Members of our faculty are known as experts in their fields, nationally and internationally. They have outstanding academic credentials and the vast majority of them have had practical experience before entering their teaching careers. A strong faculty translates to a strong curriculum.
In addition to our diverse curriculum, students are invited to take advantage of the many activities outside the classroom. At SMU, your learning experience will be enriched through year-round international conferences and lectures, bringing prominent international figures to campus to discuss current global legal issues. International LL.M. students take classes with American J.D. students and participate in our Inns of Court Program - a program that is introduced during orientation where students connect in small groups with fellow classmates, faculty, student leaders, career advisors, and alumni for a community experience throughout their time at SMU Dedman School of Law.
The LL.M. degree for Foreign Law School Graduates is a one-year, full-time program for students who hold a basic law degree from a recognized international law school. Students enrolled in this degree program must complete 24 credit hours including the required two-credit course in Perspectives of the American Legal System. The remaining courses are elective and offer a wide range of choices. Students have the freedom to choose from a wide array of classes and can design their LL.M. degree to meet their needs and goals in studying in the United States. Students desiring to take a bar examination in Texas, New York or California can take classes required to qualify to sit for those exams. Other students may want to specialize in international studies or in other areas of the law.
A primary goal of the program is to enhance the international student's legal skills so that he or she may become a more effective lawyer and member of society. In this respect the program seeks to develop:
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an appreciation of the role of law in national and international development
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the ability to identify, through comparative and international studies, policy considerations of various legal rules
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an appreciation of the role of the lawyer in social and economic change
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legal analysis and problem solving abilities to enable the student to meet the complex needs of our modem world
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a basic understanding of the U.S. legal system, as studied from a comparative perspective
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a frame of reference for dealing with business and legal interests in a transnational setting
View the PDF of the LL.M. for Foreign Law School Graduates Admissions Information Sheet.
Admission Criteria
An applicant for admission to the LL.M. Degree For Foreign Law School Graduates must be a graduate of a recognized foreign law school. The applicant's undergraduate record must demonstrate scholarly legal aptitude. An applicant for whom English is a second language must present evidence of a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). U.S. trained law students may not apply to this degree program.
Application Procedure
An applicant must include with the application: a short curriculum vitae; evidence of proficiency in English (normally a TOEFL or IELTS score); a certified transcript in English of grades received in law school; two letters of recommendation in English (or translated into English); evidence of financial ability to pay tuition, fees, and all other expenses during the applicant's stay in the United States; and a recent head and shoulders photograph of the applicant.
For information on how to apply to the LL.M. program click here.
Scholarship Procedure
We do not have a separate application for LL.M scholarships. Your application for LL.M. admission serves as your scholarship application.
Available scholarships include:
- The Celis Law Group Scholarships: Under the terms of the scholarship, the law school will award three (3) full tuition and fee scholarships to outstanding applicants from Mexican Law Schools. The applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in law from an accredited Mexican law school or university. The scholarships will be awarded from among admitted applicants from Mexico. Applications for admission to the Dedman School of Law LLM Program should be received on or before April 30, 2024 for Fall 2024. Applicants who are not awarded the Celis Law Group Scholarship are eligible for other scholarships which will be awarded at time of admission.
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The Helmut Sohmen Scholarships: Provide full tuition, fees and a monthly living stipend for up to eight (8) students from China who will return to China to work..
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In addition to the above scholarships, a limited number of tuition remission scholarships may be available to full-time students.
Specialized Courses
SMU Dedman School of Law offers a rich curriculum to enhance international students’ legal skills to become more effective lawyers. The diversity and depth of courses offered can be found in the catalog or in the course schedules listing.
Degree Requirements
2024-2025 LL.M. Tuition, Fees, and Estimated Expenses (standard course load of 12-17 hours).
For more information see: Graduate Tuition and Fees.
| Tuition | $58,504 |
| Fees | $7,538 |
| Living Expenses | $20,000 |
| Miscellaneous./Health Insurance | $4,000 |
| Total | $90,042 |
SMU’s mandatory health insurance policy requires students to provide documentation of insurance coverage (waive) or to enroll (elect) in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) each semester. In order to avoid automatic enrollment into SHIP and thereby having a semi-annual premium charge applied to your student account, you must take steps to waive SHIP coverage each semester in the Student Center component in your my.SMU.edu account. Note: The Health Insurance button in the Student Center component of my.SMU.edu will appear only after a student has enrolled for classes each semester.
Read More about the policy.
Bar Exam Eligibility
International students who wish to practice law in this country and qualify for admission to the bar in one of the states or the District of Columbia should familiarize themselves with the bar admission requirements in the particular jurisdiction where they plan to practice. Bar admission requirements vary from state to state. Some states require applicants to have a J.D. degree, and others will require only a certain number of course credits from a law school in this country. Texas now allows qualified foreign educated attorneys who have completed an LL.M. degree to sit for the Texas Bar examination.
For complete rules governing Admission to the State Bar of Texas click here.
For a fact sheet that summarizes the Eligibility of Foreign-Educated Applicants and Foreign Attorneys to take the Texas Bar Examination click here.