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Frequently
Asked Questions - Graduate Programs
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What graduate programs does Georgetown offer?
Lawyers Educated Outside the U.S. only:
Master of Laws in International Legal Studies Two-Year LL.M. U.S. Educated Lawyers only: Master of Laws (individualized) LL.M. is Latin for Legum Magister, signifying Master of Laws. In Latin abbreviations, the plural form of a word is indicated by doubling the letter - hence the "LL." is short for Laws. The word "legum" is the possessive plural form of the Latin word lex that means specific laws. When used in the plural, it signifies a specific body of laws, as opposed to the general collective concept embodied in the word "Jus," from which the word "Juris" and our modern English word "Justice" derive. In the feminine, i.e., for a female student, the expression is Legum Magistra. What are the LL.M. application deadlines? The following deadlines apply to programs beginning in the Fall of 2008. The Law Center only accepts applications for programs beginning in our Fall semesters. LL.M. Applicants Educated Outside the U.S.: (After February 15, late applications will be accepted on a space available basis, What is the Early Action process? The Graduate Admissions Committee has an "Early Action" application process for LL.M. applicants only. The Early Action program does not apply to SJD applicants. Early Action deadline for Applicants Educated Outside
the U.S.: What is the S.J.D. application deadline? February 15, 2008 Yes. The Admissions Committee reviews files on a rolling basis. Therefore, it is to your advantage to submit your application as early as possible within each admissions cycle. When will I know the decision? For those who submit a completed application by the appropriate Early Action deadline, see above. For all others, once your application is complete, the Graduate Admissions Committee will review the file and notify you, by mail, when we reach a decision. The Committee strives to make decisions within six to ten weeks after the file is complete. How many people apply each year? For Fall 2007 admission, approximately 1,600 people applied to the graduate programs.
In the fall of 2007, almost 400 people entered the LL.M. programs. No. Although Georgetown does not use numerical cutoffs, only candidates with strong academic and personal credentials are encouraged to apply. The majority of accepted applicants are in the top third of their law school class and have a grade point average above 3.2. We weigh non-quantifiable information to distinguish between applicants with similarly strong academic credentials, although personal information alone is seldom sufficient as a substitute for a strong academic record. Due to the large volume of applications received, the Graduate Admissions Committee does not grant interviews. However, if you have specific questions that are not answered on our website or in our admissions brochure, you may schedule an appointment to obtain additional information by contacting the Office of Graduate Admissions (202-662-9020, llmadmis@law.georgetown.edu). Please try to contact Georgetown at least two weeks in advance of your desired appointment date. Do you grant application fee waivers? The Law Center does not grant fee waivers to those applying to the graduate programs. Does Georgetown offer "conditional admission" to its LL.M. programs? How many recommendations do I need? We ask for two letters of recommendation. One or both letters should be from law school faculty members who have personal knowledge of your academic work. If appropriate, employers may also complete forms. How do I reapply if I was not accepted? Candidates who did not receive an offer of admission may choose to reapply for admission in a later term. Although it is likely that an applicant will receive the same decision, in some cases applicants may receive a different determination because new or additional information is provided or because the application is submitted earlier in the admissions cycle than in the prior year. Applications are maintained by the Graduate Admissions Office for one year only. If you have applied to Georgetown University Law Center within the last year, you may reactivate your application by submitting the following documents to supplement those already in our files:
How many credits does it take to complete an LL.M. or S.J.D. degree?
General:
What are the lengths of the various graduate degree programs? 24-credit programs for US-educated students are completed in two semesters if attending full time and within three years if attending as a part time student. 20-credit programs for students who studied law outside the United States are completed in two semesters on a full time basis. Students enrolled in the Certificate in Employee Benefits Law will complete the 10-credit program on a part time basis and must finish within three years of matriculation. Students enrolled in the Certificate in Estate Planning will complete the 12-credit program on a part time basis and must finish within three years of matriculation. The SJD program is a full time, two-year program. Do you require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)? If your native language is not English, you must take the TOEFL and achieve a score of at least 600 points on the paper-based TOEFL with minimum scores of 60 in each of the three sections (listening, structure/writing, and reading), or 250 points on the computer-based TOEFL with minimum scores of 25 in each section, or at least 100 points on the internet-based TOEFL with minimum scores of 25 in each section to be admitted to the Law Center. May I request a waiver of the TOEFL examination requirement? In appropriate circumstances (normally the completion of an undergraduate or first law degree in which the language of instruction was English), the Graduate Admissions Committee will consider requests for a waiver of the TOEFL requirement. Any requests for a waiver of the TOEFL requirement must be made in writing with your application. How do I develop a proposal for the LL.M. (individualized study)? In two to three pages, outline a plan of study, including the purpose of the plan of study, a list of desired courses totaling at least 24 credits, as well as several alternate courses. Students in an individualized study program generally should plan to take no more than two seminar courses per semester. If I am registered for the LSAC LL.M. Credential Assembly Service, must I complete the Registrar's Certification form? Although you have registered with the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service, we do ask that the registrar's certification form be filled out and submitted to the Graduate Admissions office. Please be sure to inform the school official completing the form that you have registered with the Credential Assembly Service and therefore a copy of your transcript does not need to be attached. In our experience, applicants educated outside the U.S. may encounter problems getting the Registrar's Certification form completed. If you have difficulty, please attach a letter to the front of the Certification form, detailing the efforts that you have made, and return the form and letter to the Graduate Admissions office. Where is the Law Center located? The Law Center is on Capitol Hill, midway between the Union Station and Judiciary Square Metrorail stations on the Metrorail "Red" line. Our website includes directions to the Law Center campus.
What is the cost for attending Georgetown? Tuition for 2008-2009 will be:
Georgetown offers a limited number of fellowships and scholarships to graduate students. The Financial Aid Office also maintains a list of scholarships and loans given by organizations outside the law Center. The Law Center has no connection with any of the organizations and maintains the lists solely as a service to its students.
Yes; financial aid is available in the form of loans. For more information about financial aid for U.S. citizens, permanent residents and international students please visit the financial aid website at www.law.georgetown.edu/finaid/apply. Is there career placement assistance? Yes. Located in the Office of Graduate Programs, Nita Mazumder, Esq. and Sandra Buteau, Esq., Directors of Professional Development, serve as valuable resources for LL.M. students. The Professional Development team holds programs for LL.M. students throughout the year, including alumni panels, firm receptions, workshops, and brown bag lunches with practitioners. They meet students regularly in small groups, where students can bring their own questions as well as benefit from hearing the answers to questions posed by other students. In addition, students can always call or e-mail with any questions they may have. For more information about our Professional Development team, please click here. If I am an international student, can I take a bar exam after I earn my LL.M.? Many of our LL.M. students who received their first degree in law in a foreign country choose to take a U.S. bar exam, usually the New York bar exam, upon completion of their LL.M. at Georgetown. Your academic advisor will work with you to help you select the courses needed to qualify for the bar exam, as part of designing your overall course of study. Are there any student organizations at the Law Center? Yes, there are 60 student organizations located at the Law Center. Two organizations specifically geared for LL.M. students are the Foreign Lawyers at Georgetown (FLAG) and the LL.M. Tax Council. In addition, students are more than welcome to join any organizations located at the main campus. The Gewirz Student Center houses approximately 290 (mostly first-year JD) students in 150 one-, two-, and three-bedroom furnished apartments. The Center includes a child care center, a student health clinic, and several multipurpose rooms available to the entire student body. While preference is given to first-year JD students, before the start of the fall semester, upperclass and LL.M. students may request that they be placed on a waiting list for Gewirz housing. The Office of Residence Life can also help you find off-campus housing. The office has a list of available apartments, houses, and rooms to rent. Residence Life gives students a guide to living in the D.C. area during their Summer Housing Orientation Program to help incoming students become acquainted with the Washington metropolitan area. The Law Center Child Care Center serves toddler through preschool age children and offers both a full-time and drop-in care program. The Child Care center is in the Gewirz Student Center and includes a secure open-air playground. There is also a student organization at the Law Center called the Georgetown Association for Spouses and Friends of Law Students. This association provides support to students and their friends and family members through activities, which allow family and friends to participate in the student's educational experience. The Law Center is midway between the Union Station and Judiciary Square Metrorail stations on the Metrorail "Red" line. Several public bus routes cross main arteries within two blocks of campus. In the evening the Law Center offers free shuttle service to the metro station. There is very little street parking. Georgetown has limited underground parking on a first-come, first-served basis. There are two commercial parking lots nearby. Students find that bicycles, motorcycles, and public transportation provide an economical alternative to driving. Revised January 21, 2008 (AST) |
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