LL.M. in American and Transnational Law (Online)

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For students—both U.S. and foreign-trained attorneys—interested in completing their LL.M. degree in American and Transnational Law, the University of Dayton School of Law offers a 100% online program.


Explore Our Online LL.M. Program

Learn about our Online LL.M. Program in 60 seconds

Watch this video for a brief overview of the University of Dayton School of Law's Online LL.M. program.

Online LL.M. Student Journeys

See what our students are saying about their experiences in the Online LL.M. Program.


Highlights and Benefits

100% Online Flexible Course Format

All courses are entirely online in an asynchronous format, allowing students to access course content on the days and times that work best for them. See what our students have to say!

Earn Your Degree in as Little as 1 Year

Earn your degree in as little as 1 calendar year—3 available semesters starting in January, May, and August.

Bar Oriented Curriculum

Our Online LL.M. curriculum aligns with the current requirements for the Washington D.C., California and Washington state bar exams.* Online LL.M. graduates have exclusive (and free of charge) access to our expertly designed mini bar prep program that supplements their LL.M. studies. In addition, they are eligible for reduced rates and/or special benefits with BARBRI, Helix, Kaplan, and Themis Bar Review

Affordability & Generous Financial Aid

Guaranteed partial tuition scholarships are offered to all degree-seeking students who apply by the priority deadline. No on-campus study requirement, and no additional costs for reading materials. 

Student Support

All Online LL.M. students receive access to free supplemental online resources and study guides, as well as free Career Services, Academic Success Services, and Library resources.

Faculty

Courses taught by critically acclaimed professors and legal practitioners with experience instructing via an online platform.

Career Support

One-on-one career counseling available to help you tailor your job search, leverage your LL.M. degree and connect you to University of Dayton alumni throughout the world (over 120,000 alumni living worldwide).

*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.



Program Overview

Who is this program for?

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.

Scholarships & Financial Aid Available

The mission of the Online LL.M. program is to provide an affordable online legal education while upholding UD’s quality and reputation. Tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year is $1380/credit, but generous partial tuition scholarships are available to all pursuing the full degree. 

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to email Margaret Ioannides for a preliminary scholarship assessment. University fees are currently $25/semester. There are no additional costs for students in the online LL.M. program.

Outside of the partial-tuition scholarships awarded by Dayton Law at admission, there are limited outside scholarship resources. AccessLex, an non-profit organization, has a database of outside scholarships available that students may qualify for: https://www.accesslex.org/databank. In addition, there are private lenders who offer loans to international students. We keep a complete list of past lenders students have used on our website.

You can view a list of outside scholarship resources.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans are available for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens who are taking a minimum of 3 credit hours. A small personal allowance of $2,621.50 per semester is available with the following breakdown:

Living Allowance: $2,349 per semester
Professional Licensure Fees: $200 per semester
Loan processing Fees: $72.50 per semester
Total: $2,621.50 per semester

The Direct Unsubsidized loan has an annual limit of $20,500.

Please direct all questions about Financial Aid to the University of Dayton School of Law’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, +1.937.229.3555.

Bar Oriented Curriculum With A Flexible Format

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 community building activities, discussion boards, announcements, live online review sessions (with your professors and classmates), and more! 

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

Online LL.M. Courses
Core Course Credits
Introduction to U.S. Law and Legal Institutions for LL.M. Students 2

Legal Analysis, Reasoning, Research, Writing, and Communication For LL.M. Students

2
Professional Responsibility for LL.M. Students 2
Business Associations for LL.M. Students 2
Evidence for LL.M. Students    2
Real Property for LL.M. Students 3
Torts for LL.M. Students 2
Trusts and Estates for LL.M. Students 2
Civil Procedure for LL.M. Students 3
Constitutional Law for LL.M. Students 3
Criminal Law & Procedure for LL.M. Students 4
Contracts & Sales for LL.M. Students 3
Elective Course Credits
Immigration Law and Policy 1

Bar Exam — California, D.C., Washington

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, D.C., and Washington state bar examinations.*

*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.

Exclusive Access to Customized Bar and Professional Development Opportunities

Degree-seeking students and graduates from our Online LL.M. Program have exclusive access (free of charge) to online interactive experiences and personal support oriented to the bar and professional development.

  • Bar Webinar Series: Customized LL.M. oriented webinars co-hosted by Dayton Law's Bar Preparation Department and leading commercial bar preparation companies (BARBRI, Kaplan, Themis, Helix). Topics included: 
    • "Which Bar Should I Take"
    • "Prepare for the Bar Exam: Study Strategies for LL.M. Students"
    • "Building U.S. Legal Writing and Exam Skills for LL.M. Students"
    • "Crafting a Study Plan for Bar Exam Success"
  • Mini Bar Prep Course: Expertly designed by Dayton Law's Director of Bar Preparation, Associate Professor Tommy Sangchompuphen, our mini bar prep program supplements our graduates’ LL.M. studies and their commercial bar prep course to put them in the best position to succeed on the bar exam.

Ranking and Honors

In addition to being at the forefront of internationalizing online legal education, the University of Dayton School of Law received its highest ranking ever in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report for Best Graduate Schools and is ranked 39th in Part-time Law for its innovative Online Hybrid J.D. program. 

United States Legal Practice Certificate

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.

How to earn a U.S. Legal Practice Certificate:

Career Services & Supplemental Resources

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.

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.

Online LL.M. Articles

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.


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