Loyola Law School Los Angeles - International LLM Program (Bologna, Italy), Tax LLM Program (Los Angeles, California)

The University

Loyola Marymount University balances a challenging liberal arts and sciences curriculum with a commitment to social justice. Students grow to be fulfilled in their own lives and careers, while involved in the communities around them. We welcome all spiritual, cultural and ethnic experiences. Founded in 1911 and located in the heart of Southern California, LMU provides an optimal environment for learning and personal growth.

The Law School

Loyola Law School Los Angeles opened its doors in 1920. Located in downtown Los Angeles-a legal, financial and media capital-Loyola Law School is home to prominent faculty, dedicated students and cutting-edge programs. The first ABA-accredited law school in California with a pro bono requirement for graduation, Loyola Law School is committed to legal ethics and the public interest, and has produced top attorneys for nearly a century. In 2007, Loyola Law School was ranked #17 among Lawdragon’s top 25 leading law schools in the United States. The 2008 Princeton Review ranked Loyola # 1 for “Best Classroom Experience, and #4 for “Professors Rock (Legally Speaking).”

Degrees Offered: Juris Doctor (JD); Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA); Masters of Law in Taxation (LLM); Masters of Law in American Law & International Legal Practice (International LLM)

American Bar Association Accreditation: 1937

Awarded a Chapter in The Order of the Coif: 1990

Faculty: 67 full-time faculty members

Enrollment: 1360-Women: 50%; Minority: 37%--ranked 12th in the nation for minority enrollment.

The Program

LL.M in American Law and International Legal Practice (Bologna, Italy)

The contemporary global economy has created a demand for lawyers who are skilled at managing different legal systems and are familiar with the international aspects of law practice. Law graduates discover that today’s practice of law more frequently presents challenging international issues for which they may not be adequately prepared by their traditional legal education.

This program provides an opportunity for law graduates to undertake specialized study in international and comparative law, to acquaint themselves with the legal traditions of other countries, and to help them understand international legal principles thereby enhancing their ability to anticipate and address a constantly changing legal landscape. Students earn an American LL.M. while studying in Italy at Universita di Bologna, the oldest university in the world. They have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian culture while enriching their professional preparation through the intellectual exchange between students and faculty from diverse legal backgrounds.

Course offerings in Bologna are generally scheduled on Friday and Saturday in order to accommodate students who are engaged in employment, clerkships or internships/stages. This is a one year program. If necessary, credits can be completed in Loyola's summer program. Course work focuses on understanding the U.S. legal system and contemporary international legal practice.

LLM in Taxation (Los Angeles, California)

Begun in 1999, Loyola's Tax LLM Program soon was ranked among the top ten Tax LLM programs in the US. (For an explanation of the U.S. News & World Report rankings of U.S. Tax programs, e-mail Professor Jennifer Kowal@lls.edu) Loyola’s Tax LLM Program is highly respected in the tax community, both in California and nationwide. Potential employers and colleagues in the tax community recognize that Loyola's high quality Program produces well trained and effective tax lawyers. Loyola's strong connections in the tax community offer students interesting career opportunities, as well as numerous opportunities for professional development outside the classroom. For example, a student team from Loyola recently won the LLM division of a national tax planning competition, the Law Student Tax Challenge, sponsored by the American Bar Association.

The Tax LLM Program's curriculum allows students to focus on particular areas while gaining a comprehensive general education in tax law. It offers nearly thirty courses on a wide variety of tax subjects.

The Faculty

LL.M in American Law and International Legal Practice (Bologna, Italy)

Faculty consist of some of the finest scholars from both American and European law schools with expertise in a wide variety of legal issues.

LLM in Taxation (Los Angeles, California)

Loyola's Tax LLM Program is taught by six full-time members of the Law School faculty, all of whom have practiced tax law, and eminent adjunct professors. The tax faculty include nationally recognized tax scholars whose tax articles are widely read in the tax community. Our low student-to-faculty ratio provides a personal experience tailored to each student's individual goals, and the professors enjoy being actively involved in each student's education and career.

Entry Requirements

Enrollment is limited to applicants who have received a JD from an American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited American law school or the foreign equivalent. Applicants for whom English is a second language and who have not studied law at an institution where English was the primary language of instruction are required to submit standardized English language test scores.

LL.M in American Law and International Legal Practice (Bologna, Italy)

Applications for the 2008-2009 academic year will continue to be accepted until the class is filled. Space is limited and applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early to ensure maximum consideration.

LLM in Taxation (Los Angeles, California)

All students must have completed an introductory US federal income tax law course of at least three semester units prior to entry into the Program. (Applicants may meet this requirement by taking Loyola's Income Taxation I as special students during the spring or summer term prior to matriculation.) Applications are accepted and decisions regarding admission are made on a rolling basis. Earlier applications are more likely to receive a favorable response, but applications will be accepted until June 30 for fall admission, November 30 for spring admission, and March 31 for summer admission.

Application Procedure

We strongly encourage applicants to use the electronic application. In order to access the online application, applicants will be asked to create a user id and password.

You may also apply using a paper application; however, there is a considerable processing delay using this method. To request a paper application, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for 2008-2009:

LL.M in American Law and International Legal Practice (Bologna, Italy)

The cost of attendance for 2008-2009 for an American law graduate is $27,700 and for an international graduate is $15,900. At least half of the tuition is due on June 30, 2008. There is a $125.00 graduation fee for the commencement ceremony in Los Angeles.

LLM in Taxation (Los Angeles, California)

Tuition is approximately $1150 per unit of coursework. Book costs and mandatory fees of approximately $125 per year are additional. Tuition and fees are due in full during the first week of each term.

Financial Aid

LL.M Program in American Law and International Legal Practice (Bologna, Italy)

For information regarding financial aid, please visit our website at http://www.lls.edu/programs/bologna/details.html or contact Ms Debbie Esparza at Debbie.Esparza@lls.edu. Note: Italian students may obtain financial aid from UniCredit Bank in Bologna. For further information, please write to italian.co-director@email.it.

LLM in Taxation (Los Angeles, California)

Loyola offers merit scholarships to outstanding candidates, including up to three full-tuition scholarships each year to full-time candidates for Loyola’s Tax LL.M. degree. Graduate Tax Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit to applicants who present outstanding academic records and show exceptional promise. In addition to other required courses, Graduate Tax Scholars are expected to complete the Program’s course in Tax Policy and prepare and present an Honors Tax Research paper with a view to possible submission to the Tannenwald Tax Writing Competition (a student tax writing competition co-sponsored by The Theodore Tannenwald, Jr. Foundation and the American College of Tax Counsel). Graduate Tax Scholarships are limited to applicants who have earned a J.D. degree at an ABA-AALS approved law school in the United States and who matriculate as full-time, 24-unit students. For more information, please contact Prof. Jennifer Kowal, Director of the Tax LLM Program, at 213-736-8349, or jennifer.kowal@lls.edu.

Assistance in obtaining loans is also available for Tax LLM students. For information regarding financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (213) 736-1140 or financialaid@lls.edu.

Location

LL.M Program in American Law and International Legal Practice (Bologna, Italy)

American Law School Graduates
American law school graduates are required to complete a minimum of twelve units at the Loyola Law School campus in Los Angeles the fall semester and must complete the remaining units in Bologna during the spring semester.

International Law School Graduates
International law school graduates are required to complete all units in Bologna.

LLM in Taxation (Los Angeles, California)

Other than on-site tax externships offered with various government agencies, all courses in the Tax LLM Program are taught on the Loyola Law School campus in downtown Los Angeles.