Admissions

LL.M. & J.S.D. Degree Programs

The Master of Laws (LL.M.) and Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) degrees are advanced degree programs. The LL.M. degree program is a one-year program for practicing attorneys and recent law school graduates seeking a U.S law degree. Apply. 

The J.S.D. degree program is a highly selective program for students who have already obtained a first degree in law and an LL.M. degree, or its equivalent, and are interested in an academic career. J.S.D. candidates embark on a program of specialized study under the supervision of a faculty committee. In general, students are admitted to the J.S.D. program after a strong performance in LL.M. program, but it this not a requirement for the program. Read more. Apply. 

LL.M. and J.S.D. students at Cornell Law School receive the following benefits:

• Taught by one of the leading law faculties in the world
• Design own curriculum—there are no required courses
• Receive personal advising from our faculty members and career service professionals
• Take advantage of the rich resources available at Cornell University
• Enroll in one class each semester outside of the law school
• May qualify to sit for the New York State Bar Examination by taking a minimum of 20 credit hours in professional law subjects, including courses in basic American law
• Transfer to the J.D. degree program in exceptional cases

LL.M. Class Profile

Students range from recent law graduates to experienced lawyers, judges and governmental officials.

J.S.D. Class Profile