University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign - College of Law
About
The College of Law at Illinois is one of the oldest law schools in the country, with influential faculty, a smart and collegial student body, and a strong alumni network.
Introduction
The College of Law at Illinois is one of the oldest law schools in the country, with influential faculty, a smart and collegial student body, and a strong alumni network.
Students
Illinois Law students are talented and ambitious, academically strong as well as geographically and experientially diverse. They are competitive, yet collegial, and place a high value on teamwork. Many are actively engaged in the array of opportunities available outside of the classroom. The College of Law regularly welcomes students from over 25 different countries with varying levels of professional experience. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign community at large has over 10,000 international students from over 110 different countries.
Faculty
The University of Illinois’ law faculty has a long and distinguished tradition of advancing scholarship and research, training students in the knowledge, skills, and temperament to achieve professional excellence and leadership, and seeking beneficial change in law and society. They are:
- Industry leaders
- Acclaimed teachers
- Interdisciplinary experts
- Committed to public engagement
The LLM Program
The Illinois LLM program is designed to prepare students with or without any prior legal training to excel in their professional careers. Foreign-educated students in the LLM program are introduced to the U.S. legal system and provided the opportunity to specialize in their own area of academic or professional interest. U.S.-trained lawyers can also enhance their legal expertise to meet their professional and career goals in the LLM program.
Read on below to learn more about the LLM program and what makes us unique:
Flexibile Study Options
Students may choose to complete the LLM degree in two or three semesters. The optional third semester can allow a student time to engage in a more intensive program of study, enjoy greater internship opportunities, and have additional time to study for the bar exam.
To offer students additional flexibility, the LLM program may be started in either the fall semester (August) or the spring semester (January).
Customizable Curriculum
Students complete a total of 32 credit hours (typically eight courses) for the LLM degree. With only two required courses (waived or waivable for students with a JD from an ABA-accredited law school), students can customize their LLM program to meet their academic or professional needs while choosing from over 100 courses offered at the College of Law each year. Students may choose to add a concentration to their LLM program, and students interested in learning across disciplines may seek approval to take a select number of University of Illinois courses outside the College of Law.
Bar Examination Eligibility
The Office of Graduate and International Programs offers support to students interested in taking U.S. bar exams and works with individuals to determine their eligibility and the requirements they need to meet. Although a bachelor’s degree in law is not required for admission to the Illinois LLM program, applicants without a bachelor’s in law should be aware that they may not qualify to take a bar examination in the United States, even after completing the Illinois LLM.
Individualized Counseling
Students are provided individualized counseling and advising to assist them in career planning, academic success, and bar eligibility.
The University of Illinois
Since its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. With our land-grant heritage as a foundation, we pioneer innovative research that tackles global problems and expands the human experience. Our transformative learning experiences, in and out of the classroom, are designed to produce alumni who desire to make a significant, societal impact.
Campus Features
Facilities
The College of Law building is a three-story facility of roughly 160,000 square feet, located on the University of Illinois flagship campus in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. The building features an auditorium, a courtroom, five classrooms, four seminar rooms, clinical and experiential learning spaces, a bookstore, a café, and two student gathering areas. The law building also houses the 58,000 square foot Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Memorial Library, which features a spacious reading room, student collaboration areas, quiet study rooms, and a classroom/conference room.
Life in Champaign-Urbana
Champaign-Urbana, with its big-city amenities yet small-town accessibility, is a vibrant and affordable college town with a lively cultural scene, free public transit for students, a wide range of restaurants, and numerous sporting opportunities. Recognized as one of the best college towns in America, the Champaign-Urbana area abounds with possibilities, from attending performances at the acclaimed Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and watching Big Ten sporting events, to partaking in any number of other local events, such as the Illinois Marathon, the Ebertfest Film Festival, Urbana’s Market at the Square farmers market, or Friday Night Live music events in downtown Champaign. On and off campus, Champaign and Urbana are filled with parks, athletic facilities, green spaces, bicycle and walking paths, and other opportunities for both indoor and outdoor recreation.
Admissions
The Graduate College admission requirements and English language proficiency requirements apply. Students are not required to take the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students are admitted on an individual basis according to a review of their prior accomplishments with an emphasis on academic achievement.
Application Requirements
- Completed application
- Résumé
- Statement of purpose
- Certified transcripts and credentials
- One letter of reference
- TOEFL or IELTS score reported from ETS or IELTS (or a Duolingo English Test score from February 1, 2020 through August 1, 2023), if applicable
International Applicants
All international degree-seeking applicants are required to submit the results of the TOEFL or IELTS or Duolingo as evidence of English proficiency unless they qualify for an exemption. Official scores are required to be submitted directly from the testing agency. All scores must be dated within two years of the beginning of the proposed admission term.
English Proficiency Test | Minimum for Limited Status Admission | Minimum for Full Status Admission |
TOEFL IBT | 80 | 103 |
IELTS (Academic Exam) | 6.5 | 7.5 |
DUOLINGO (Tests taken between Feb 1, 2020 and Aug 1, 2023 only) | 115 | 135 |