University of Connecticut School of Law (UConn Law)

Starr Hall during winter.

At the University of Connecticut School of Law, you will do more than just study law. Each of our students has the opportunity to explore law and theory in an atmosphere that fosters a spirit of collaboration and cooperation. The UConn School of Law offers five specialized LLM programs with an outstanding faculty, small classes, practice-based learning, flexibility and low tuition. Here, you will not only get a first rate legal education, you’ll make the connections you need to stay on top. We help you create a network both in your specialty area and in a wider range of legal fields. You’ll also find that we offer one of the best student-faculty ratios in the country to provide the individual attention you need to advance your law career.

UConn Law prepares LLM graduates to work in a variety of settings; private law firms, regulatory agencies, insurance companies, investment and commercial banks, hedge funds, health care organizations, corporate law departments and academic and nonprofit settings. Because of these opportunities, students from from all corners of the United States to develop their legal skills and become leaders in the law.

• Practice-based learning: Students at UConn Law are trained in practical skills through the pioneering clinical programs and centers gaining hands-on experience. UConn offers 15 clinics and field placement courses in which students earn academic credit by representing clients and doing other legal work under the supervision of faculty members and/or other lawyers. Clinics cover a broad range of practice areas and further prepare students for their careers upon graduation from their programs.

• Small class size: The reasonable size of the LLM programs ensures personalized attention to each student and easy access to a nationally recognized faculty in a supportive and intellectually challenging environment. It also facilitates the integration in the greater law school community.

• Flexibility: By design, our LLM programs are flexible by design to fit the needs of working professionals and full time students.  UConn Law offers one of the best selections of evening coursework to accommodate full, part-time and distance learning students enrolled in the Insurance Law LLM program.  Additionally, students may begin an LLM program in the fall or spring semester.

• Low tuition: As a public institution program fees at UConn Law are among the lowest of any top-tier law schools in the United States  LL.M. students who obtain good grades may also apply to the JD program without having to take the LSAT, and if accepted, can transfer most of their LLM credits to their JD program.

We invite you to visit our website, contact us with any questions, and come to our campus if you can. We promise you quick responses to your questions and a warm welcome upon your arrival.  To find out more about our individual program offerings, please continue reading below.

LLM in US Legal Studies
The LLM in US Legal Studies program at UConn School of Law is open to international students from around the world. The School of Law provides a broad curriculum in American law, the United States legal system, international law, and comparative law. Through close consultation with faculty, LLM students design a course of study which suits each student's professional interests. As part of the LLM degree, students may also obtain an optional certificate of specialization in the following areas:

1. Corporate and Regulatory Compliance
2. Energy and Environmental Law
3. Financial Services Regulation
4. Foundational Certificates in U.S. Law
5. Human Rights
6. Intellectual Property
7. Tax Studies

LLM in Human Rights and Social Justice
Building on its faculty expertise in human rights and social justice, UConn School of Law offers an LLM that integrates the international and domestic dimensions of social justice law into a cohesive whole. The LLM in Human Rights and Social Justice offers students with a prior law degree the opportunity to engage in an in-depth study of the international human rights and US civil rights movements. Tapping into a growing trend in the business, nonprofit, and public policy worlds to integrate international and domestic human rights, the program will provide students with a rigorous grounding in the norms and methods of the human rights and civil rights movements as well as the specialized credentials and skills needed to gain entry to these fields.

Students will have the opportunity to study with faculty not only at the School of Law but also at the Human Rights Institute on the main campus, a leading innovator in interdisciplinary human rights research and teaching. The LLM in Human Rights and Social Justice will prepare graduates for the global business environment, for social policy work, and to meet the pressing need for access to justice for the poor and middle class in America and worldwide.

LLM in Governance, Risk Management and Compliance

To meet an increasing demand for legally trained compliance officers, the UConn School of Law has drawn on its excellence in the fields of compliance and insurance to establish an LLM in Governance, Risk Management and Compliance. The LLM in Governance, Risk Management and Compliance offers those with a JD or foreign law degree the opportunity to pursue a course of study that provides a strong legal foundation in each branch within the field. Students can expect to gain competence in the law regarding enterprise risk management and governance. A curriculum rich in corporate and regulatory governance, financial and insurance-based risk management and compliance will build a legal perspective on each topic. Students may also take courses in an area in which they wish to specialize. This well-rounded LLM will prepare graduates to manage legal and regulatory risk within organizations and to exercise sound legal judgement under the pressure of a crisis situation. 

LLM in Energy and Environmental Law
UConn Law's LLM in Energy and Environmental Law offers students an exciting way to engage with the combined world of energy law and environmental law. Our program provides excellent course offerings from Environmental Law, Energy Law, Land Use Law, International Environmental Law, and others to also include such offerings as Climate Law, Renewable Energy Law, Zoning Practicum, Historic Preservation Law, and many more. Beyond the classroom, our LLM students can become active with real-world policy. Our students have the opportunity to apply to work on environmental policy in Connecticut State government or to work in public utility companies or law firms. Through our Semester-in-DC program, students can also look to fill our offerings through federal agencies, such as the EPA or Department of Energy. LLM students can also work with our CEEL faculty toward developing publishable articles. Excellent coursework, real-world engagement, and scholarly development in a field that combines both energy and environmental policy are what distinguish this offering.

LLM in Insurance Law
Our LLM in Insurance Law enjoys the distinction of being the oldest and most sophisticated insurance law program in the country. We offer our students the deepest curriculum in insurance and financial services law of any law school in the United States, taught by recognized experts in the field. Building on our location in the Insurance Capital of the United States, we also provide opportunities for field placements at major insurance companies, including Aetna, Chubb, The Hartford and Mass Mutual, as well as area law firms and the Connecticut Department of Insurance.

Our Insurance Law Center, the preeminent academic center for insurance law and risk regulation, bolsters the offerings of our LLM program through its research activites, insurance law library, and many events. 

LLM in Intellectual Property and Information Governance

With the growth of human creativity and inventiveness, intellectual property law is emerging as one of the most dynamic fields of legal practice. In this program, UConn School of Law is preparing its graduates for future work in this highly competitive field. The program encourages students to balance competing private and public demands for innovation in arts, markets, and new technologies. 

• Intellectual Property introductory course addressing trade secret, trademark, right of publicity, copyright, and patent;  
• Regime courses of copyright, trademark and patent law; 
• Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic to ensure experiential approach. 

The diverse curriculum encourages students to design a course of study tailored to their future academic and professional plans preparing graduates for the global business environment and policy positions.   

Starr Hall, UConn Law

The University of Connecticut is one of the top public research universities in the United States, with more than 30,000 students pursuing answers to critical questions in labs, lecture halls, and the community. Knowledge exploration throughout the University's network of campuses is united by a culture of innovation. An unprecedented commitment from the state of Connecticut ensures that UConn Law attracts internationally-renowned faculty and the world's brightest students. As a vibrant, progressive leader, UConn fosters a diverse and dynamic culture that meets the challenges of a changing global society.   LLM students benefit from the many events, resources, and centers that the university has to offer.

Students outside Thomas J. Meskill Law Library

Founded in 1921, UConn School of Law is one of the leading public law schools in the country and the best public law school in the Northeast. UConn School of Law offers an exceptional value in legal education, founded in an outstanding faculty, small classes and a flexible approach that allows students to customize their studies and their careers. The extremely advantageous student-faculty ratio creates a welcoming and collaborative learning environment giving students access to leading scholars who drive the evolution of legal thought throughout the nation and the world.

UConn School of Law offers a professional education of the highest quality that prepares its graduates for a lifetime of fulfilling service in any career they choose, including the bar, government, business, and education. The school's programs emphasize intellectual discipline and the development of the professional analytic skills required to respond effectively to the challenge of continuing change in the law and in the society it serves.  UConn Law is known for being a cooperative environment with an inclusive fellowship of students who inspire and support one another.  LLM students take classes alongside JD students, creating a truly integrated and vibrant community for all students.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, UConn Law has one of the most beautiful campuses of any law school in the United States. Recently, the Thomas J. Meskill Law Library was named among the 50 Most Amazing University Libraries in the World by Best Masters Programs. Two miles from the center of Hartford, the Law School is located in a neighborhood of large Victorian homes, where many students, staff, and faculty live.

UConn Law professor and student celebrating 2022 commencement.

With a 5:1 student to faculty ratio, UConn Law offers direct access to academic experts to help shape your academic and professional future. UConn School of Law has assembled some of the world’s most dedicated and insightful scholars who understand that law touches almost every aspect of our lives. Together with an expert clinical faculty and the support of distinguished practitioners in the adjunct faculty, they bring a mix of scholarly insight and practical experience into the classroom. This combination of expertise and commitment to shaping interdisciplinary legal and policy debates constitutes the defining feature of UConn Law's faculty — what we call practical wisdom. 

Read UConn Law Faculty Profiles

Students walking on campus.

The admissions committee considers the applicant's academic performance, intellectual curiosity and professional experience.

Applicants must hold or expect to hold a degree from a recognized law faculty outside of the United States before matriculating. Three exceptions exist for students in integrated bachelors and masters programs, for students pursing a graduate degree in law and for students in an extended bachelor program.

International applicants must provide proof of English proficiency or demonstrate qualification for an exemption.

Students during the 2022 Commencement ceremony.

Application Instructions

• Register with the LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS) through LSAC.
• Prepare a personal statement describing your educational background, reasons for enrolling in the LLM program, planned course of study and career goals. Address any reasons UConn Law is a good fit for you.
• Supply a legal writing sample in English that is at least five pages long. (It could be an excerpt of a longer law degree essay or a memo you wrote as a practicing jurist or intern.)
• Request a final law school transcript(s) that will be sent directly to LLM CAS from your degree-granting institution.
  • The law degree should be the equivalent of the JD or LLB degree. Correspondence course degrees will not be considered for admission. Transcripts from schools outside the United States must be translated.
• Ask for two (2) letters of recommendation written in English from either law professors or supervisors of your legal work, which will be uploaded electronically to LSAC by the letter writers.
• Proof of English Language Proficiency (international candidates): Submit your official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE test score, if applicable (UConn Law code is 3915 and LSAC code is 8395), as described in our Language Proficiency Policy.
• Pay the $75 USD application fee directly to LSAC.
• Upload all the required documents on the LSAC website.

Application Deadlines

We accept applications on a rolling basis, and therefor encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible for the semester in which they begin to start.  Applications received before the final deadline will be given priority consideration.  The final application deadlines are as follows:

• Fall semester: June 15 for non-U.S. residents, July 15 for U.S. residents.
• Spring semester: November 15 for non-U.S. residents, December 15 for U.S. residents

Admission decisions will generally be made within a month of application receipt.

The Reading Room, Thomas J. Meskill Law Library

UConn School of Law is proud to offer excellent programs at an affordable cost. Students benefit from our reasonable per-credit tuition rates, among the lowest for an LLM program in the country. Consistent with the policy of most professional schools in the United States, the School of Law generally expects students to make their own financial arrangements to cover the cost of their educational and living expenses while attending UConn School of Law.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are set annually by the University of Connecticut.  Students pay on a per-credit basis and the costs per credit for 2020-2021 is: 

• $1,215 per credit for Energy & Environmental Law; Human Rights & Social Justice Law; U.S. Legal Studies
• $1,326 per credit for Insurance Law

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to a limited number of students who demonstrate exceptional academic promise. All students who apply to UConn Law LLM programs will be automatically considered for our merit scholarships.  We currently offer two types of merit-based scholarships in the form of  Dean's Scholarship for any program and the Anthony Smits Scholarship for students in the U.S. Legal Studies LLM program.  

Advanced Standing

Students attending UConn School of Law find significant value in completing multiple programs. Former exchange students often choose to return to build on their exchange experience and receive an LLM. Similarly, many students choose to combine a JD with an LLM degree or vice versa. UConn Law JD graduates and former exchange students may apply to an LLM program and transfer up to 12 qualified credits of applicable coursework toward the 24-credit LLM degree, thus greatly reducing the cost of completing an LLM.

Students meeting in Thomas J. Meskill Law Library

U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens may submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Students interested in learning more about federal student aid opportunities may contact the UConn Law Student Finance Office.

Elizabeth Park, within walking distance to UConn Law School.

The Law School is located in Hartford, Connecticut in the historic New England region, just two hours from both New York and Boston. Because Hartford is the capital of the insurance industry in the United States, the Law School's location provides access to some of the largest financial services firms in the world.

Cultural and recreational activities also abound, whether in greater Hartford or further afield, including numerous museums and performing art centers. The extraordinary beauty and history of New England will be on your doorstep, including small villages, pristine beaches, and major mountain ranges, all of which are easily accessible from Hartford.

The Law School itself is located in the residential west end of Hartford, on a lovely gothic-style campus that is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Students take an American school bus during an orientation outing.

At UConn Law students are part of a diverse environment, on and off the campus.  The small interactive classes create a full integration of all students, international and American citizens.  This results in a broader experience for students combining the high quality of the academics with a full multi-cultural immersion experience.  Many of our students' confirm the welcoming community creates a unique and special experience. 

Student Organizations

UConn Law has over 30 active student organizations, representing the wide range of interests of our diverse student body.  Our student groups are active on campus, hosting events aimed at providing information and practical skills for our students, and off-campus in a variety of community service workshops and projects. LLM students may wish to get involved in organizations such as the Connecticut Alliance for International Lawyers, the Energy and Environmental Law Society, the Human Rights Law Association, or the Corporate and Securities Law Society, to name a few.  

Career Planning

The UConn School of Law has a dedicated LLM career counselor to work with students on a range of employment topics. The career counselor supports students as they consider a multitude of career goals and explore options after graduation. Students can take advantage of the following:

• one-on-one consultations to help develop resumes and other career-related materials,
• informational sessions regarding the job search process in the United States,
• support finding work-based academic placements,
• interview preparation,
• career fairs,
• access to the Symplicity job search database.

We offer group workshops, alumni panel discussions, and other events designed to help students develop and strengthen their professional identities, create opportunities for networking, and get tips on the best job search strategies from experts in their fields.

Whether students are at the beginning of their careers and need help preparing for their first jobs or internships, or are seasoned professionals who need assistance in thinking through their next career moves, LLM students get individual attention. We can help students identify their unique skills and understand their challenges while advising them on navigating a career path in the private sector, nonprofit, government or judicial system.

International Student Services

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) supports the greater internationalization of the University of Connecticut through the development and delivery of services and programs that help our international students, scholars, faculty and staff accomplish their academic and professional goals at UConn.

ISSS at UConn School of Law serves the advising needs of international law students and scholars on F and J visas.  There is an International Student Advisor who works specifically with law school students, ensuring that students have personalized attention to address all of their visa, employment, and cultural adjustment needs.

The University of Connecticut has an American English Language Institute,UCAELI, at the main campus, which is about 30 miles away from the law school. UCAELI supports all students in pursuit of their goals by providing high quality instruction and access to the university's academic, professional, social and cultural resources. We look forward to welcoming you to our international community of language learners. Since 2002, UCAELI's intensive english program has been accredited by EnglishUSA and the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA).