Application Information

Application Requirements and Deadlines

LL.M. applications must be submitted through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The application opens on September 1 and is due by March 1 for priority consideration. We recommend that those interested in applying for scholarships apply by December due to early external scholarship deadlines.

The application to join the LL.M. Class of 2023-2024 closed April 15, 2023. The application to join the LL.M. Class of 2024-2025 will open September 1, 2023.

All applicants must purchase the LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS). Applicants with a foreign law degree must also purchase the International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES).

Application Requirements and COVID-19

Starting in January 2021, LSAC is accepting transcripts emailed to them as unencrypted PDF attachments on a case-by-case basis. To confirm whether LSAC will accept emailed unencrypted PDF transcripts from your institution, email llminfo@LSAC.org.

English Language Requirements

Applicants with a foreign law degree must demonstrate English proficiency by taking the TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic. The LL.M. Program requires a minimum total score of 101 on TOEFL iBT (with at least a 24 in each section) and a minimum total score of 7.5 on the IELTS Academic (with at least a 7 in each section). If your test score falls below the minimum requirement, you should address your English language proficiency in your personal statement and/or have your recommenders address your English language skills in their letters. Candidates who receive a score below the minimum requirement on the TOEFL iBT or the IELTS Academic can still apply to the program. However, if admitted, the student may receive an offer of conditional admission.

Score reports are valid for two years, and scores will be considered expired if the test was taken more than two years prior to the submission of the application. Non-native English-speaking LL.M. students who submit a TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic score receive extended time on exams. The LL.M. Program does not accept the Duolingo English Test, the IELTS General Training test, MyBest scores for the TOELF iBT test, the TOEFL Essentials test, or the TOEFL ITP.

Applicants are exempt from submitting a TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic score if they hold a first professional degree in law from a university where English is the medium of instruction. View the list of qualifying countries.

All other applicants must submit an official TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic score. Foreign LL.M. applicants are eligible to request a TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic waiver if one of the following scenarios apply. Waivers are subject to the sole discretion of the Texas Law Admissions Committee, whose decision is final. Applicants who meet waiver criteria are not eligible for language accommodations, for example, extra time on examinations.

• You have attended a U.S. university for full-time study for a minimum of four academic years with a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA in a post-secondary degree-granting program taught in English, OR
• You have earned your first law degree from a foreign university in which the sole language of instruction is English in a country that does not appear on the list of qualifying countries. In this scenario, you must upload a letter from your foreign law school as part of your application for admission verifying that English was the medium of instruction.

Non-native English-speaking LL.M. students are encouraged to take the 5-week Academic English Program through the University's English Language Center the summer before the start of the LL.M. Program.

English Language Requirements and COVID-19

To meet the needs of students who are unable to take the TOEFL iBT test at a test center due to public health concerns, ETS is temporarily offering the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. The test is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the TOEFL iBT test taken at a test center. It is taken on your own computer at home and is monitored by a human proctor online through ProctorU. To have your TOEFL score sent, provide ETS with LSAC's institution code (8395) when you place your order for a copy of the score report to be sent.

IELTS Indicator is an online test that can be taken from the comfort and safety of your home. The test includes four skills – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and you will receive an indicative score for each. Your performance will be marked by IELTS examiners and you will receive your result within seven days. The Academic test is available for a limited time while IELTS testing is currently suspended due to COVID-19. Educational providers can use IELTS Indicator to help them gauge the English language ability of future students while IELTS testing is suspended. Students who are trying to submit their IELTS score (IELTS Academic or IELTS Indicator) should submit to “Law School Admission Council LLM/JD Credential Assembly Svc.”

LL.M. Application Checklist

The application for the LL.M. class beginning in August 2023 is now closed. The application to join the LL.M. class beginning in August 2024 will open September 1st.

Application fee: We require a nonrefundable application fee of $75.

• Personal statement  Please tell us about yourself, including why you want to pursue an LL.M. at Texas Law and how this connects to past achievements (e.g., coursework, legal practice, and/or research) and future plans. Your personal statement should not be a restatement of your resume. This is your opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee something about you that could not be known based on your other application materials. This statement could include short- and long-term professional goals and how the LL.M./concentration would benefit your legal career. For example, you could explain why your academic and/or professional background makes you a strong candidate for Texas Law’s program and how the LL.M. degree will impact your post-graduation plans. You could also describe specific area(s) of academic interest. You could discuss any matters relevant to their ability to succeed at Texas Law, practice law, and any other experiences or interests that would enable them to contribute to the intellectual community at the Law School. The personal statement should be written without assistance from others and should be limited to 800 words.
• Resume Please limit your resume to 1-2 pages.
• Official law school transcript, including proof of degree If the official law school transcript with final grades and proof of degree are in a language other than English, then literal (word-for-word) English translations are required. However, certified English translations are not required. Applicants must submit all higher education transcripts, including transcripts for study abroad programs, and proof(s) of degree.
• Three letters of recommendation We strongly recommend that at least one letter of recommendation come from an academic source. However, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you can be very helpful, particularly if you have been out of school for many years. All professional and academic references must be on official letterhead.
• Official TOEFL iBT score (101 minimum) or IELTS Academic score (7.5 minimum) To have your TOEFL score sent (TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition), provide ETS with LSAC's institution code (8395) when you place your order for a copy of the score report to be sent. Students who are trying to submit their IELTS score (IELTS Academic or IELTS Indicator) should submit to "Law School Admission Council LLM/JD Credential Assembly Svc."

The admissions committee is unable to review incomplete applications. Check the status of your Texas Law LL.M. application on your Applicant Dashboard. Email questions to LLM@law.utexas.edu.

Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process

LSAC Rules Governing Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process defines misconduct or an irregularity as the submission, even by mistake, as part of the law school admission process of any information that is false, inconsistent, or misleading, or the omission, of information that may result in a false or misleading conclusion, or the violation of any regulation governing the law school admission process (Source: LSAC Rules Governing Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process, Section 3). In accordance with LSAC Rules Governing Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process, the LL.M. Program reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if it concludes misconduct or an irregularity has occurred as part of the law school admission process.