University of Colorado at Boulder - Colorado Law

Inclusion, access, and community are foundational themes at Colorado Law. Colorado Law LLM students benefit from access to the programming, courses, and law school culture originally designed for our JD program and reformed to include a holistic, global perspective.  LLM student academic opportunities include, but are not limited to, access to:

• student organizations,
• rich externship opportunities,
• a robust Public Service Pledge Program,
• student journals,
• faculty colloquia, 
• research centers, and
• clinics.

Colorado Law's LLM programs highlight our areas of expertise and include the following LLM concentrations:

• Entrepreneurship and Business Law
• Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law (#5 Environmental Law ranking),
• International Law and Human Rights,
• Indigenous Peoples Law, 
• Intellectual Property, Technology, and Telecommunications Law, and
• US Law for Foreign Lawyers.

Colorado Law, established in 1892, is located on the Boulder campus of the University of Colorado and lies at the foot of the inspiring Rocky Mountains. High admission standards, a relatively small student body, and a favorable student-to-faculty ratio of 9.9 to 1 assure a stimulating and challenging academic environment that encourages interaction with faculty and facilitates a strong sense of community. With 75 percent of upper-division course sections having fewer than 25 students each, Colorado Law promotes and encourages a culture where faculty actively mentor students. The school is a charter member of the AALS and is ABA approved.

Faculty members have a demonstrated record of excellence in teaching, research, and public service. They include some of the nation’s leading scholars; particular strengths evidenced by faculty publications are constitutional law, natural resources and environmental law, American Indian law, energy, business, entrepreneurial, dispute resolution, and technology law.  

Our faculty are leaders in their field and are committed to helping Colorado Law students develop the legal knowledge, critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills necessary for professional success.  A deliberately low student-to-faculty ratio of 9.9 to 1 enables meaningful engagement between faculty and students, giving student abundant opportunities to develop deep, substantive expertise and long-lasting professional relationships.

Colorado Law requires all applicants to have achieved the equivalent to a first-degree in law in their home country to be eligible for admission consideration to the LLM program.

LLM applications are processed through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) LLM Applicant Services. LLM applications for the 2019-20 academic year will be available starting in late-October and due by March 15, 2019 for priority consideration.

All applicants must register for the LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS) and the Document Assembly Service (DAS). Applicants with a foreign law degree will also need to register for the International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES).

Applicants with a foreign law degree must demonstrate English proficiency by taking a language test. Applicants are exempt from this requirement if they hold a first degree in law from a school in: Australia, Belize, Botswana, Canada (outside Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, Ghana, Great Britain, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, or Zimbabwe.

An applicant whose first degree in law was taught in English in another country may apply for an exemption from this requirement by submitting an official letter from their law school/university verifying that English was the medium of instruction. Students who request and are granted an exemption are expected to be fully competent English speakers and will not be eligible for extended time on their final exams.

Please note, the LLM program at Colorado Law is extremely selective and currently offers a maximum of 20-25 seats for each incoming class.

Applicants will need to provide the following documents to the LSAC LLM Applicant Services:

• Your official law school transcript, including award of degree, along with translations into English. Applicants must include all of their higher education transcripts and awards of degree;
• If you are required to demonstrate English proficiency, we accept official score reports from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). We require a minimum TOEFL score of 100  on the Internet-based test, or a minimum score of 7.0 or better on the IELTS, for full admission consideration.  Students who score below these thresholds may be considered for conditional admission contingent upon the completion of a summer English course at our International English Center ;
• Three letters of recommendation.  We highly recommend submitting at least one recommendation from a former law professor who can attest to your academic capabilities;
• A resume;
• A personal statement; and
• The $65 LL.M. program application fee, paid through LSAC.

Colorado Law's LLM program is currently one of the most affordable LLM programs at a tier 1 US law school.  The LLM program requires a minimum of 24 credits and, thus, tuition for 24 law school credits costs approximately $34,008.

All applicants admitted to Colorado Law's LLM program are automatically considered for full and partial tuition scholarships.

Colorado Law is currently offering full and partial scholarships to highly qualified applicants to our LLM program.  Applicants to our #5 ranked Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law LLM program are also eligible to apply for a partial scholarship from the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

Nestled between the Denver metropolitan area and the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Law is located in Boulder, an eclectic town know throughout the US for its natural beauty and consistent rankings as one of the top US cities for:

• safety and security,
• art,
• health,
• well-being/happiness,
• qualify of life,
• culinary culture,
• inclusion,
• entrepreneurialism,
• access to outdoor sports,
• craft beer, and more.

But, there is more to Boulder than its geography or rankings.  Boulder is of the most educated cities in the US, which has in turn attracted numerous technology-based firms and Fortune 500 companies to the Boulder-Denver area.  Further, Boulder's inclusion in the greater Denver metropolis has helped establish the area as one of the top US areas for growth.  Boulder's inclusive and educated community, eclectic culture, 300 days of sunshine, economy, access to the Rocky Mountains, and safe neighborhood have combined to make it one of the most unique and desirable cities in the US for both students and professionals.  Colorado Law students do not just benefit from attending a tier 1 US law school, they also benefit from a culture and a community that embraces a well-rounded approach to life that endorses and supports the balance needed to succeed as individuals, academics, and professionals.

Princeton Review recently ranked the University of Colorado Law School as having the #6 Best Quality of Life at a US law school. Student survey respondents ranked Colorado Law No. 6 for “Best Quality of Life” based on answers to survey questions about whether there is a strong sense of community, whether differing opinions are tolerated in the classroom, the school’s location, the quality of social life, and research resources at the school, including library, computer, and database resources. 

Law schools also received a rating between 60 and 99 on factors such as academic experience, accessibility of professors, admissions selectivity, and career opportunities (based on students’ confidence in their school’s ability to lead them to quality employment opportunities and school-reported statistical data). Colorado Law received a score of 93 for academic experience, 95 for professor accessibility, 92 for admissions selectivity, and 94 for career opportunities.

Colorado Law students enjoy the holistic US university experience at Colorado Law.  In addition to a challenging, yet amiable, academic environment, the Colorado Law student experience includes access to all CU-Boulder student resources.

Colorado Law students enjoy access to CU-Boulder's recreation services, or more commonly referred to as The Rec.  The Rec offers a variety of high quality, convenient, innovative, and inclusive ways to help student connect with themselves and the campus community.  The Rec is a LEED Platinum (highest ranking for sustainable design) facility with over 300,000 square feet of recreation and fitness activity space, including an ice skating rink, indoor rock climbing, team sports, yoga, a recreational pool, basketball courts, and much more.

CU-Boulder is a member of the PAC-12 Conference, and collegiate athletics are enjoyed throughout the academic year.  Students are eligible to purchase a CU Sports Pass at an economical price.  The CU Sports Pass enables students to obtain tickets to regular season home sports events including American football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, and softball.

In addition to living in the #1 college town in the US, Colorado Law students are pleasantly surprised to find a pedestrian and bicycle friendly metro area.  Boulder is one of only five US cities to earn the League of American Bicyclists platinum ranking and ranks as a top city for cyclists.  Students also benefit from easy walks to schools and a university transportation system that provides for easy access to both Denver and Colorado's world renowned ski resorts.

Fully admitted LLM students have the option of attending our 8-week, summer Legal English course, offered in conjunction with CU-Boulder's International English Center.  Conditionally admitted international students who do not meet our minimum TOEFL or IELTS requirements are required to attend the summer course to achieve full admission.