University of California, Berkeley Law

Berkeley Law’s LL.M. (Master of Laws) is a general degree program. Our LL.M. curriculum is designed to provide a strong basis in the fundamentals of U.S. law. while allowing for customization based on individual interests and goals. Students have the option to earn certificates of specialization in several areas of law, pursue eligibility to register for a U.S. Bar Exam, or complete a thesis.

Our internationally recognized and highly competitive LL.M. program welcomes students from over 50 countries who contribute substantially to our diverse intellectual community. Berkeley Law provides four paths to our general LL.M. degree: the traditional and thesis tracks, which are offered during the August-May academic year; the professional track, which is delivered over two consecutive in-residence summer semesters (May-August); and the hybrid option, which is delivered over one in-residence summer semester (May-August) bookended by two online semesters (spring and fall).

PROFESSIONAL TRACK

Berkeley Law’s LL.M professional track is specifically designed for lawyers educated outside the U.S. who want an internationally renowned Berkeley Law degree but can’t leave professional or personal commitments for an entire standard academic year.

Students in our professional track complete courses during May through August, over two consecutive 10-or 13-week summer semesters, allowing students to return home to work and family in the year between. A rigorous curriculum including business law, intellectual property, and core U.S. law courses is taught by world-renowned Berkeley Law faculty who are leaders in their fields. Students may focus their studies to earn a Certificate of Specialization and/or to meet the requirements to become eligible to register for the California Bar Examination.

Professional track students may earn Certificates of Specialization in:

- Business Law
- Law & Technology (Intellectual Property Law)
 

HYBRID OPTION

Berkeley Law’s LL.M hybrid option was designed specifically for those who want to earn an LL.M. from Berkeley Law but cannot take a full 9 months away from work and personal commitments. In this part-in-residence and part-online format, students earn their general LL.M. degree with just one summer term in-residence in Berkeley, bookended by two terms of online study. Students begin their studies online in in the spring, and deepen their connections with their fellow students and with Berkeley during their in-residence summer. Throughout the program, students study exclusively with other LL.M. students in small, intensive classes and participate in engaging professional development activities tailored specifically for their needs. This format lends itself to creating close bonds with classmates who become an invaluable global professional network.

Students in our hybrid option complete two 3-unit courses online consecutively in the spring term (January to May), Fundamentals of U.S. Law (8 weeks) followed by Introduction to Intellectual Property (8 weeks). Students then come to Berkeley for their in-residence summer term (May to August) to take 16 units of elective courses and a mandatory Legal Research and Writing course. During their in-residence summer term, they may customize their studies and with careful planning, students may focus their studies to earn Certificates of Specialization and/or to meet the requirements to become eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination. At the end of the summer students return home to complete their studies online in the fall term with a 1-unit online course taken in September (4 weeks) and a capstone project workshop (completed September - December). 

Hybrid option students may earn Certificates of Specialization in:

- Business Law
- Law & Technology (Intellectual Property Law)
 

TRADITIONAL TRACK

The traditional track of our LL.M. program, which takes place during the standard academic year from August to May, provides students with a range of opportunities, from obtaining a basic knowledge of the U.S. legal system to undertaking original research on a particular aspect of law. Designed to integrate American and international law students at various levels of study, the traditional track allows candidates to satisfy degree requirements by enrolling in courses and seminars from among those offered to law students pursuing the J.D. degree. Aside from a few core curriculum courses specifically designed for international students, LL.M. candidates may select law courses as they see fit, with the exception of a few that are restricted to the J.D. curriculum. In addition to earning the degree, students seeking in-depth training in a particular area of law may earn a Certificate of Specialization in the following areas:

- Business Law
- Law & Technology
- International Law
- Energy & Clean Technology
- Environmental Law

THESIS TRACK

Simply put, the LL.M. thesis track is our traditional track with a twist – of research. Thesis track is designed for those who want the LL.M. degree but know they want to devote a substantial portion of their time to a substantial research and writing project – a thesis – supervised by a tenured faculty member. It is appropriate for students considering academic or government careers, those interested in researching a particular subject in depth, and/or those who’d like to work closely with a particular faculty member.

The thesis track takes place over one standard academic year, August through May. As part of their degree requirements, thesis students complete 8 units of independent study units that represent the work they complete on their thesis. Students complete mandatory courses in Fundamentals of U.S. Law, Legal Research and Writing, and Legal Scholarship. With remaining units, students can choose from the full range of law school offerings (courses to be approved by the student’s thesis advisor).

The University of California, Berkeley is the flagship campus of the UC system. Listed at #4 in SJTU's Academic Ranking of World Universities (making it the top-ranked public institution in the world), Berkeley enrolls over 36,000 students in 130 academic departments. There are 7 Nobel Laureates, 32 MacArthur Fellows, and 4 Pulitzer Prize winners among the current faculty. A National Research Council analysis of U.S. universities concluded that UC Berkeley has the largest number of highly ranked graduate programs in the country: 48 out of Berkeley's 52 graduate programs rank in the top 10 nationally.

Located in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area, Berkeley Law is currently ranked among the top 10 law schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. All of our students are taught by distinguished professors at the top of their fields; we offer a superb education in both established and emerging fields of law.

Our intellectual property program was the first of its kind, and has been number one in the country for 15 of the last 17 years. We were legal pioneers of the Green Movement, creating the nation's first environmental law program. Our business law curriculum is informed by the innovation of nearby Silicon Valley, and our international law program is ranked fifth in the U.S.

Berkeley Law is distinguished by the extraordinary degree to which our students and faculty partner with people beyond the school: identifying challenges, creating alliances, solving problems, and sparking change, in Berkeley and around the world.

Berkeley Law professors are superb instructors as well as internationally recognized experts in wide-ranging specialties from international law to intellectual property.

Berkeley Law is the academic home to the recipients of 15 Fulbright and 20 Guggenheim Fellowships and to the authors of many casebooks that are used worldwide. Our faculty is packed with ultra-high-achievers, but they're famously approachable and accessible too. Most look for ways to engage with students outside the classroom, whether by collaborating on a research project or simply meeting over lunch in our sunny courtyards.

Applicants to the LL.M. program must hold a professional degree from an accredited law school. Applicants whose primary language is other than English must submit a TOEFL/IELTS of at least 100/7.0. 

Please see our full application requirements.

Each year we attract an exceptional and talented group of students from all over the world. We look at applications holistically, with the goal of building a rich and diverse student body.

Prospective students can apply to all four LL.M. programs on LSAC. For the thesis, traditional and professional track programs, applications open on August 1 and the deadline to apply is January 10. For the hybrid option, applications open on July 1 and the deadline to apply is November 15. The professional and hybrid programs have a rolling admissions policy; decisions are usually reached within a few weeks of receipt of a completed application. Traditional and thesis track applicants are notified of admissions decisions in March.

Please see our admission information.

Tuition and fees are the same for all tracks.

The Advanced Degree Programs Office offers several selective, merit- or citizenship-based scholarships, which are awarded to a few outstanding LL.M. students each year. Scholarship applications for all tracks are made available to admitted students only.

The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most desirable locations in the world. Home to an astonishingly diverse and creative population, it offers easy access to sophisticated cultural experiences, expansive professional networks, and the majestic natural beauty of Northern California. Michelin-starred restaurants, famous tourist attractions, museums, arts and theater are found across the Bay Area - many of them right here in Berkeley. The business and technological innovation of Silicon Valley permeates the intellectual life of the region, making Berkeley Law a vibrant place to live and study.

UC Berkeley offers some graduate student housing, but the majority of students choose to rent private apartments or share homes off-campus, most within minutes of campus by foot or public transit. Please visit our housing tips and resources page to learn more about living in Berkeley.

At Berkeley Law, we pride ourselves on creating an atmosphere that recognizes and nurtures the best in people, intellectually and personally. You'll become an integral part of a close-knit student body and build close connections with our distinguished faculty. Berkeley Law culture promotes a keen camaraderie that's evident throughout our seminar rooms, hallways and courtyards.

Each program provides distinct benefits to students. During the summer, our professional track and hybrid option students enjoy the undivided attention of our full-time faculty. Traditional and thesis track students get the chance to take classes with J.D. students during the academic year. All of our programs provide students the opportunity to develop a worldwide network of peers and to explore the San Francisco Bay Area and beautiful Northern California.

Berkeley Law offers three programs in the summer months, May - August: 

1. Degree Program

LL.M. Professional Track: The professional track of our LL.M. degree allows students to earn our general LL.M. degree over two consecutive in-residence summer terms. Please see "Program" above for details.

LL.M. Hybrid Option: The hybrid option of our LL.M. degree allows students to earn our general LL.M. degree over one in-residence summer term bookended by two semesters online (spring and fall). Please see "Program" above for details.

2. Executive Education

Berkeley Law’s executive education platform connects legal practitioners, investors, executives, and nonprofit leaders to world-class industry academies, courses, certificate programs, and conferences. Learn more at https://executive.law.berkeley.edu