St. John’s University

The Law School

LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies

Celebrating over 80 years of excellence in legal education, St. John’s University School of Law has produced lawyers who have distinguished themselves in practice, government, and the judiciary. Among its graduates are former New York governors Mario Cuomo and Hugh Carey, Court of Appeals Judge Carmen Ciparick, and the School’s former Dean and Court of Appeals Judge Joseph W. Bellacosa.

The School currently boasts more than 13,000 living graduates and attracts students from over 200 colleges and universities throughout the country. The current student body of approximately 1,000 represents students from many backgrounds, all of whom have excelled in undergraduate institutions, and many of whom have been employed prior to starting their law studies. Today, the School of Law's original vision has widened to include students from all parts of the nation and the world who share a mutual commitment to the pursuit of excellence. The law school plays a prominent role in the New York City legal community, imbuing all that it does with the University’s Vincentian tradition.

The Program

St. John’s University School of Law offers an LL.M. Program (Magister Legum or Master of Laws) in U.S. Legal Studies tailored exclusively for foreign law school graduates. The LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies has been approved and fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education, and has received the acquiescence of the American Bar Association. The program is open to graduates of foreign law schools and professionals who demonstrate excellent academic achievement comparable to that of United States law school graduates.

The LL.M. Program is designed for candidates with various legal backgrounds. It has been conceived as an opportunity to come to St. John’s Law School and New York City to acquire new skills in U.S. legal studies and gain eligibility to apply for the New York Bar. The concept behind the LL.M. Program is to provide foreign law graduates full exposure to the core subjects of U.S. law. The Program is an extraordinary experience where students will have the opportunity to interact and exchange their knowledge and experiences and build solid foundations in U.S. law.

The St. John’s LL.M. Program in U.S. Legal Studies provides an invaluable opportunity for foreign lawyers to immerse themselves in the study of U.S. law for a full year; develop practical skills through intensive instruction in legal research, legal writing, and oral advocacy; choose from a wide variety of courses taught by the St. John’s faculty and by some of the most accomplished lawyers and judges in New York; and take advantage of all the opportunities provided by New York City.