Indiana University Maurer School of Law - Bloomington

Indiana Law offers a wide range of degree and nondegree options.

Master of Laws (LLM)
We offer both the standard LLM (24 credit hours) and the LLM with Thesis (30 credit hours) degree options. The standard LLM is a flexible program that allows you to concentrate on the areas of law most important to you while also ensuring that you receive a solid grounding in American law. We offer select courses for LLM students that provide a foundation for understanding the US legal system. You may pursue a broad range of topics or concentrate your study in one particular area of law.

Students in the standard LLM program spend two semesters at the law school and complete 24 credit hours. Students take approximately 12 credits each semester. For students who prefer to spend more time in the US, or who need a reduced course load, the program can also be completed in three semesters. Our required courses, Introduction to American Law and Legal Discourse and Writing, will provide you with the foundation necessary for success in an American law school. For your remaining courses, you play an active role in designing a customized program that meets your specific needs with the help of your academic advisor.

Successful applicants will have received their legal training outside the United States, with either a first degree in law or a strong undergraduate concentration in legal coursework. Applicants who have a postgraduate degree in law, but an undergraduate degree in another subject, will also be considered. Together with a first degree in law, the Indiana Law LLM degree can help international students qualify to sit for the bar exam in New York; Washington, DC; California; and several other states.

Applicants without a law degree or legal background should consider the MCL degree, designed specifically for students wanting a good understanding of the American legal system but who haven’t studied law in their home countries.

LLM with English for Law Two-Year Program
The LLM with English for Law Program is a two-step program for applicants who do not yet meet the English proficiency requirements for direct admission to the standard LLM degree program. Successful applicants are admitted first to the LLM Pathway program, a year-long program similar to conditional admission. In the Pathway, students will learn about the US legal system and master legal English while earning 12 English for law credits and four credits toward the LLM degree. Much like conditional admission, upon satisfactory completion* of the Pathway year, students then continue to the LLM degree program, where they will select courses to complete the remaining 20 credit hours needed to earn the degree.

LLM with Thesis
In addition to the requirements above, students in the LLM Thesis program take six credit hours of Independent Research over one additional semester. LLM Thesis students work closely with an assigned faculty advisor and engage in academic legal research and writing, resulting in a thesis of publishable quality. LLM Thesis students typically are interested in an academic career, and many go on to the SJD program.

LLM  and MCL Specializations
Our areas of specialization capitalize on the existing strengths of the law school and offer you the opportunity to develop specific knowledge that can be applied in a variety of ways. Specialization is not required, but for those looking to further their knowledge in a particular area, we offer these specializations:

• American Law—General or Bar Exam Specialization
• Business and Commercial Law
• Financial Regulation and Capital Markets
• Information Privacy and Cybersecurity
• Intellectual Property Law
• International and Comparative Law and Globalization

LAW (learning and working) LLM Program
Many international students want to gain some practical experience in the US legal system while they're earning their LLM degree. The Maurer School of Law's new LAW (learning and working) LLM program does just that.

The LAW program gives you hands-on, real-life experience while you're studying the law. Depending on your interests and qualifications (including visa status), you could earn law school credit by participating in unpaid experiential opportunities. Explore these opportunities and additional details on our website.

LLM to JD Transfer Option (LLM/JD)
Indiana Law has a process that enables our LLM students to apply to transfer to the JD program upon completion of their LLM degree. Students who apply successfully to take part in the highly selective process are graded like JD students (rather than LLM students) in their second semester as an LLM student. Students then must apply to the JD program, and if admitted, students may count those JD-graded credits, as well as credits from a prior LLB degree (in some cases up to 29 credits in all), toward the JD degree and enter the JD program with advanced standing. Students can receive both an LLM and a JD degree in as little as three years.

Master of Comparative Law (MCL)
Indiana Law offers an MCL degree for international students who do not hold a first degree in law but wish to gain familiarity with American law and legal institutions. Non-lawyers applying to the MCL program should be able to demonstrate a strong interest in and reason for studying the U.S. legal system. The MCL is also an ideal option for students who need to earn a second law master’s degree in addition to the LLM. The MCL degree program requires two semesters in residence and the completion of 20 credit hours. Two required courses, Introduction to American Law and Legal Discourse and Writing, will provide you with the foundation necessary for success in an American law school. For your remaining courses, you play an active role in designing a customized program that meets your specific needs with the help of an academic advisor.

Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk Management (with a Concentration in Law)
The MS in Cybersecurity Risk Management from Indiana University will give you the unique—and valuable—ability to identify and mitigate a wide range of cyber threats in your chosen career path. This 30-credit degree program brings together cybersecurity courses from three of IU’s top-ranked schools—the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering; the Kelley School of Business; and the Maurer School of Law. Students can earn concentrations within the MS, including law, business, or informatics, or they may take a more ‘general’ track. The MS in Cybersecurity Risk Management:

• Can be customized to your schedule—you can enroll full time on campus or online, or you can take up to five years to complete the degree.
• Will include a capstone project in service of a real-world client.
• Offers graduate career services options to all students.

Please visit the program website for more information and instructions on how to apply.

Certificate Programs
Indiana Law offers several nondegree graduate certificate programs designed to meet your specific legal education goals and interests in a short period of time. Certificates require 8 to 12 credit hours and one semester in residence.

• Certificate in Legal Studies (8–12 credits)
• Cybersecurity Law and Policy (12 credits)
• Information Privacy Law and Policy (12 credits)
• Rule of Law and Constitutional Design (12 credits)

Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) program provides a select number of students the opportunity for extended study, research, and scholarly writing. The centerpiece of this program is a doctoral dissertation completed under the supervision of a faculty advisor and committee. Graduates of this program have achieved distinction in their home countries as law professors or in public service. All SJD applicants must have outstanding academic records, evidencing excellent analytical ability and English writing skills. Applicants submit a research proposal, which will be the basis for their dissertation, and a substantial academic legal writing sample. The SJD dissertation is expected to be of publishable quality and make an original contribution to the student’s field. Upon matriculation, SJD students must spend at least one year in residence at the law school. The SJD degree is awarded upon the successful completion of at least 30 credit hours (including three required courses and up to 8 credit hours for relevant coursework approved by the faculty advisor), a proposal defense (which takes place in the first semester of matriculation), and a dissertation defense, as well as the submission of the completed dissertation.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law and Democracy
The Law and Democracy Program is open to international and domestic applicants and allows students to learn about the role of law in new and fragile democracies through coursework and experience in the field, training in the law and the social sciences, and comparative analyses of the experience of the United States and other countries. Please visit the program website for more information and instructions on how to apply.

Contact Us
Contact us any time for more information about the Maurer School of Law, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

William Schaad
Director of International Admissions
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
211 South Indiana Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana 47405 USA

E-mail us or schedule a Zoom meeting: lgradadm@indiana.edu
Phone: +1 812 856 7217
Website: law.indiana.edu

When you arrive at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, you will find yourself in a truly beautiful place. Located in picturesque Bloomington, Indiana, the IU campus is one of the most scenic campuses in the nation. The city of Bloomington offers a low cost of living and is a safe and culturally diverse, cosmopolitan community with a renowned music school, sports teams and facilities, and many international restaurants just steps away from the law school.

The Indiana University Maurer School of Law is home to one of the nation’s oldest and most respected graduate legal studies programs, nationally regarded for its stellar faculty, students, alumni, and facilities.

As a graduate student, you have many options, and it can be hard to distinguish one school from another. At Indiana Law, we believe that our program is very different from others you may be considering. Here’s why.

Our distinguished professors have expertise in disciplines that are crucial to the success of a global lawyer—information privacy and cybersecurity, business and commercial law, constitutional design, and human rights, to name a few—while our international, tax, and intellectual property law programs have received national recognition.

Indiana Law is located in Bloomington, a beautiful, safe, and friendly community with all the amenities of a larger city. Indiana University is home to a large and diverse international student population with nearly 6,000 people from more than 110 countries who are welcomed by the community.

Finally, with its low tuition and ample scholarship availability, Indiana Law is one of the best values in graduate legal education, offering exceptional quality at affordable rates. And with the low cost of living in Bloomington, your budget will go further here than at many schools on the East or West Coast.

US Bar Qualification
With the proper legal education background and careful planning, your LLM degree can qualify you to sit for the bar in New York, California, Washington, DC, and others. Maurer offers bar review classes in Bloomington for many of these states.

Jerome Hall Law Library
The Jerome Hall Law Library is among the finest academic law libraries in the country. With nearly 725,000 volumes, it is one of the 15 largest libraries in the nation. Its five-story atrium and gracious oak and marble details make the Law Library not only functional but also a beautiful and inviting place for you to study. The Law Library staff are ready to assist you, whether you need to learn how to use electronic resources, such as LexisNexis and Westlaw, or you need help conducting research on international law.

Technology
IU offers some of the best technology resources in the nation, including award-winning support, on-demand software streaming, and online services. Computers and many popular software packages are available to students for free or for purchase at greatly discounted prices. Indiana Law also has a technology team on staff available to assist with any needs or questions you have.

Career Services
The Career Services Office works in conjunction with the Graduate Legal Studies Office to conduct a regular series of workshops called The Professional Development Series, which provides information on job and internship search strategies, résumé and cover letter writing, US bar exams, interviewing skills, and other related topics. Staff members in both offices offer résumé review, interview practice, and related aspects of career counseling. In addition, the law school provides a variety of job-search resource materials.

Each year, Indiana Law participates in the New York University School of Law International Student Interview Program (ISIP). This program brings employers (ranging from multinational firms such as Baker & McKenzie to the United Nations and the World Bank) to New York City to conduct interviews with students like you.

Alumni Services
Across the globe, our more than 10,000 JD, LLM, MCL, SJD, and PhD program alumni provide leadership and services in their professions and communities. As a graduate of Indiana Law, you will be able to search our alumni directory; keep in touch with fellow graduates via the directory, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn; submit news about your career or accomplishments; and take part in alumni activities on every continent.

Our distinguished professors have expertise in disciplines that are crucial to the success of a global lawyer—information privacy and cybersecurity, business and commercial law, constitutional design, and human rights, to name a few—while our international, tax, and intellectual property law programs have received national recognition.

English proficiency:
An LLM or MCL candidate for whom English is not their first language must demonstrate fluency in English by providing one of the following: IBT TOEFL score of 94, IELTS score of 7.0, Duolingo score of 120, or a TOEIC score of 850. An English proficiency score slightly lower than our minimum requirement is not rejected outright, especially when other factors, such as educational background and work experience, are outstanding.

Applicants who clearly fall below this level of English proficiency have additional admission options:

• First, we offer fall admission that allows students to arrive early—mid-June of each year—to complete our summer legal English program. This program allows students to improve their English and legal English before starting the regular fall term. Applicants who already have an IBT TOEFL of around 80+, an IELTS of 6.5+, or a Duolingo score of 110+ may qualify for this option.
   
• Second, for applicants who do not qualify for either option above, we now offer fall admission to our new two year program. The new LLM with English for Law Two-Year Program allows students with lower English proficiency to gain admission to the LLM program through successful completion of our one-year LLM Pathway Program. Similar to conditional admission, applicants who successfully complete the Pathway year continue on to the LLM year. Applicants to this program should have an IBT TOEFL of 74+, an IELTS of 6, or Duolingo of 100. If you are interested in this version of our LLM, you will need to select “LLM Pathway” as your program when applying.
   
• Finally, if your English level is lower than all options described above, Indiana University has a full-time Intensive English program that students can join prior to applying to Indiana Law. 

SJD applicants, even with US LLM degrees, must demonstrate fluency in English via a TOEFL score of 100 IBT or an IELTS score of at least 7.5.

For more information about requirements, options, and applying to the Certificate, Thesis, SJD, and PhD programs at Indiana Law, please see the Graduate Legal Studies website.

Our fall applications open at the beginning of October and spring applications open at the beginning of July. Your application and all supporting documents must be submitted through LSAC by the following  application deadlines:

Fall

• LLM, MCL, and Certificate:
  • Priority Date: February 1
  • Deadline: June 1
• SJD:
  • Priority Date: February 1
  • Deadline: March 1
• PhD: See website

Spring

• LLM, MCL, and Certificate:
  • Priority Date: September 1
  • Deadline: November 1

Start Dates
To accommodate your busy schedule or specific needs, Indiana Law offers several start dates for our LLM, MCL, and Certificate programs:

• Traditional Fall Start: The traditional fall term, our primary start date, begins in early to mid-August each year.
• Spring Start: Indiana Law offers a spring start program that begins in January.
• Summer Start: The summer start program is a specially designed seven-week summer Intensive Legal English program for LLM and MCL students that begins in June and is followed by our intensive Introduction to American Law course.
• Intensive Introduction to American Law: By enrolling in our two-week intensive Introduction to American Law course (two credit hours), which starts in late July, you can complete one of your required law courses early. Arriving by the end of July also gives you time to familiarize yourself with the law school, the university, and the Bloomington community before beginning your full course schedule in August.

Contact Us
Contact us any time for more information about the Maurer School of Law, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

William Schaad
Director of International Admissions
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
211 South Indiana Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana 47405 USA

E-mail us or schedule a Zoom meeting: lgradadm@indiana.edu
Phone: +1 812 856 7217
Website: law.indiana.edu

Graduate degree programs entering law budget for 2021-2022 (non-resident)

Fees are subject to change. See the website of the Office of the Bursar for the current rates.
1 Off-campus shared apartment for one year.
2 Estimate covers first year of program only and is based on enrollment in 30 credit hours over two semesters.

An Indiana Law graduate degree: top-ranked, yet affordable

We recognize the financial burden that completing a US law program can create. Because of our low tuition rates and the very affordable cost of living in our wonderful city of Bloomington, at Indiana Law you get a top-tier law program without the top-tier cost.

Using Indiana Law and other top-tier US law schools as the example, it is very clear that we not only offer a degree that will be globally recognized and respected by employers and other universities alike, but we do so at the lowest cost.

Indiana Law considers every LLM and MCL applicant for one of our Graduate Legal Studies scholarships if they meet the application priority date. Scholarship decisions are based on academic and professional merit and financial need, as well as a number of other factors, including geographic diversity and relationship of the applicant to an Indiana Law partner school.

Scholarships range from a few thousand dollars to 40 percent of tuition, and sometimes more. Even without a scholarship, our overall costs are often less than you would pay elsewhere. An Indiana Law degree is considered one of the best values in legal education in the United States. We invite you to compare our total cost, not just the scholarship amount, with that of other schools before making a decision on where to pursue your graduate degree.

When you arrive at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, you will find yourself in a truly beautiful place. Located in picturesque Bloomington, Indiana, the IU campus is one of the most scenic campuses in the nation. The city of Bloomington offers a low cost of living and is a safe and culturally diverse, cosmopolitan community with a renowned music school, sports teams and facilities, and many international restaurants just steps away from the law school.

Diverse, affordable housing options include on-campus apartments or off-campus houses, apartments, and efficiencies, all within walking distance of campus or on convenient bus routes. Graduate students who come to Bloomington with family will find opportunities for their families, too. Monroe County, Indiana, has first-class public schools with special programs for children of international students, including English language programs. Other community centers also provide English conversation practice and language training for spouses of international students.

Indiana Law has more than 40 active student organizations, in addition to university groups for nearly every nationality represented by international students on campus. Among them are the International Law Society, the International Students’ Association, the Student Bar Association, the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, the Environmental Law Society, the Business and Law Society, the Feminist Law Forum, and the Public Interest Law Foundation. With such a supportive network of peers, you will find yourself comfortable and welcomed outside the classroom, too.

All new international graduate students select a Student Ambassador, who is a returning US or international JD, LLM, or SJD student interested in learning about other cultures and helping international students feel at home in Bloomington. Graduate students are introduced to other international and American students, as well as a wealth of social and cultural opportunities, through the Student Ambassadors. You can also participate in numerous law school-sponsored and student-organized social events, such as a popular fall soccer tournament, ice skating, a boating party, a Halloween costume party and trick-or-treating for children of students, a formal dance (Barrister’s Ball), an end of semester semi-formal party (Lights on the Square), a Lunar New Year celebration, a Thai New Year celebration (Songkran), and a graduation party.

Summer Start 1
The summer start program is a specially designed seven-week summer Intensive Legal English program for LLM and MCL students that begins in June and is followed by our intensive Introduction to American Law course.

Summer Start 2
Either taken with the above, or alone, by enrolling in our two-week intensive Introduction to American Law course (two credit hours), which starts in late July, you can complete one of your required law courses early. Arriving by the end of July also gives you time to familiarize yourself with the law school, the university, and the Bloomington community before beginning your full course schedule in August.

Two-year LLM with English for Law Program

The two-year LLM with English for law program is a two-step program for applicants who do not yet meet the English proficiency requirements for direct admission to the standard LLM degree program. Successful applicants are admitted first to the LLM Pathway program, a year-long program similar to conditional admission. In the Pathway, students will learn about the US legal system and master legal English while earning 12 English for law credits and four credits toward the LLM degree. Much like conditional admission, upon satisfactory completion* of the Pathway year, students then continue to the LLM degree program, where they will select courses to complete the remaining 20 credit hours needed to earn the degree.

Admission requirements

• First degree in law (graduate degree in law or extensive practice experience may suffice in some cases)
• TOEFL iBT 74+ or IELTS 6+