Tribal Policy, Law and Government, LLM
Program Overview
Tribal Policy, Law and Government, LLM
Program Description
The Master of Laws program in Tribal Policy, Law and Government is designed for lawyers and law school graduates who plan to work on issues related to tribal law and federal Indian law at the professional and academic levels. This program can be focused in one of three areas: Indian gaming; tribal self-governance; or tribal policy, law and government. Core curricular offerings focus on domestic tribal law, federal Indian law, and American institutions of law and government.
At a Glance
- College/school: Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Degree Requirements
The program is administered by the Indian Legal Program and is oriented toward students who seek practical experience in tribal law and federal Indian law. It provides intensive instruction to students who graduated from a law school that had few or no courses in Indian law and who now seek to practice in these areas at a professional level. This degree program requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of study. A thesis is not required.
Admission Requirements
- General university admission requirements:
- U.S. applicants
- International applicants
- English proficiency
- Admission to the program is competitive. To be admitted, an applicant must have completed a Juris Doctor degree or law degree at a foreign institution that would qualify the applicant to practice law or pursue license to practice in that country, and have submitted a complete application to the program.
- Selection is based on academic background and potential, career experience and ambitions, diversity of experience and background, space and resource limitations in the law school, the applicant's strength of experience related to the program sought, and other factors.
- Applicants are encouraged to apply electronically through the Law School Admission Council website.
- To be considered complete, the application must include:
- the completed LLM application form
- the required application fee
- a resume that does not exceed three typed pages
- a statement of interest that does not exceed 1,250 words, typed and double-spaced
- transcripts from all institutions attended, including the transcripts showing that the bachelor's degree and law degree were conferred
- two letters of recommendation
- a writing sample
Tuition Information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Career Opportunities
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of lawyers is projected to grow 5% between 2023 and 2033. Completing the LLM program in tribal policy, law and government can lead to a number of opportunities in Indian law, at large, helping current lawyers advance in their careers by enabling them to refine their leadership skills, become fluent with advanced terminology, and develop a keen sense of professionalism.
- Career examples include:
- chief executive officer
- chief legal officer
- court justice
- election director for Native communities
- judge
- law firm administrator
- law firm partner
- law school professor
- litigation support director
- politician or member of Congress
- private banker for Native communities
Program Overview
The LLM program in tribal policy, law and government is designed to provide students with a detailed understanding of the nature of tribal government and law and policy development within the domestic federal structure. The program explores the expression of domestic law within contemporary administrative, governmental, and judicial institutions. Home to the nationally known Indian Legal Program, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law leads the nation in producing graduates specializing in Indian law. Candidates benefit from the extensive resources committed to the Indian Legal Program, including a director, experienced Native faculty and staff, and an Indian law clinic. Arizona State University is located in the heart of the southwestern U.S., home to roughly one-third of the Native population in the U.S. and where many of the largest Indian nations in the country are located. The university is the academic home for several nationally known scholars researching American Indian issues, and it houses many unique resources for such scholarship, including the Labriola Collection at Hayden Library.