Online LL.M. Admissions
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We accept applicants from a range of backgrounds but all are required
- To have a first professional degree in law from a foreign country; or
- Are qualified to practice law in a foreign country.
The requirements for a first professional degree in law vary by country, but commonly include an LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws), LL.M. (Master of Laws), or J.M. (Juris Masters). The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) provides a list of country-specific minimum degree requirements to be eligible for admission to the bar, which may be helpful in determining your eligibility for admission into the Online LL.M. program at William & Mary Law School. LSAC is a not-for-profit organization that provides products and services to support candidates throughout the law school admission process.
Key Dates
| Semester | Deadline | Program starts |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | August 1, 2024 | August 26, 2024 |
| Spring 2025 | November 15, 2024 | January 6, 2025 |
Steps to Apply
1. Complete the Online Application which consists of:
- Contact and background information
- Enrollment history from all previously attended institutions
- Resume
- Personal Statement
- Optional: Up to 2 Letters of Recommendation
2. Submit Transcripts
If you do not have your official evaluated transcripts at the time of application please upload unofficial transcripts and graduation conferral (certificate of graduation) with English translation from all previously attended institutions to your application for initial review. If accepted, you must submit official evaluated transcripts from all previously attended institutions as a condition of matriculation.
3. Submit the English Language Test Requirements
Applicants who have not graduated from a U.S. institution of higher education are required to submit official test scores from one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), achieving a minimum of 90 (Internet-based total);
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS), achieving a minimum of 6; or
- Duolingo English Test, achieving a minimum of 105.
William & Mary will not accept scores older than two years at the time of application.
International applicants who meet the following condition may be considered for admission without submitting English language scores:
- English is the applicant's country's official language; or
- The applicant's Bachelor's degree (or higher) was earned from a country where English is both the official language and the institution's language of instruction; or
- The applicant's Bachelor's degree or higher was earned from an institution accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting agency.
4. Request Official Transcript Evaluation
Request a credential evaluation report from any NACES member evaluation agency that provides transcript verification and credit evaluation. While we accept evaluations from any NACES member agency, many students use the WES (World Education Services) ICAP (international credit application package) transcript evaluation or the ECE (Educational Credit Evaluators) Course-by-Course report.
U.S. Bar Exam Information
The Online LL.M. Program in American Legal Studies is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the U.S. Legal system and is not intended as a U.S. bar examination preparation course. However, after graduating from the program, many LL.M. students choose to take a U.S. bar exam in California, the District of Columbia, or Washington State, the jurisdictions that currently allow foreign-trained attorneys with online course credits to sit for the bar exam. Students who are interested in qualifying for the District of Columbia bar exam should plan on enrolling in at least 28 credits during their program of study.
We encourage students who are interested in taking a U.S. bar exam to review the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which lists bar eligibility requirements for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The guide is published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.