You can find the instructions and steps necessary to complete an application online at How to Apply. We do not accept paper applications. If you are an international student, we also encourage you to check our International Student Checklist before submitting an application.

What are the application deadlines for the Graduate Program?

There are no deadlines for applicants to the Graduate Programs, as there are for applicants to the JD programs. You may apply at any time. However, if you need a visa, it is best to complete your application by May 1 in order to allow time for the visa process. Additionally, most admissions, scholarship, and financial aid decisions are made by May 1, and applications received after June 1 cannot be guaranteed consideration.

What are the application requirements?

Your resume or CV.
A typed personal statement giving the reasons you have chosen to undertake study for the LLM degree.
A sample of your legal writing, such as a seminar paper or legal brief. This sample should be your own work and in English.
Letters of recommendation from two sources, preferably a law professor and an employer.
Your TOEFL or IELTS date and score (if applicable).
Your law school transcript, undergraduate transcript and/or graduate transcript.
A non-refundable check or money order for $60.00 made payable to Pace Law School.

May I enter the program in the spring semester?
No, the LLM program begins only in the fall semester.

Is the LSAT required for admission to an LLM program?
The LSAT is not required.

Do I need work experience prior to entering an LLM program?
No. Although work experience may be helpful, it is neither required nor expected. However, most applicants at this level do have some work experience.

What are the tuition and fees?

Costs	Full-Time (12 credits or more)	Part-Time (Fewer than 12 credits)
Tuition	(per semester) $20,955.00	(per credit) $1,750.00
Institutional Fee	(per semester) $79.00	(per semester) $68.00
Health Insurance International/ Domestic	$766.00/$1013.00	Must purchase through Allen J. Flood Ins. Co. (914) 834-9326 or (800) 972-7629
Activity Fee	$45.00	$30.00

What financial aid is available?
Unfortunately, very little financial aid is available at the graduate level. Most applicants are expected to arrange to finance their own programs. No full scholarships are provided. A very modest amount of financial aid may be available, and students may apply by writing a letter to the Admissions Committee. Some research assistantships are offered; students may apply to the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs.

Is housing available?
Housing is available in Dannat Hall, the Pace Law School dormitory. For information, see http://law.pace.edu/office-housing-and-residential-life. The Law School also maintains a roommate referral list and an off-campus housing list.

How long does it take to complete an LLM degree?
It takes one year for full-time students; two years for part-time students.

Can I work while enrolled full-time in an LLM?
While outside employment is not prohibited to full-time students, it is difficult, if not impossible, to do full justice to one’s studies – and to one’s employer – while working to complete the LLM. Full-time study means carrying twelve or more credits, and for every credit hour, three hours of home study are expected. The general rule is 48 hours per week spent in class and home study – too heavy a load to add to a full working day.

Do credits from my LLB or JD transfer to the LLM program?
No, credits from your J.D. will not transfer unless you are a recent graduate of Pace Law School, in which case up to 12 credits of environmental law may be credited toward the LLM in Environmental Law.

How can I schedule a visit to the School of Law?
Applicants are encouraged to visit the School of Law. If you wish to schedule an individual appointment to visit the law school you may do so by contacting the Graduate Programs Office at +1 (914) 422-4670.

Do I have to take the TOEFLor IELTS?
Yes, unless you were educated in English or unless English is an official language of your home country. In each case, you must document your competency in English by providing transcripts showing that your classes were taught in English or through an interview with a member of the Admissions Committee.

May I take the IELTS examination instead of the TOEFL?
Yes, applicants may take either the TOEFL or the IELTS examinations.

What are the minimum scores required?
The Admissions Committee expects a TOEFL score of 100 or an IELTS score of 7. It will consider an applicant with TOEFL scores in the 90s and may, or may not, offer conditional admission to those with TOEFL scores in the 80s. Applicants who do not currently speak or write English may apply for conditional acceptance and, if it is granted, must report a TOEFL score of 100 or an IELTS score of 7, or successfully complete studies at the Pace University English Language Institute to the satisfaction of its director before entering the LLM program.

What information do I need to know about acquiring a visa?
To obtain a visa, you must have a Form I-20. The Form I-20 is issued by the International Student Advisor at Pace Law School after you and/or your sponsors have signed a Financial Affidavit, provided by the Law School, showing that you/they accept responsibility for the costs of the program. You must also provide bank documentation showing the availability of funds. You will then make an appointment with the U.S. consulate or embassy in your country and will bring your letter of acceptance, Form I-20, and such other documents as the consulate or embassy may require.

I want to practice law in the United States. What do I need to do?
You must pass the bar examination of the state in which you wish to practice. In New York, you must submit your credentials to the Board of Law Examiners. If approved, then you must complete 24 credits in an accredited law school in courses specified by the Board of Law Examiners. Pace offers these courses and can guide you through the process.

Graduate Programs

You are here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)