University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law

MU School of Law

The University of Missouri School of Law (MU) has been training outstanding lawyers since 1872. In 2019, U.S. News and World Report ranked MU 3rd among law schools in dispute resolution.  As a national leader in the field of dispute resolution, we seek to complement a strong traditional curriculum with an orientation toward lawyering as a problem-solving endeavor.  Our Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution (CSDR) is nationally recognized, with leading scholars from around the country serving as fellows.  For more than 30 years, CSDR has been leading the development of the field of dispute resolution with innovative pedagogy and ground-breaking scholarship. MU offers Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees in Dispute Resolution and American Law on campus. We also offer our LL.M. in Dispute Resolution online.

MU School of Law

• Applicants must have completed the first degree in law (J.D., LL.B. or equivalent) required for law practice or law teaching in the country in which law studies were pursued.

• Applicants must possess a minimum 2.5 (A = 4.0) grade point average in their law program, and a 3.0 GPA for work completed in any additional graduate or advanced degree program.

• Non-native English speakers must also demonstrate proficiency in English with a TOEFL score of 80 with no subscore below 17, or the equivalent on the IELTS, PTE, or Cambridge C1 Advanced tests.

Commencement

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with application deadlines of July 1 for Fall enrollment and December 1 for Spring enrollment.

• Click here to apply online for the on-campus LL.M. at or through the Law School Admissions Council Credential Assembly Service. Click here to apply for the online program . You must provide:

• Official transcripts from undergraduate institutions, law schools and any other institutions of higher education attended; transcripts from schools outside the United States should be translated into English.

• Professional resume.

• Statement of purpose (300-500 words stating reasons for pursuing this degree).

• Two letters of recommendation. For example, one from an academic source and one from a professional source.

• Official test report demonstrating English proficiency (International applicants only). The internet-based TOEFL (IBT) is the preferred test of the LL.M. Program, but we will also consider IELTS, PTE, or Cambridge C1 Advanced tests.

The program requires a minimum of 24 credit hours to complete with a total cost for all 24 credits of $18,192. The resident tuition rate is $758 per credit. The on-campus non-resident rate is $1,451 per credit, but students receiving fellowships pay the residential rate, minus the amount of their fellowship. Distance students pay the residential tuition rate regardless of where located. You do not have to pay the entire tuition fee at one time. Rather, you pay each semester only for the courses you take that semester. Full-time on-campus students typically take four 3-credit classes during two semesters for a total of 8 classes and 24 credits. Online and part-time students pay only for the credits they take each semester, typically, one or two 3-credit classes

The on-campus LL.M. Program does offer one- or two-semester fellowship awards that can include a waiver of the non-resident portion of tuition. With such a fellowship, international students pay the resident tuition amount minus the amount of the fellowship award. Distance students pay the residential tuition rate regardless of where located. Currently, there are no fellowships or scholarships for part-time or online students. The Law School typically does not offer graduate teaching or graduate research assistantships.

Downtown Columbia at Night

MU is in Columbia, Missouri, a city of about 115,000 people located midway between Missouri’s largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City. Columbia has a regional airport and attracts residents from all over the world. Columbians value and celebrate the diverse population. The city is home to more than 100 places of worship, including a synagogue and an Islamic center, and counts many international grocery stores and restaurants among the local businesses. Columbia, Missouri, is known as an ideal college town, combining small-town comforts, community spirit and low cost of living with big-city culture, activities and resources.

Many Mizzou graduate and professional students choose to live on campus in Residential Life apartments. We offer everything from furnished single rooms to family-friendly apartments—at prices that fit your budget. There are also a wide variety of near campus living options. Living costs in Columbia in 2018 were 7.1 percent below the U.S. national average according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index provided by the Council for Community and Economic Research.

Tour of Missouri Supreme Court 2017

MU’s Recreation Services and Facilities provides quality leisure experiences to all members of the campus community, primarily Mizzou students. From our award winning facilities to our nationally recognized programs, we strive to bring our members and guests an environment that inspires and promotes a healthy, active lifestyle. The City of Columbia is packed with restaurants and entertainment, and hosts more than a dozen annual cultural festivals. The city boasts multiple city parks as well as Rock Bridge State Park and the MKT Trail for hiking and bicycling.

To help students participate fully in the learning experience, the University of Missouri Disability Center serves as a valuable resource for providing services and accommodations to students that need specific assistance. MU is family friendly and has a wide variety of services to support students with children.

Student organizations are a vibrant part of the intellectual and social environments at the MU School of Law. They provide LL.M. students with opportunities to enhance their professional and personal development through programs and activities, and intellectual, cultural and volunteer opportunities. The MU International Center provides support and services for international students and scholars.