to practise in these states. 

Two of the most prominent jobs in USA available for graduates having a degree in LLM are: 

  • Associate Attorney: Average salary is 94,000 USD per annum.
  • Attorney Lawyer: Average salary is 113,000 USD per annum

Other than the USA, there is a high demand for law graduates in Canada. The job markets for law graduates in Canada are not only concentrated on the law firms but can also work as legal advisors in banking as well as administrative sectors.

โ€‹Full LLM Scholarships For International Students In USA

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Choose a scholarship below to view more details.

  • LLM Merit Scholarship
  • The Carr Ferguson Graduate Tax Research Fellowship
  • The Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves and Savitch Tax Scholarship
  • The Ronson J. Shamoun RJS LAW Scholarship

Information for International Students

While the School of Law does offer Merit Scholarships to qualified international LLM applicants, we are unable to provide comprehensive funding that covers full tuition costs or living expenses.

International applicants who plan to obtain a student visa should carefully review our visa information web page for details about the financial certification required in order to apply for a visa.

We encourage international applicants to seek additional sources of funding, such as private loans, grants, fellowships, or scholarships from other organizations. Applicants should seek scholarships and additional funding in their home country and in the United States. Some outside sources of funding are listed below:

  • American Association of University Women
  • America-Mideast Educational and Training Services (Amideast)
  • Australian Federation of Graduate Women
  • Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program
  • Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program
  • Fulbright Association
  • Fundaรงรฃo Estudar Scholarship for Brazilians
  • German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
  • Institute for Humane Studies Fellowship and Scholarship Program
  • Japanese Association of University Women
  • Kosciuszko Foundation for Polish Citizens
  • Latham & Watkins, LLP German LLM Scholarship
  • Postgrad Solutions – LLM Study Bursary
  • Rotary International Foundation
  • W.L. Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarship for Canadians
  • World Bank Scholarship and Fellowship Programs

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