University of Southern California - USC Law School

The University

USC, one of the world's private research universities, is distinguished by renowned faculty, highly competitive admissions standards, an appreciation of the arts and an innovative community service outreach program. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, USC is known for its richly diverse academic community. USC's two campuses are home to the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 17 professional schools, as well as one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country. The schools of law, engineering, film, medicine, journalism, business and architecture are among the nation’s leading graduate schools. USC's graduate and professional programs attract superior students from around the world, and prepares them to assume leadership positions in their respective fields.

The Law School

Over 100 years old, the USC Law School was the first law school to be established in the southwest United States. USC Law has been consistently ranked in the top 20 U.S. law schools in U.S. News & World Report. Students possess extraordinary academic credentials and represent a rich diversity of backgrounds and experiences. Recent classes have included graduates from over 100 colleges and universities from the United States and abroad.

The Law School is a small, very selective national school with an advantageous student/faculty ratio of better than 14:1. This fosters important avenues for discourse and an exciting exchange of ideas. With 633 J.D. students and 87 international graduate students, USC Law School captures the benefits of its small size by creating a true academic community in which faculty and students engage in a common quest for education and new understanding. Activity abounds in the halls and classrooms, and students value a collaborative approach to their studies. The school, in its physical structure and its academic programs, has been carefully constructed to build a vibrant, active community of scholars.

The Program

The Master of Laws (LL.M.) Program is a one-year degree program for candidates seeking a U.S. law degree. It is designed for attorneys, judges, government officials, prosecutors, corporate legal counsel, bankers, and recent law graduates who have received their basic law degree outside the United States. Through our LL.M. Program, we will introduce you to the U.S. legal system and allow you the freedom to choose your own course of study from our extensive law course offerings. You will study side-by-side with USC J.D. students and be able to interact not only with world-class faculty, but also with practicing lawyers from around the world.

USC Law School students may elect to take courses in a number of specializations. They include: Corporate & Business law, Intellectual Property, Entertainment & Patent Law, International & Comparative Law, or students may choose a general concentration. LL.M. students select from over 130 different courses offered by the Law School every year. We also offer exclusive classes every year for LL.M students only: LL.M. Legal Writing, Introduction to US Legal Education and Topics in American Law (whose curriculums provide bar-related topics and materials) and Reviewing & Negotiating Business Contracts. In addition, we also offer specialized LL.M. academic support to assist students with their course work and exam preparation.

We offer comprehensive LLM Career Development services for our LLM students. Students receive access to our web-based career services system where they can access online job listings and upload their resumes for employers to review. We also offer a series of career development and bar preparation workshops. We participate in the International Student Interview Program (ISIP). NYU School of Law hosts this one-day consortium program on their campus with students every January. This program provides foreign-trained lawyers pursuing graduate degrees in the U.S. at top law schools with the opportunity to be considered for internships and permanent positions worldwide with over 125 U.S. and foreign employers in more than 36 countries.

We plan a series of popular events for our students, that provides them with opportunities to integrate with our JDs and also to take advantage of the vibrant cultural center of Los Angeles. We are committed to helping students get the most out of their University of Southern California experience!

The Faculty

Recognized as one of the United States’ most productive in scholarship, the USC faculty is noted for its commitment to interactive and dynamic classroom teaching. Many are renowned scholars who have made lasting contributions to the law and American jurisprudence. Others are promising young academics, exploring new and emerging fields. The Law School’s interdisciplinary focus is strengthened by its faculty members, many of whom hold doctorates in fields ranging from economics and history to psychology and political science. As primary resources for leading developments in law, the faculty of USC Law School influence corporations, legislatures, government agencies, and the courts.

Entry Requirements

To qualify for admission to the USC LL.M. Program, students submitting an application must have earned their first law degree (LL.B. or equivalent) outside the United States. Admissions are highly selective and those admitted will have excellent law school records, strong letters of recommendation and strong English language ability, as demonstrated by their TOEFL score, writing sample and personal statement. Although not required, some work or research experience following completion of a degree in law is preferred. The Admissions Committee carefully evaluates all parts of the application.

Application Procedure

There are two options to submit your application. You may either follow the instructions on our website (lawgip.usc.edu/apply.cfm) to APPLY ONLINE through our LSAC e-application, or you may download and fill in the PDF application form, print, and mail it directly to USC Gould School of Law with each of your required application documents. We will provide priority review of all applications utilizing our LSAC e-application and the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. Please visit our website for a complete list of items that must be submitted with your application file.

Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis. Applications received by the February 1 deadline will receive priority review. Enrollment is limited to the fall semester, which begins in August.

Financial Aid

Applicants requiring financial aid should make every effort to obtain assistance from their governments or other outside sources. USC offers very limited financial aid resources to foreign LL.M. students.

If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have been granted political asylum and are interested in securing student loans through USC, please contact Mary Bingham in our Law School Financial Aid Office at: lawfao@law.usc.edu.

If you are NOT a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have questions about financial aid, please contact the Graduate & International Programs Office at: llm@law.usc.edu.

The Graduate & International Programs Office offers a few partial merit-based scholarships each year. Scholarship assistance based on merit is awarded to outstanding applicants. Very qualified applicants should submit a letter requesting scholarship consideration when applying to the LL.M. Program. Please contact the Graduate & International Programs Office if you have any scholarship questions.

Location

USC is an integral part of the cosmopolitan and dynamic Los Angeles community. Los Angeles is at the heart of encountering the “American Experience.” Since the beginning of the Gold Rush, California has been the “land of opportunity.” This energy and optimism has resulted in an amazing array of diverse cultures, religions and people. Within this framework of diversity, there are countless opportunities to learn about how the law operates in American society. From small biotech start-up companies, to huge giants in aerospace, shipping, entertainment and media, the tremendous variety of industries and government agencies in L.A. is unmatched anywhere. For instance, the Los Angeles Superior Court is the busiest court system in the country, handling more than 600,000 cases per year.

Student Life

The students of the Graduate & International Programs are thinking globally, studying locally. Our outstanding students bring a rich array of experience, legal knowledge and cultures to the Law School. They come from countries all over the world such as Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Thailand.

While they have earned law degrees outside of the U.S., G&IP students come to USC Law to learn American law and the U.S. legal system. The breadth and knowledge that these students bring from their home countries is outstanding. Some are practicing lawyers with years of experience at prestigious law firms. Some students are judges whose rulings impact the laws of their home countries. Others are prominent legal and business professionals representing a wide spectrum of industries and specializations. Despite their different backgrounds, they enrich the Law School through their diversity of perspectives.

Summer Program

The University of Southern California Law School invites you to participate in its 4-week Summer Law & English Program. Our program is a unique non-degree course designed for international lawyers, judges, prosecutors and defenders, government officials, corporate legal counsel, business professionals, and law students who would like to learn about the American legal system while improving their English ability.

The Program participants will receive essential information about the fundamental areas of law and will gain a better understanding of the theories and practices of the U.S. legal system. The curriculum also incorporates training in legal English by USC’s Rossier School of Education Language Academy. The English sessions are customized to complement the law curriculum, including legal vocabulary, presentation and negotiation skills.

The 2008 Summer Law & English Program will run for 4 weeks from July 14, 2008 to August 8, 2008. The law classes are Monday - Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The legal English classes are Monday - Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Classes are held at USC in state-of-the-art classrooms. At the end of the program, participants will receive a document from the USC Law School that certifies their completion of the Summer Law & English Program.