University of Cincinnati - College of Law

Members of the Cincinnati Law LLM Class of 2018; 18 students from 12 countries!

The University of Cincinnati College of Law offers a program of study on the U.S. legal system to practicing attorneys and law school graduates who received their legal education outside the United States. The LL.M. program provides a substantive introduction to the U.S. legal process while allowing students to tailor their studies to particular areas of interest. Two classes are required of all LL.M. students: Legal Research & Writing for LLM Students, and The U.S. Legal System. Students select the rest of their courses from among the full range of courses available at the College of Law. 

Optional areas of study include: Business Law (including corporate law, commercial law, tax law, labor law, employment law); Criminal Law; International Law (including human rights, public international law, trade law, immigration law); Innovation, Technology, and Intellectual Property; Science, Health, and Environment; Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (including mediation and negotiation); and Public Interest Law (including family law, critical race theory, women's rights, and more).

The following Concentrations can be designated on your transcript: Business Law, International Legal Studies, Social Justice.

The following LLM fellowships are available: (1) Human Rights Fellowship for those interested in working with our world-renowned Human Rights Quarterly and our Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights during their time at Cincinnati Law. (2) OIP Criminal Law Fellowship for those interested in working with our Ohio Innocence Project.

LLM students can apply for internships (we call them "externships") during their second semester. Our students have access to opportunities at a variety of local offices, non-profits, and at both our county and federal courthouses. 

The University of Cincinnati, est. 1819

The University of Cincinnati offers students a balance of educational excellence and real-world experience.

UC is a public research university with an enrollment of nearly 48,000 students and is ranked No. 4 in the nation for co-ops and internships by U.S. News & World Report (No. 1 among public institutions).

Today, more than 315,000 living alumni count themselves as Bearcats — united not just by their loyalty to our nationally known sports teams, but by their common love of the place, the people and the ideas that make up the University of Cincinnati. The University of Cincinnati (UC) is one of America's top 25 public research institutions. U.S. News has described UC as one of 15 "up and coming" universities. The Chronicle of Higher Education calls UC a "research heavyweight." The Washington Center named UC "Public University of the Year." Forbes magazine described it as having one of the world's most beautiful campuses. International Student Barometer ranked UC as "7th best college experience" and "3rd most welcoming university" for international students. 

The City of Cincinnati has a regional population of more than 2 million. Cincinnati is home to six Fortune 500 companies and one of the most vibrant startup ecosystems in the nation. Our big-city amenities include: professional sports, arts, museums and cultural attractions – along with plenty of small-town charm.

Some of our LLM graduates at the 2017 UC Law Hooding Ceremony

The University of Cincinnati College of Law, opened in 1833, is the fourth-oldest continually operating law school in the country. We are a nationally recognized law school in the heart of the Midwest, located in Clifton Heights, a thriving and dynamic neighborhood situated atop one of the many tree-lined hills that overlooks downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

Our Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Public Interest Law, and Trial Advocacy programs are ranked among the top in the nation. Innovation and impact are infused throughout our curriculum. Cincinnati Law LLM students can participate in experiential learning opportunities and often tout the Cincinnati network as central to their heightened experience.

Longstanding partnerships with many of the more than 800+ law firms, Fortune-500 companies, agencies, and state and federal courts that call Cincinnati home provide you our guarantee of experiences beyond the classroom, which are available to LLM students in the second semester.

The National Jurist and prelaw Magazine have named us among the top 10 public law schools for Public Service, a top 15 law school for delivering exceptional Practical Training, and a seven-time Best Value Law School.

Our Ugandan LLM student Flavia Ibyara speaks with our Urban Morgan Human Rights Institute director, Professor Bert Lockwood, about human trafficking during a UC Law event

The 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio at the College of Law is one of the lowest in the U.S. The low ratio means that students develop rewarding mentoring relationships with some of the most inquisitive and energetic legal minds in the nation. The quality and volume of their research has made the law faculty one of the most productive in the country. The faculty's scholarship is complemented by extensive professional experience. Many have clerked for federal judges, been partners in major law firms, written best-selling books, and some have argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Cincinnati, Ohio, the "Queen City" on the Ohio River

The LLM program is designed for practicing attorneys and law school graduates who have earned their law degree outside of the United States. A successful applicant will have an academic and/or professional record demonstrating that they can succeed in a fast-paced and academically challenging educational environment and that they can contribute to the richness of the learning environment at the College of Law.

The University of Cincinnati, Public University of the Year (The Washington Center)

Our application process is as simple as possible. We do not require an LSAT test score. We also offer conditional admission for those who need an acceptance, but also need more time to work on their English. We have only one intake a year at UC Law, which is each August.

Apply here.

Have questions? We are here to help! Email us at uclawllm@uc.edu.

Saudi LLM Mubarak Aldousari sits in the judge's chair during our visit with Common Pleas Court Judge Jody Luebbers in her courtroom, downtown Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Law's LLM tuition is one of the lowest in the U.S.! Tuition plus university fees for the 2022–2023 is approximately $29,810 for those not eligible for in-state tuition. We offer generous partial scholarships. For more detailed information, please visit our website: https://law.uc.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-and-aid.html

We offer one of the most affordable LLM programs in the United States. Click this link for the 2022–2023 academic year Tuition.

Scholarships: Applicants in need of a scholarship should check the box on the application to be automatically considered for a partial scholarship to reduce the cost of your tuition. If admitted, you will receive a scholarship offer with your admission letter. Unfortunately, full scholarships are not available.

There is no application fee. Apply now.

LLM students visit the Hamilton County Courthouse with Professor Felix Chang and the LLM Coordinator Tonya Hampton

No special application is required to request a scholarship. To be considered for a partial scholarship, all you need to do is check the box on your application!

Apply early to take advantage of more scholarship monies being available.

We are not able to offer full scholarships.

Students are encouraged to seek additional funding from outside sources, including their home government.

Cincinnati, the Best City for College Graduates in the US (Forbes)

Cincinnati offers world-class assets in arts and culture, amusements, hospitality, sports, and recreation. It is ranked in Forbes.com's list of "Best Bargain Cities in America," one of the "Top 10 Safest Cities," and "Top 15 Best Cities for Young Professionals" as well as "THE best City for Recent Graduates" in the U.S.! Cincinnati features all the amenities of a large, bustling metropolis while maintaining a friendly, small-town atmosphere, "a unique balancing act of extraordinary contrasts," but one that makes the region a remarkably flexible location filled with a wealth of opportunities and options.

Cincinnati is the seat of both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and is home to more than 685 law firms. The opportunities in business and industry are equally rich. Cincinnati is home to several Fortune 500 companies (including Procter & Gamble, Macy's, the Kroger Co. and Western & Southern) and a host of new startups in the technology, health care, manufacturing, and financial service sectors. It's no wonder that Fortune called Greater Cincinnati one of the top ten places to live and work or that Forbes called the region one of the "Best Places for Business and Careers."

Best of all, the University of Cincinnati is located in the heart of it all, with easy access to downtown Cincinnati, our city center.

The University of Cincinnati is one of the "Top 3 Most Welcoming Universities for Internationals" (International Student Barometer)

A variety of housing options are available near the University of Cincinnati campus. Students in Cincinnati enjoy a cost of living well below the national average. Many of our students take advantage of the numerous private rental options surrounding our campus. Click here for information on UC-owned Graduate Housing. The University's Graduate & Family Housing Office provides UC-affiliated housing options, private listings and a roommate search service which you may find helpful. The Cincinnati Law Housing Guide is a great resource as well.

Cincinnati is One of the "Top 10 Safest Cities" in the US and a "Best Bargain City" (Forbes)

More than 4,000 international students currently attend the University of Cincinnati. UC offers students a wide array of activities and organizations, which provide students a chance to meet one another, socialize, and learn outside of the classroom. UC also provides a network of supportive services to make sure that the transition to the Cincinnati community is a smooth one. Help with visa issues, writing skills, and other needs is available on campus. The University of Cincinnati Office of International Services is a tremendous resource for international students at UC.

The College of Law itself hosts more than 40 student-run organizations and clubs based on various affiliations, interests, and activities. Numerous scholarly institutes, legal clinics, teams, and law journals offer students ample opportunities to get involved.

UC Law LLM student from Uganda, Franklin Burkowe, was one of the International Vis Arbitration Moot team members chosen to go to Hong Kong for competitions

LLM students participate in a thorough and fun orientation program in August -- before regular classes begin. Through this experience, they get to know each other, the law school, U.S. university etiquette, U.S. culture, and the Cincinnati legal community. Students are expected to arrive by August 1st in order to get settled before this mandatory Welcome Week. 

Members of the Cincinnati Law LLM Class of 2019.

The LLM Welcome Week, our specially designed orientation for LLM students, takes place two weeks before classes begin. Week One, our orientation for all new students, takes place the following week, one week before classes begin. Plan to be in Cincinnati on or about August 1st to get settled before these two weeks of orientation begin.