Program Overview

Introduction to the LL.M. in U.S. Law Program

The LL.M. in U.S. Law at the University of Houston Law Center is designed to prepare foreign lawyers for a global practice. This program is recognized worldwide and has included lawyers from all corners of the world, including Europe, Latin America, Africa, Australia, and Asia.

Program Description

Students in the LL.M. in U.S. Law program work closely with their course advisor to design a course of study that addresses the student's professional interests and satisfies program requirements. Students attend classes alongside U.S. educated J.D. and LL.M. students, enhancing learning and fostering networking opportunities. The program can be completed full-time or part-time, with the option to finish in two semesters or take up to three years.

Program Requirements

To earn their LL.M. degree, students are required to:

• Complete a minimum of 24 credit hours of approved courses
• Maintain the minimum grade point average that applies to their course of study
• Enroll in the following courses their first semester:
  • Introduction to American Law, which builds an important foundation for legal studies
  • Legal Writing, which provides an overview of vital skills to be used as a student and practitioner

Applicant Requirements

Lawyers educated in other countries must:

• Hold a law degree from an accredited university or be admitted to practice before the highest court in their jurisdiction
• Demonstrate their ability to perform satisfactory graduate work by presenting evidence of either a high grade-point average or superior class standing at the school where they earned their law degree
• Provide a test of English proficiency, with the Law Center typically requiring a score of 100 on the IBT-TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS-academic, or 120 on the Duolingo English test

U.S. Legal Skills Class

The University of Houston Law Center offers a short intensive course for foreign lawyers that provides an orientation to U.S. legal education. This one-week orientation course focuses on:

• Preparing foreign lawyers for legal education in the United States
• Legal terminology
• Concepts of professionalism
• Tools used in preparation for legal study
• Law school exam preparation in the U.S.
• The way principles, practices, and theories of law are taught in the U.S.
• Foundations of the U.S. legal system
• Procedure and process for interpreting and enforcing laws in the U.S.

Legal English Certificate Program

The University of Houston Law Center offers a Legal English Certificate (LEC) program specifically designed to assist foreign-trained lawyers and law students in the legal English used for the study and practice of law in the United States. This 4-week intensive online course can help satisfy English language requirements for the U.S. Law LLM program.

Summary Fall Itinerary

The program includes a New LL.M. Student Orientation, U.S. Legal Skills Course, and the start of the fall semester. Specific dates and times are provided for these events, including:

• New LL.M. Student Orientation: August 6-7
• U.S. Legal Skills Course: August 10-14
• Fall semester begins: August 24

Additional Information

Students must be continuously enrolled every fall and spring semester for a minimum of three credits and are responsible for complying with all visa restrictions or requirements. The Law Center offers one of the largest course selections in the United States, allowing students to pursue specific interests by selecting courses in a variety of practice areas.