Q: How many credits are in the Online LL.M. Program?
A: LL.M. candidates with a first law degree from a foreign university or from a non-ABA-approved law school must complete 12 courses (30 credits) of work. LL.M. candidates with a U.S. law degree (i.e., J.D.) from an ABA-approved law school are required to complete 24 semester hours of course work. In addition to the LL.M. degree, students completing the Program online may also earn (at no additional cost and for no additional credits), a Certificate in United States Legal Practice.
Q: How long does it take to complete the Online LL.M. Program?
A: Students may earn both the LL.M. degree in American and Transnational Law and a Certificate in United States Legal Practice in as little as one year (3 semesters) or may take up to three years. The study time for each course is estimated at approximately 10 hours/week. As such, students planning to complete the degree within one year can expect to study approximately 40 hours/week (4 courses/semester).
Q: What courses will I need to take to earn my LL.M. degree and Certificate?
A: Our Online LL.M. degree, with Certificate, focuses on U.S. law and legal practice. In addition, students will acquire practical skills, including legal analysis, research, writing, and communication skills. Graduates of non-ABA approved law schools (including foreign educated lawyers) will complete 30 credits of coursework through a series of 12 online courses including the following bar-tested subjects: Professional Responsibility, Business Associations, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, Trusts and Estates, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law & Procedure, and Contracts & Sales.
Q: How many credits must I take each semester?
A: There is no set requirement for credits per semester. We recognize that many of our students have competing demands on their time - including work, family, and other personal and professional commitments. This online LL.M. program has been designed taking into account these considerations. As such, students in our Online LL.M. Program have the flexibility to take as many or as few courses as they like each semester. Our courses range from 2 credits to 4 credits each. Students pay tuition based upon the amount of credits in which they are enrolled each semester.
Q: How much time can I expect to spend in each class?
A: Each credit corresponds to 700 minutes of instruction (not including the final exam) and each semester is approximately 13 weeks (not including the final exam period). You may review the Academic Calendar to see specific dates. Minutes of instruction include time spent listening to pre-recorded lectures, completing discussion posts, and practicing bar exam style multiple choice questions and essays. It does not include time spent doing reading assignments, reviewing supplemental resources, or participating in optional office hours or review sessions. The total time commitment for each course is estimated at approximately 10 hours/week.
Q: Is the Program really 100% online?
A: Yes, the Program (including all exams) can be completed entirely online with no on-campus requirement. Courses are offered through Canvas. Optional live sessions are offered through Zoom.
Q: Can I work through courses at my own pace?
A: Yes, all courses are offered in an asynchronous format. This means that all course content (including lectures, practice multiple choice questions and essays, etc.) is available for students to review at their convenience during the semester (on a week by week basis). PowerPoints can even be downloaded for future reference. Students are given interim deadlines for completion of course content and assignments, with at least half of the course completed before the mid-term examination. All courses (except LAW 4004) will have a mid-term examination that will be administered and proctored online in approximately the middle of each semester and a final examination that will be administered and proctored online at the end of the semester during a designated final examination period. Students may complete their exams on the day and time that works best for them during the designated exam period.
Q: What courses are offered each semester?
A: See our list of course offerings by semester:
Fall
Law 4000- Intro to U.S. Law (2 credits)
Law 4004- Legal Analysis (2 credits)
Law 4024- Trusts and Estates (2 credits)
Law 4014- Evidence (2 credits)
Law 4036- Criminal Law and Procedure (4 credits)
Law 4040- Contracts and Sales (3 credits)
Spring
Law 4000- Intro to U.S. Law (2 credits)
Law 4004- Legal Analysis (2 credits)
Law 4008- Professional Responsibility (2 credits)
Law 4020- Torts (2 credits)
Law 4016- Real Property (3 credits)
Law 4028- Civil Procedure (3 credits)
Summer
Law 4000- Intro to U.S. Law (2 credits)
Law 4004- Legal Analysis (2 credits)
Law 4008- Professional Responsibility (2 credits)
Law 4012- Business Associations (2 credits)
Law 4032- Constitutional Law (3 credits)
Law 4751- Immigration Law and Policy (1 credit)- Elective
Q: What if I want to interact with my professors and classmates?
A: Our professors offer office hours by appointment, as well as multiple live online review sessions during which students who value live interaction may connect with each other and their professor in an online classroom. The online review sessions are also recorded and made available for students to view at a later time. Online students also have multiple opportunities to interact with their professors and classmates through discussion boards in each class. Finally, students can request individual feedback from their professors throughout the course.
Q: I have already completed an LL.M. degree at another law school but it does not meet the curricular requirements for the bar exam that I want to take. May I take supplemental online courses through this Program?
A: Yes, students may apply for admission to pursue the full degree or to take just a few classes as non-degree students. You can apply if interested in taking classes as a non-degree student and note the non-degree preference on the application form. Students who take classes on a non-degree basis are not eligible to participate in the exclusive and free of charge mini-bar prep course.
Q: Are there any assigned textbooks for the online LL.M. courses?
A: No, there are no assigned textbooks for the online LL.M. courses. All reading materials for each course are included for free within each online LL.M. course. As such, students do not have to worry about the added time and expense of ordering textbooks and arranging shipment of those textbooks.
Q: I want to get a “head start” on preparing for the bar exam, as an online LL.M. student would I have access to any supplemental resources to help me do so?
A: Yes, online LL.M. students get free access to supplemental online resources and study tools that help reinforce the concepts covered in class and give students a “head start” on tackling bar-style multiple choice questions and essays. In addition, they are eligible for reduced rates and/or special benefits with BARBRI, Helix, Kaplan, and Themis Bar Review.