The Online LL.M. program is for law school graduates who already hold a first degree in law. There are no additional testing requirements for this program—no GMAT, GRE, or LSAT required for admission.

This Online LL.M. Program appeals primarily to foreign-educated law school graduates interested in:

• Careers in global law practices like business, immigration, trade, investment, IP, etc.
• Learning more about U.S. law and legal practice
• Establishing a path to U.S. bar eligibility*
• Earning a graduate law degree from an A.B.A. accredited U.S. law school

*Eligibility requirements for bar admission vary by state. Dayton Law cannot guarantee bar admission. Students are responsible for contacting the state bar to determine their eligibility.

Students can obtain their degree and take the next step—both professionally and academically—without ever having to leave their job, home, or family.  Classes in the LL.M. in American and Transnational Law program are designed for the working professional. All courses are offered in an asynchronous online format, where content is pre-recorded and available to students to review at their convenience during the semester. (The LL.M. degree and transcript do not reflect the program as being “online.”)

Graduates of non-ABA accredited law schools (including foreign-educated attorneys) holding a first degree in law or equivalent are required to complete 12 courses (30 credits) to earn the LL.M. degree. Pending course availability and sequencing, students may complete the 30 credits in as little as one year (3 semesters).

Reading materials are available—online and for free—within each course. In order to stimulate class discussion and the exchange of ideas, each course also includes interactive components, including weekly office hours with your professors, discussion boards, announcements, live online review sessions (with your professors and classmates), and more! 

Contact Online LL.M. Program Director, Margaret Ioannides, to schedule a one-on-one virtual tour of an online LL.M. classroom.

The online LL.M. courses are open to both U.S. and foreign-educated attorneys and are designed primarily for foreign-educated law graduates seeking to obtain a better understanding of U.S. law and U.S. legal practice, as well as a potential path to bar eligibility.

Students obtain a foundation of knowledge in the areas of law that are most commonly tested on the bar examination as well as practical experience in the type of legal writing and communication tested on the bar examination and used in United States legal practice. The online curriculum aligns with the current requirements of the California and Washington state bar examinations.*

• Additional information on admissions requirements for the California Bar
• Additional information on admissions requirements for the Washington Bar
• Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements

*Eligibility requirements for bar admission vary by state. Dayton Law cannot guarantee bar admission. Students are responsible for contacting the state bar to determine their eligibility.

Check out our helpful Bar Prep Part 1 and Bar Prep Part 2 videos below.

In addition to being at the forefront of internationalizing online legal education, the University of Dayton School of Law had the biggest jump in rankings in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report for Best Graduate Schools. 

Human Rights Center of Excellence — In addition to partnering with various schools across the globe in an effort to illuminate the topic of Human Rights, Dayton Law’s Online LL.M. program is proud to have highly accomplished legal scholar Carlos Bernal among its faculty. Professor Bernal is a top 5 most cited constitutional law scholar in the world and is currently serving as an Inter-American Human Rights Commissioner.

In addition to earning the LL.M. degree, students completing the online LL.M.Program within three years also earn (at no additional cost) a Certificate in United States Legal Practice.

Benefits of U.S. Legal Practice Certificate:

• Make yourself more marketable to employers and clients by providing a credential attesting to your competency, commitment, and specialized training in the area of U.S. Law.
• Ensures that you receive recognition for the successful completion of a specialized course of study in United States Legal Practice.

Students can obtain their degree and take the next step—both professionally and academically—without ever having to leave their job, home, or family. To help our students pursue and explore enhanced career opportunities, Dayton Law Online LL.M. provides customized career counseling through the University of Dayton School of Law’s Career Services Office. Learn more about our customized career counseling services.

All Online LL.M. students also have access to the UD online library and online supplemental study tools and resources to reinforce the concepts covered in your courses. Many students appreciate the targeted resources to get a “head start” on bar exam preparation.

Check out articles about the benefits of earning an Online LL.M. degree.

LLM vs. JD: Which Law Degree Is Right for International Attorneys? Find out whether a LL.M. or J.D. degree is the best option for you based on what your career goals are.