Georgetown Law strongly prefers that applicants apply online via the LSAC electronic application. Please be aware that LSAC needs time to process materials once received at their offices, so applicants should send their materials to LSAC well in advance of application deadlines.

For those applicants that still want to apply with a traditional paper application or are unable to apply via LSAC, you may do so.

Please note that there are unique applications for those applicants who received their first degree in law in the United States (i.e. Juris Doctor) and those that received their first degree in law from another country.

There is an application fee of $90 for all graduate degree and certificate programs. Late applications will be assessed a fee of $100.

If you plan to submit a paper application, the payment must be submitted online.

We do not grant application fee waivers for graduate programs. The only exception is if you have spent one semester of your first degree in law studying at the Center for Transnational Legal Studies (CTLS) in London. Complete the form CTLS Waiver Form and apply via paper application (not LSAC).

Submit an up-to-date resume that includes information such as education and work experience (including dates of degrees received and employment, employer names and locations, position titles, and description of work responsibilities for each position held).

There is no specific formatting requirement.

All applicants must submit a detailed "personal statement" (a.k.a. motivation letter) describing your background, goals, and reasons for applying to Georgetown and your chosen program. You should include any information that you feel will assist the Graduate Admissions Committee in its decision. This information should provide the admissions committee with more depth than is available in your transcripts and resume alone regarding your fit for the program and school.

While there are no specific formatting requirements the personal statement should only be 1-2 pages (single spaced) or 2-3 pages (double spaced).

Applicants must submit all transcripts as part of their application. This includes undergraduate, graduate (if applicable) and law transcripts.

If you apply through LSAC, submit your transcripts through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (no additional charge). The benefit to using this service is that you may upload your documents (including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and TOEFL score) and LSAC will submit to all schools to whom you are applying.

If you are an internationally-educated student, we strongly encourage you to register for LSAC's International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (additional charge). LSAC will authenticate and evaluate your transcripts through this service. You do not need to complete the Registrar’s Certification Form if you use this service.

If you plan to submit a paper application, you must have official transcripts sent from your universities directly to Georgetown. If your transcripts are in a different language, you must provide English translations submitted by the translator directly through mail.

You are required to submit a Registrar's Certification Form, unless you are using the International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (available only for internationally-trained students).

This form must be completed by the Registrar’s Office from your law degree granting institution. You will complete the top portion of the form; your Registrar’s Office will fill out the bottom half and submit directly to the Office of Admissions. We are happy to accept the form via email (send to lawllmadmis@georgetown.edu).

The LL.M. is an intensive program that provides a wealth of information and opportunities for students from around the world. A high level of English proficiency is essential for our graduate students to be able to fully participate in and obtain the benefits of their LL.M. studies. Therefore, Georgetown Law requires applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. All applicants whose first law degree program was not taught in English, or whose law degree program was taught in English but whose degree-granting institution is located in a country where English is not the primary language, must submit an official TOEFL or IELTS test score taken no more than two years prior to the time of their LL.M. application. For MSL applicants, this standard applies to their bachelor’s degree. Georgetown Law does not have a preference between the TOEFL or IELTS tests.

In order to be considered for admission, candidates must demonstrate English proficiency by meeting the minimum standards outlined below.
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REQUIREMENTS: LL.M. and M.S.L. programs (other than 2-Year LL.M. with Certificate in Legal English)

Exam Scores: The preferred and most common method for demonstrating English proficiency is through the TOEFL or IELTS exams, as follows:

TOEFL: iBT Minimum total score of 100 points.
IELTS: Minimum total score of 7.5 points.

Alternative additional requirements: On rare occasions, an interview with Program Administrators, and/or additional evidence such as significant work experience in English, may be combined with TOEFL or IELTS scores that fall slightly below the above-referenced minimum, in order to satisfy the minimum English proficiency requirement. The Admissions Committee may request an interview with any candidate as an additional assessment of English proficiency supplemental to the TOEFL or IELTS exam.

Waivers: The Admissions Committee will review written requests to waive the English proficiency test requirements where an applicant believes that they have a sufficient alternative basis to demonstrate fluency in English. Please note that such waivers are granted at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, and only where strong evidence of English proficiency is presented; a previous one-year LL.M. degree earned in a country where English is the primary language is normally not a sufficient basis for a waiver.
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REQUIREMENTS: Two-Year LL.M. with Certificate in Legal English

Exam Scores: The preferred and most common method for demonstrating English proficiency is through the TOEFL or IELTS exams. For LL.M. applicants who meet all of Georgetown’s admission requirements, but whose TOEFL or IELTS scores demonstrate that the applicant would benefit from additional Legal English study in completing the degree requirements, Georgetown Law offers the Two-Year LL.M. with a Certificate in Legal English (“Two-Year LL.M.”).

Applicants should choose the Two-Year LL.M. if their English proficiency scores fall within the following parameters, and should choose a one-year program if their scores exceed the following maximums:

TOEFL iBT: A minimum overall score of 80 and a maximum overall score of 99 points.
IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.5 and a maximum overall score of 7.0.

Alternative Additional Requirements: On rare occasions, an interview with Program Administrators, and/or additional evidence such as significant work experience in English, may be combined with TOEFL or IELTS scores that fall slightly below the above-referenced minimum, in order to satisfy the minimum English proficiency requirement. The Admissions Committee may request an interview with any candidate as an additional assessment of English proficiency supplemental to the TOEFL or IELTS exam.

Waivers: Applicants to the Two-Year LL.M. may not request a waiver of the language proficiency test requirement.

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REQUIREMENTS : S.J.D. program

The S.J.D. is the highest degree offered at the Law Center, and includes the writing of a dissertation, requiring intensive and in-depth research, analysis and writing over the course of several years. The English language requirements for the S.J.D. program, therefore, are stricter than those for our other graduate degrees.
Exam Scores: The preferred and most common method for demonstrating English proficiency is through the TOEFL or IELTS exams, as follows:
TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 105.
IELTS: Minimum of 7.5 overall.

Letter of recommendation: Applicants must submit at least one letter of recommendation from a professor in their U.S. LL.M. program attesting to the applicants’ research and writing skills and overall English proficiency.

Waivers: Like applicants to the LL.M. programs, applicants whose first law degree program was not taught in English, or whose law degree program was taught in English but whose degree-granting institution is located in a country where English is not the primary language, must submit an official TOEFL or IELTS test score taken no more than two years prior to the time of their LL.M. application. Waivers will not be granted based on an applicant’s prior attendance at a U.S. LL.M. program.

Your application must be supported by two letters of recommendation.

Please tell your recommenders that they may submit their letter in any of the following ways:

•Upload to LSAC

•Mail original letter to the Office of Admissions in a sealed/ signed envelope (must come directly from recommender)

Graduate Admissions
Georgetown University Law Center
600 New Jersey Avenue NW, Room 589
Washington, DC 20001

•Email a copy of the letter to lawllmadmis@georgetown.edu. If submitted via email, the letter must be sent by the recommender’s professional/educational email address and be on official letterhead.

If you responded “yes” to any of the disciplinary questions on the application, you must submit an explanation.

You are welcome to submit any additional information that you would like the Graduate Admissions Committee to consider when reviewing your application.