Florida International University - College of Law (FIU)

The limited size of our highly selective and competitive LL.M. program allows intensive collaboration between faculty and students, and fosters long-term professional relationships that go beyond the classroom.

Our core LL.M. curriculum provides foreign lawyers with a solid foundation in United States and transnational law, and advanced research and writing skills in English, while also allowing our students to tailor their coursework to their own professional goals by designing a personalized academic schedule that serves their needs. 

The LL.M. is a postgraduate course in law for lawyers who have completed their first law degree in another country. It is composed of 24 credits and is based entirely on coursework that runs one academic year from August to May. It does not have subject specialties, and the courses taken by LL.M. students are determined on an individual basis.

The 24 credits needed to complete our LL.M. can be concluded in one year (2 semesters) on a full-time basis, but there is also the possibility of part-time enrollment. Upon completion of the LL.M. curriculum, students may opt to transfer to the J.D. program, prepare for the Bar exam needed to obtain a license to practice law in certain U.S. states, gain work experience through an Optional Practical Training (O.P.T.), or pursue other academic or professional endeavors. Whatever the path chosen, our highly qualified faculty advisors and staff are always eager to help our graduates make the best choices for their future.

Summary: All LLM students must take the three mandatory courses: US Law I, US Law II and LSV (Legal Skills and Values) for LLM and then:

• If you are taking an LLM to be able to sit at a state bar exam which allows foreign lawyers with an LLM degree to take their bar, such as New York, our bar counselor will advise you of the courses to take and the steps you must take to be able to enroll for the bar exams at these states where foreign lawyers with an LLM can sit for the bar exam.
• If you are taking the LLM because you want to follow to the JD for the Florida Bar exam, you also must be advised on which courses to take so that you may take these credits with you towards the JD when you transfer and perform the best you can to see if you can make the transfer without sitting for an LSAT.
• If you are taking the LLM and its because you want to go back to your country of origin with outstanding qualifications for a better performance in your professional endeavor, then you will be advised on which courses to take to provide you with the necessary skills to excel in your foreign practice.

Florida International University is a vibrant student-centered public research university, ideally located in Miami, Florida, that is worlds ahead in its commitment to learning, research, entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity so that our graduates are prepared to succeed in a global market.

FIU is Miami’s first and only public research university, and the 10th largest public university in the United States. FIU is committed to high-quality teaching, state-of-the-art research and creative activity, and collaborative engagement with our local and global communities. FIU Law has been recognized as among the most diverse and best value law schools in the United States.

For over four decades, FIU has positioned itself as one of South Florida's anchor institutions by solving some of the greatest challenges of our time. We are dedicated to enriching the lives of the local and global community. With a student body of nearly 54,000, we are among the top 10 largest universities in the nation. In addition, we have collectively graduated more than 200,000 alumni, 115,000 of whom live and work in South Florida.

The College opens its community to lawyers trained in other jurisdictions to study for the LL.M. for the 2023-2024 academic year. If you wish to join our group of bold and precise thinkers, active scholars, exacting teachers, and dedicated students, we welcome your application. The LL.M. at FIU will change your view of the law and your life.

Our innovative curriculum is infused with international and comparative law elements in a unique way. Our professors are well known in their fields, have an impressive record of scholarly publications, and an excellent experience. Our wide-ranging offering of doctrinal courses with experiential opportunities, at one of most affordable tuition in the country, sets FIU Law apart from other schools, and makes our LL.M. program very attractive.

FIU Law is a dynamic, young and fast growing institution of academic excellence attuned to the challenges of globalization and devoted to serving the local, national, and international communities. Established in 2001, FIU Law is proud to be South Florida’s only public law school. FIU Law’s diverse faculty and student body makes it an outstanding option for prospective students. The College of Law achieved provisional accreditation in 2003 and full accreditation in 2006 by the American Bar Association, both in the shortest possible times. In January 2009, the American Association of Law Schools also accredited it.

Please visit our website: https://law.fiu.edu/

FIU Law faculty is a group of outstanding teachers and scholars with exceptional credentials, experience and reputations. They are people for whom teaching and mentoring of students is the first priority. In addition, they are distinguished scholars who have published in the leading national and international law reviews and journals. The entire faculty is committed to the FIU Law’s mission to serve the community and the legal profession.

Our LL.M. is a post-graduate academic degree exclusively designed for foreign lawyers. If you are interested in enrolling in our program, you need to hold an undergraduate degree in law awarded by a foreign university, and be ready to submit your official transcripts for review by our LL.M. Admissions Committee.

Because all our courses are taught in English, we also require that you demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English. By having obtained a minimum score of 90 points in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or 7.0 points in the International Academic English Language Testing System (IELTS); or by having graduated from an English speaking institution; or having had significant work experience in English, at the discretion of the LL.M. Admissions Committee.

No Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) required.

Foreign individuals must have a completed Bachelor’s or first degree in law (LL.B.) from outside the U.S. to be eligible.

Applications submitted via LSAC (Law School Admission Council) are required. Visit LSAC LLM and create an account. Follow the links to retrieve our application from the list of all ABA accredited law schools. Supplemental documents may be attached to your LSAC application. Once you have registered and have created your LL.M. Account, you must purchase the LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS) services you need. For questions or problems with your account, contact LSAC via e-mail at LSACinfo@LSAC.org or call 215.968.1001.

The program will ask you to provide the information needed for them to retrieve your transcripts from the university in the foreign country. These will be submitted for evaluation and translation, if necessary, by the LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS) of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The Credential Assembly Service of the Law School Admission Council, at the LSAC LL.M. Application Process page is required.

The English proficiency exam for those applicants that English is not their first language is a mandatory requirement: TOEFL – 590 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), 90 (internet-based) or IELTS – 7.0  Information regarding the TOEFL can be found here: ETS . TOEFL  If you want to take the TOEFL at our English Language Institute please refer to this link: eli.fiu.edu .  If you consider that you are in a position to apply for a TOEFL waiver, please submit the documentation for consideration by the Admissions Committee.

Two letters of recommendation. Two letters of recommendation are required. If you have recently finished studying law in your home country, both letters should be from professors who know your academic work. If you have been out of university for over a year, you may have colleagues or other professionals write letters for you. Letters will be accepted in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

Resume or curriculum vitae. Please state your educational background, professional experience, and language abilities.

Statement of purpose. A brief statement of your interest in pursuing the LL.M. in English not to exceed 600 words is required. Please tell us why you would like to study law in the United States and what you hope to do on completing your studies. Please tell us about yourself and what perspectives and ideas you will bring to the College of Law. If you are interested in any particular area of law, please make this clear in the statement. This statement must be written solely by the applicant.

Interview by phone if requested.

The LL.M. at FIU is one of the most affordable in the United States. The tuition to attend FIU Law during 2023-2024 academic year will be $20,180.00, which is significantly lower than the national average for LL.M. programs. In addition to the cost of tuition and application fees you will have to incur in living, and other personal expenses. Citizens and residents (green card bearers) of the US may apply to FAFSA. For information concerning FAFSA, please contact lawfinaid@fiu.edu .

Foreign Students who need to apply for an F1 visa. 

If you are a foreign student, you would have to apply for an F1 student visa once you are admitted. Then we will provide you with the  forms you need for this application and help you advising you concerning the steps for the process.  

To apply for an F1 visa, please consider that you will be required to prove financial support as follows:  

Annual estimate of Graduate costs 2023-2024 for a Single Student for Fall and Spring Semesters (24 credit hours total) 

Tuition and Fees  ($19,781.04 + 400.00) + $20,180.00

Maintenance in Miami:  $23,676.00  

Books & Supplies: $1,800.00  

Mandatory Medical Insurance:  $3,320.00  

Total : $48,976.00  

FIU Law offers financial aid to students who are United States citizens, permanent residents, or otherwise eligible for federal financial aid. Please contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at the College of Law for further information at (305)348.8006 or contact via email at lawfinaid@fiu.edu.

The FIU Office of International Students and Scholar Services maintains information for international students about other sources of funding such as private loans. This Office is located in FIU’s SASC Room 230, phone (305) 348.2421

The College of Law, located on Florida International University’s main campus, is situated in a residential area of Miami, one of the most international cities in the United States. It is geographically closer to more countries than any other major city in the United States and is an international hub for trade, finance, law, education, and culture. It has great weather, beaches, shopping, sports, nightlife, food, and people. Miami sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and trades with the world. Downtown Miami, the Port of Miami, and South Beach are all near the FIU campus, just short drives away. Built in 2002, the College of Law’s home, Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall, was designed by the internationally prominent architect Robert A.M. Stern. It is both a stunning architectural landmark and a practical educational space. Its open, airy design incorporates two spacious interior courtyards, an atrium and reading room that utilize natural light, an auditorium, a legal clinic, and two teaching courtrooms.

FIU College of Law is situated in North West Miami and surrounded by many housing options. You are encouraged to look into different websites. Please contact the International & Graduate Studies office for a list of possible housing facilities.

In addition to receiving a rigorous and stimulating classroom experience, Florida International University College of Law students have the opportunity to enhance their educational experience by participating in organizations. Student organization members share unique talents, interests, skills, and goals, enriching the lives of each other and the College of Law. The College of Law’s 26 organizations promote various activities for law students.