The full-time LLM program is two semesters. If you begin your full-time LLM program in the fall (August), you will end your program at the end of the spring semester (May). If you begin your full-time LLM program in the spring (January), you will end your program in the fall semester (December). If you are enrolled in the part-time program, you have up to two years from when you start attending to complete your studies. LLM students also have the option of staying an additional semester (or taking the equivalent 12 credits part time) to add a second concentration to their LLM.

Additional information on Financial Aid, Fordham Law scholarships, and a list of external scholarships and resources is available.

Fordham Law offers comprehensive career planning services to in-person LLM students through the Graduate Professional Development Program (GPDP). Services include career advising, practice interviews, resume and cover letter critiques, and numerous programs addressing topics of interest to LLM students. The GPDP assists students in articulating, developing, and attaining their professional goals; however GPDP is not a career placement office. You can learn more about the Graduate Professional Development Program at law.fordham.edu/llm/gpdp.

Most students who complete the in-person version of our LLM program are eligible to sit for the New York State Bar. However, completion of the LLM degree does not certify eligibility for the New York State Bar. Students who plan to sit for the New York State Bar are advised to submit all documentation to the New York State Board of Law Examiners as early as possible (ideally before they begin their LLM studies) for an advance evaluation of eligibility. The procedure for this evaluation and the online form that must be completed are available on the New York State Bar Examination website.

Additional information concerning the bar examination and eligibility of international students to sit for the bar examination can be found in the New York State Bar Exam Handbook. A Bar Examination Information Session will also be held during orientation.

Foreign-trained students cannot gain eligibility to sit for the New York State Bar by enrolling in our online LLM program.

The New York State Court of Appeals has a rule requiring applicants for admission to the New York State bar to perform 50 hours of pro bono services.

For applicants unable to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency through our TOEFL or IELTS requirement, we are pleased to offer admission contingent on full-time enrollment and satisfactory progress in Fordham Law's Legal English Institute (LEI). This program is also appropriate for any applicant who wants a little more experience with legal English before beginning their graduate law studies.

Please expect to pay your tuition well before the start of the semester. Students should check their accounts on my.fordham.edu regularly to view their invoices and determine the date by which they must pay. Fees will be assessed for late payments and can accumulate rapidly. We strongly advise students to take payment deadlines seriously.

Learn more about tuition and fees.

The University offers to students and families a monthly payment plan through Tuition Management Systems (TMS).

Students who are receiving financial aid also may participate in this plan. The plan is administered on either an academic year basis with twelve or ten monthly payments, or on a semester basis with five monthly payments. The enrollment fee is between $75 - $110. You may enroll directly with TMS by calling 1-800-722-4867 or by visiting www.fordham.afford.com.

Yes. The Professional Track LLM program is perfect for working global practitioners whose professional demands prevent them from completing a traditional nine-month LLM residency.

Students in the program can become eligible to sit for the New York State bar examination by completing the degree in two years.

Learn more about the Professional Track LLM

Foreign-trained applicants are eligible to apply to the LLM program if they hold a degree from a recognized foreign law school, law faculty, or law department that is substantially equivalent to the legal education provided by an ABA-approved law school in the United States.

U.S. applicants are eligible to apply if they have the following:

1. a degree from a U.S. accredited four-year college or university or its equivalent; and
2. a degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

The deadline for fall admission is March 1. Note that the deadline for the Feerick, Treanor, and Martin Scholarships is February 1. Also, priority consideration for Graduate Student Scholarships is given to those with applications completed by February 1.

The deadline for spring admission is October 1. Note that priority consideration for partial, Graduate Student Scholarships is given to those with applications completed by September 21.

We make admissions decisions as we receive applications. Thus, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Yes, applicants must demonstrate sufficiency English-language proficiency by submitting a TOEFL or IELTS score.

To demonstrate sufficient fluency on the TOEFL, applicants are expected to attain a score of 100 or above on the internet-based TOEFL, 250 or above on the computer-based TOEFL, or 600 or above on the paper-based TOEFL. For IELTS, the minimum score is 7. For Duolingo, the minimum score is 120.

The language assessment score factors strongly into the decision process. However, the admissions committee will consider applicants who do not attain the minimum score. Interviews and a conditional acceptance are sometimes offered to applicants with lower scores, but these options are offered solely at the discretion of the admissions committee; you may not request conditional acceptance or a phone interview.

For applicants unable to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency through our TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo requirement, we are pleased to offer admission contingent on full-time enrollment and satisfactory progress in Fordham Law’s Legal English Institute (LEI). For more information, visit law.fordham.edu/lei.

The admissions committee rarely grants exceptions to the language assessment requirement. We strongly encourage those who do not meet our narrow exemption to sit for either a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam.  If, however, your legal education was conducted entirely in English, you may request a waiver of the TOEFL requirement by indicating so on your application form.

Additional Information

Applicants to the LLM program with a law degree from outside of the United States are not required to sit for the LSAT exam. Applicants to the LLM program who received a JD from an American law school should disclose their LSAT scores at the time of application.

The admissions committee will occasionally conduct an interview as part of the application review process. Should the committee feel that an interview would be helpful, you will be notified by email.

Yes. For applicants unable to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency through our TOEFL or IELTS requirement, the admissions committee may offer admission contingent on full-time enrollment and satisfactory progress in Fordham’s Legal English Institute (LEI). Students that are conditionally accepted will be enrolled in the non-credit option.

Additional Information

Please apply through the normal admissions process, and include a TOEFL or IELTS score with your application. The admissions committee will consider whether to grant conditional admission.

Yes. We do accept late applications on a space available basis. For a list of active applications and instructions please visit the LLM Application Procedure page. Please be aware of our registration dates available on our academic calendar. Students who are admitted after the start of registration may find themselves closed out of some classes due to enrollment limits.

After you are admitted to our program, we understand that other commitments arise which may affect the date of your enrollment. If you need to defer to a following semester, please contact our office at [email protected] so that we can address your request for deferment.

The deliberations of the admissions committee are confidential and are not shared with applicants. However the committee takes a variety of factors into consideration when making their decision, including but not limited to academic performance, the personal statement, letters of recommendation, English-language ability, and professional experience.

Yes. Applicants who have been denied admission may re-apply but should be aware that the committee's decision is not likely to change unless they can demonstrate a significant change in qualifications.

No. Once you submit your application materials, they become the property of Fordham University and may not be returned to the applicant.

Congratulations on your admission to Fordham Law School! Please visit our webpage for admitted students to see the steps you must take to accept our offer of admission. Carefully review each step to follow under the link for "Next Steps." In addition, check the "Orientation" page frequently for the most up to date information and schedule.

LLM Students: Admitted Students Page

MSL Students: Admitted Students Page

If you are a new student, your Fordham ID Number will be sent to the primary email address indicated on your application in May for students starting in the fall semester and in September for students starting in the spring semester. If you submit your deposit after this time, your Fordham ID Number will generally be sent within three business days. If you do not receive your Fordham ID Number within this time frame please contact our office. If you have already claimed your Access IT ID you can look up your Fordham ID Number at Fordham.edu and select My Pages.

Orientation is mandatory for all students. Students are required to attend each full day of orientation during the entire orientation period. The information presented in all orientation sessions is important and cannot be repeated. In addition, because the Introduction to the U.S. Legal System course is offered intensively during orientation, missing even a few days of orientation is the equivalent of missing several weeks of class. Excessive absence from class would disqualify you from sitting for the exam and receiving credit for the course (which is mandatory in your first semester).

Please note that LLM students who have received a JD from an ABA approved law school may attend an abbreviated orientation program. For more details please refer to the LLM Orientation page.

Visa consultation for admitted law school graduate students is handled by the Office for International Services (OIS). Only the OIS can advise you on visa related issues. Once you paid your deposit, the OIS will need 1-2 weeks to process your information. Please do not contact the OIS until at least two weeks have passed since you paid your deposit. After you have allowed time for OIS to process your information, you may contact the office by email at [email protected].

You should begin the process for obtaining a visa as soon as possible after accepting our offer of admission, as students frequently encounter delays. For information on visa interview wait times in your specific country, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

This International Student Health Insurance Plan is administered by the Office for International Services (OIS).

The immunization form is required by New York state law. Failure to comply will result in a hold being placed on your account that will prevent you from registering for future semesters. The hold is pending disenrollment and steps will be taken to bar your access to any Fordham campus, including the residence halls.

You must submit the form prior to starting classes at Fordham. If you are unable to have the form completed by a doctor prior to your arrival, you may use the services of the Fordham University Health Center for a fee. The Health Center is located next door to the Law School at 140 W. 62nd Street, Room G-16. Students should call 212-636-7160 to schedule an appointment as soon as possible upon arrival in New York City. Failure to submit the form in a timely fashion will result in a fee.

Law School graduate students are welcome to apply for graduate housing both on and off campus. For more information, please visit the Lincoln Center Residential Life website. To apply for a room, please contact Residential Life directly at [email protected] or 212-636-7100. Please note that to apply for housing you will need your Fordham Identification Number (F.I.D.N.). Only students who have paid their deposit will have received their F.I.D.N.

Employment possibilities depend largely on your visa status. Most international students are restricted to working on campus only unless they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Job opportunities on campus are very limited and generally only include a few research assistant positions. Professors generally hire research assistants at the beginning of each semester.

Work permits are required for all off-campus employment and may be granted by U.S. Immigration authorities for paid practical training. In general, students holding an F-1 or J-1 visa must complete at least nine months of academic work in order to apply for an off-campus work permit.

Additional Information

As a matter of policy Fordham University does not refer students to specific private loan lenders. However, the University Graduate Financial Aid webpage lists some very helpful information regarding educational financing. Specifically, you should review their Private Educational Loans webpage which lists information about some lenders.

Summer term courses are not available for students who begin programs in fall. However, many incoming students each year attend the Fordham Law Summer Institute or the semester-long Legal English Institute prior to beginning their graduate studies.