Master of Laws (LL.M.)

NKU Chase College of Law offers an LL.M. in U.S. Law degree. This degree is geared toward individuals who have earned their law degree at a foreign institution. This degree is ideal for individuals in the workforce (or who are about to enter the workforce) who believe that gaining knowledge in a particular (or general) area of law in the American legal system will benefit them. LL.M. students are eligible to transfer to the JD program should they wish to do so.

Admission

Applicants must provide the following to be considered for admission:

Official transcripts from all universities attended. If the transcripts or grade marks are from a university outside the United States, the applicant will be required to provide a course-by-course evaluation, with GPA, from an accredited agency.
Completed application for graduate admission
One letter of recommendation
Supplemental application for admission
Resume
Personal statement
Interest statement: A typed statement no more than two pages explaining the applicant’s interest for pursuing the LL.M. degree.

Admission is based on a previous academic record and information provided with application for admission. Students must be proficient in English and proficiency is demonstrated by a minimum score of 90 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). No other test is required.

The priority application deadline is May 1.

Curriculum

Students will need to pass a minimum of thirty credit hours to earn the LL.M. degree. The only required courses are Introduction to the U.S. Legal System, Basic Legal Skills - Research, and Basic Legal Skills - Writing. The remainder of the thirty credit hours can be earned from Core, Required, and Elective JD courses.

For program-specific policies governing the LL.M. program, please refer to the Chase Student Handbook, supplemented by the Chase LL.M. policies.

Group One: Required Courses (7 credit hours)

Introduction to the U.S. Legal System (2 credits)
Basic Legal Skills - Research (2 credits)
Basic Legal Skills - Writing (3 credits)

Group Two: Elective Courses (23 credit hours)

J.D. Core Courses
J.D. Required Courses
J.D. Elective Courses

Total Hours: 30

Grading

Students in the LL.M. program will have the same course requirements as JD students do in each course and will take the same exams; however, LL.M. students will be graded on the NKU graduate programs grading scale (A-C, F).

Length of Program

Students are expected to complete the 30 credit hour program in one year. A student could, however, seek permission to complete the program in a longer time period.

Transferring to the J.D. Program

Students who enroll in the LL.M. in U.S. Law program may transfer to the J.D. program, but they must apply to the J.D. program. Credit hours earned in the LL.M. in U.S. Law program can transfer to the J.D. program, but grades earned while in the LL.M. program will not be counted in the student’s J.D. grade point average. Students who transfer to the J.D. program will start the J.D. program with a 0.0 grade point average.

Tuition

The tuition for the LL.M. in U.S. Law program is $28,950 for the 30 credit hours needed to complete the program. Scholarships are available for qualified students.

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