How to Apply for an LLM

Prospective applicants are eligible to apply if one of the following is satisfied:

  1. Student has graduated from a U.S. law school that is approved by the American Bar Association or is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
  2. Student has obtained a full degree in law from a recognized non-US institution with high academic standards. 

A student’s primary law degree must be earned prior to the term for which admission is sought. Admitted students in the process of finishing their JD or JD-equivalent at the time of application may be granted provisional status and will not be allowed to enroll until proof of diploma and final official transcripts are received by the Graduate Admissions office.

Submission of GMAT or LSAT test scores is not required for admission to an LLM program.

Graduate Admissions accepts applications throughout the year on a rolling basis. Applicants to all programs are urged to apply as soon as possible for best consideration. However, we will continue to accept students to individual programs until all seats are filled for the upcoming term.

*Please note that you are now entering a third-party site. Please be sure to check with the Sturm College of Law Office of Graduate Admissions for specific application details.

Application Submission Requirements

We are unable to process incomplete applications, so please ensure that all required materials are assembled before submitting your application. All materials listed below must be submitted together by the listed application deadlines. Students should be notified of an admissions decision within 4-6 weeks upon receipt of a complete application.

Admission is highly selective. The admissions committee will conduct a holistic review of each applicant. The committee reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant, including an interview via Skype, telephone, or in person, if feasible.

  • Online Application

    Online Application. The application will also include:

    • Resume/CV – should list employment experience, educational background and extracurricular and community activities. It should also include any honors and awards you have received. Please include dates for all items on your resume.
    • Submit a double-spaced, typed Personal Statement, which, generally, should not exceed two pages using the prompt below: 

      A recent survey of 24,000 practicing lawyers by the University of Denver-based Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) has determined that the professional competencies of early-career lawyers are as important as the legal skills that they develop in law school. Describe how your distinctive life experiences have shaped two (2) of the following competencies identified by IAALS as meaningful to the successful practice of law: resilience; perseverance; integrity; resourcefulness; passion; compassion.

    • $65 non-refundable application fee.


    AND:

    A completed LLM Credential Assembly Service Report (LLM CAS/DAS) from LSAC.
     This includes the following items:

    • All transcripts from any post-secondary schooling completed, regardless of whether a degree was earned.
      • If you have completed any post-secondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, these transcripts must be submitted to the LSAC to be translated and evaluated. A foreign credential evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and included with your CAS report.
    • Two letters of recommendation from current or former professors, supervisors, or community leaders who are familiar with the applicant and can comment on the applicant’s ability to succeed in a rigorous graduate program.
  • International Students

    English Language Proficiency Requirements and Testing

    • Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or C1 Advanced are required of all applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Scores are valid for two years from the test date. Request that your test scores be sent from the testing organization to LSAC or to the Office of Admissions.

      The requirement can be waived if you have completed a post-secondary degree at an institution whose language of instruction and tests is English. The whole program of study must have been completed in English.

      TOEFL
      The minimum TOEFL score accepted by the Sturm College of Law is 95 (internet-based test) or 587 (paper-based test).
      - LSAC TOEFL Code: 0058
      - University of Denver Institution Code: 4842

      IELTS
      The minimum IELTS score accepted by the Sturm College of Law is 7.0.

      C1 Advanced
      The minimum C1 Advanced score accepted by the Sturm College of Law is 185.


    Photocopy of Current Passport

    • Please provide a copy of the photograph and legal name page of your passport. This can be uploaded and attached to your online application. If you currently do not have a passport, you will need to make arrangements to obtain a passport before an I-20 can be issued by the University of Denver (the government document that allows a student visa to be granted). If you are submitting the online application prior to obtaining a passport, please email a copy of your passport to graduateadmissions@law.du.edu once you have received it.


    SEVIS Supplement Form

    • International students are required to submit your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Supplement Form. We use this form to verify your information so your I-20 or DS-2019 is accurate. We cannot issue your I-20 or DS-2019 without your SEVIS Supplement Form.


    Financial Verification Form

    • International students are required to submit a financial verification form. You will need to submit this form along with a bank statement or certificate of deposit showing sufficient liquid funds for your estimated cost of attendance. For specific tuition details for different programs, see University of Denver Cost of Attendance
  • Deposit for Accepted Students

    Accepted applicants will be required to submit a nonrefundable deposit of $300 in order to secure their position in the class. The deposit is deductible from the first semester’s tuition. Detailed instructions are provided in the letter of acceptance.

FAQs

Have Questions?

View Our FAQs