Master of Laws
DURATION
2 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 60,052 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* estimated 2025-2026 academic year
Key Summary
Introduction
Dickinson Law offers one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Master of Laws programs.
Throughout its rich 40-year history, the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program at Penn State Dickinson Law has welcomed students from around the world who have come to advance their legal careers through direct access to world-class litigators and legal scholars, extensive opportunities for hands-on learning, and varied opportunities for academic concentration and scholarship. Studying alongside J.D. students, LL.M. students enroll in a wide variety of courses that allow concentration in certain types of law or law-related topics.
One Law School — Two Locations
Penn State Dickinson Law offers unparalleled access to legal education at two distinct locations: Carlisle and University Park. The historic Carlisle location features a state-of-the-art facility and a modern research library to support advanced legal scholarship. Strategically located near Harrisburg — the capital of Pennsylvania — the Carlisle location offers proximity to judicial, legislative, and executive offices. The University Park location is located in State College, PA and is Penn State’s largest location with a diverse population of nearly 50,000 graduate, undergraduate, and professional students, including about 7,500 international students. Both locations offer convenient access to Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore and New York City.
Admissions
Curriculum
Penn State Dickinson Law offers a generalized LL.M. degree program designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the U.S. legal system. LL.M. students study alongside J.D. students and have the flexibility to enroll in a diverse range of courses, allowing specialization in specific areas of law or law-related topics.
To fulfill the LL.M. requirements, students must earn a minimum of 24 credits. This can be completed full-time over one academic year or part-time over three to four semesters. Full-time students are required to enroll in at least 12 credits per semester, with a maximum of 17 credits. Additionally, students may choose to extend their studies into a third semester to participate in an experiential learning program or prepare for a U.S. bar exam.
LL.M. Concentrations
As a generalized LL.M. degree program, students may enroll in a wide variety of courses that allow concentration in certain areas of law. LL.M. students must complete 9 total credits of required and elective coursework to satisfy a specific concentration requirement. A minimum grade of ‘C’ is required for each course being used toward a concentration.
At the Carlisle location, students can concentrate in:
- Business Law
- Civil Rights, Equal Protection and Social Justice
- Intellectual Property, Technology and Privacy Law
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
At the University Park location, students can concentrate in:
- Administrative Law and the Regulatory State
- Advocacy and Litigation
- Antitrust and Competition Law
- Arbitration, Mediation, and Negotiation
- Arts, Sports, and Entertainment Law
- Banking and Financial Regulation
- Commercial Law
- Corporate Law and Practice
- Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
- Criminal Law
- Energy and Environmental Law
- Families, Children, and the Law
- Health Law
- Immigration and Migration
- Intellectual Property
- International, Foreign, and Comparative Law
- Labor and Employment Law
- Law, Science, and Technology
- National Security, Military, and Veterans
- Public Interest Law
- Race, Law, and Equity
- Taxation
Scholarships and Funding
Penn State Dickinson Law is committed to providing every student access to a world-class education. All LL.M. applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships at the time of admission. No application is required for scholarship consideration. Scholarship awards are based on several criteria, including: 1) academic performance, 2) professional experience, and 3) other professional and personal experience (e.g., volunteer activities and initiatives demonstrating exceptional leadership skills).
International students usually do not qualify for U.S. government-sponsored financial aid. However, many external scholarship sources are available, see External Scholarship Sources. Application deadlines vary.
Please note that Penn State Dickinson Law has some country-specific scholarship agreements with key funding agencies around the world, such as Colfuturo in Colombia and the Fulbright Commission in Germany. Please contact us for more information.
For the most current information on tuition and fees, please see Cost of Attendance.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Career Services
To help students navigate today’s job market, Penn State Dickinson Law offers a professional development series, including workshops on resume writing, cover letters, networking, and job search resources. Our Career Services Office offers individualized counseling and career strategy planning sessions as well as assistance with the preparation of job applications and practice interviews. Dickinson Law also sponsors the annual International Student Interview Program (ISIP) which facilitates the hiring of highly qualified foreign-trained lawyers enrolled in U.S. LL.M. programs.
Facilities
Why study at Penn State Dickinson Law
Selecting the right institution is an important decision. Here are some of the many reasons why LL.M. students select Penn State Dickinson Law:
- Our Reach. Penn State University boasts a vibrant university community with 24 campuses located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a global alumni network of over 700,000 alumni that both prepares students to work in the global economy and ensures a Penn State connection almost anywhere in the world.
- Our Faculty. LL.M. students learn from a distinctive and dedicated full-time faculty complemented by an adjunct faculty of practicing attorneys and judges. Our professors have spent years practicing law and engage nationally and internationally through practice, research and scholarship.
- Our Curriculum. Penn State Dickinson Law offers a one-year, LL.M. program. Studying alongside J.D. students, LL.M. students can enroll in a wide variety of courses that allows concentration in certain types of law or law-related topics. The Penn State Dickinson Law curriculum provides all coursework necessary to sit for the New York bar examination.
- Our Locations. Penn State Dickinson Law offers two distinct locations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The primary location of the law school is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, recognized as one of the most livable small towns in the U.S. This is due in part to its diverse community, institutions, amenities, and array of community activities. Carlisle boasts a variety of restaurants, shops, galleries, an independent movie theater, a downtown farmers market, and more. Nearly everything one needs is within easy walking or biking distance, and most LL.M. students select reasonably priced housing close to Penn State Dickinson Law.
The University Park location is located in State College, Pennsylvania, a vibrant and picturesque town known for its energetic “college town” atmosphere and natural beauty. State College offers a lively downtown area with an abundance of restaurants, cafes, and shops catering to diverse tastes. Nestled near the base of Mount Nittany, the surrounding area of central Pennsylvania is known as “Happy Valley.”
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with PTE. The faster, fairer, simpler English test, accepted by thousands of universities around the world. PTE, Do it worry-free!