LL.M. Degree

A graduate law program for international lawyers and law graduates

Welcome to William & Mary Law School's Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) program! Our innovative LL.M. program in American Legal Studies is designed for foreign-educated graduates and attorneys who want an edge in an increasingly globalized legal world. A flexible start date enables students to begin their studies in either the fall or spring semester.

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Residential (On-Campus) Program Highlights

William & Mary Law School has welcomed LL.M. students from all over the world since 1989. On campus LL.M. students have maximum flexibility in selecting a program of study to meet their academic and professional goals and U.S. Bar Exam requirements. Courses are taught in-person by the law school's outstanding faculty including prominent legal scholars, subject matter experts, and leading practitioners. In addition to dedicated career support and resources, many LL.M. students participate in the externship program and earn course credit while gaining work experience at law firms, corporations, and non-profits.

Program Options

Most students pursue the LL.M. Degree in American Legal Studies (two-semester program) with 24 credit hours required. The two-semester, full-time program commences in the fall or spring semester, and ends with graduation in May or January, respectively.

Early in their second semester, many LL.M. students apply for the LL.M. Degree with Advanced Specialization (three-semester program) to complement the two-semester program. In the third semester, LL.M. students earn an additional 10 credits toward an Advanced Specialization to expand their knowledge within an area of interest, enhance their current career, or obtain new credentials for a job search.

LL.M. students admitted to the third semester will focus on one of the following concentrations:

Business & Corporate Law;
Constitutional Law;
Criminal Law;
Intellectual Property;
International Law; or
Methods of Dispute Resolution.

Questions about the program?

You can reach our LL.M. Admissions Office at [[w|llmadm]].

Students Speak

Ms. Li received her Bachelor of law degree from Central South University, School of Law in Changsha, China, and later served as a legal advisor in a state-owned enterprise for two years. She now wishes to pursue criminal law, with hopes of becoming a prosecutor upon completion of her LL.M. degree. More...
Ms. Triviso received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Sofia University (“St. Kliment Ohridski”) and her Master’s degree in Law from New Bulgarian University, both in Sofia, Bulgaria. More...
Mr. Lin received his Bachelor of law degree from Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics in Hongzhou, China. After passing the bar examination in his home country, he obtained several summer internships at a law firm. More...
Mr. Albedah received his Bachelor of law degree from Majmaah University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Upon receiving his degree, he worked as an assistant lawyer at Alkhorayef Law Firm for nine months, handling cases that encompassed criminal, labor, and family law matters. More...