Hello everyone, I´d like to talk about my personal situation. I´m a law student, and I´m 24, in my country law studies has a 5 years duration . I lived so hard moments because I lost my parents three years ago, I left my law studies and started others (Art History), later I returned to the Law School. I ´d finish my law degree in june 2010 (26 years old) . And Ive got a normal academic record , not brilliant.

I dont want to talk about my personal life to be admitted in a LLM programme, and when I think in my academic situation I think is impossible to be admitted.

I ask if is so important the years you finished your law degree . I dont need financial aid, but I think is certainly impossible to be admitted.

The programme Im interested in is Georgetown LLM (International Legal Studies).

Thank you in advance.

Hi Celia84,

a friend of mine studied law (regular duration of the curriculum: 4 years), which took him approximately eight or nine years to finish. He successfully applied to Columbia Law School's LLM-program. However, as far as I know, he had really good grades and was, eg, fluent in German, English, and French. You should "simply" try to do as well as possible during your final law school years. I wish you all the best!

Usually the application to the LLM programme would enable you to explain the circumstances why you had to extend your time in law school. From what you discussed, it appears you have a justifiable reason. You have a fair chance of making it to Georgetown Law or any of the top LLM programmes if you are straightforward in explaining to the admissions committee the reasons why you were delayed in finishing your degree. Good luck.

In my country takes 4.5 years but it took me like 6 to graduate and still made it to Georgetown. It all depends on how you 'fill' those gaps.

There is no set rule. Everybody is unique. Just explain and motivate your application. That sounded pretty convincing to me. Whatever you do persevere and believe that everything is possible! Good luck!