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. Three classes are required of all LL.M. students: Introduction to U.S. Law, Legal Research & Writing for LL.M. 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. Both one and two year programs are available, as well as an official Business Law concentration.

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).

We offer a special LLM 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.

Internships
LLM students can apply for internships during their second semester or after graduation (Optional Practical Training). Our students have access to opportunities at a variety of local companies with global interests such as Procter & Gamble, Kroger Company, Macy's and Fifth Third Bank. Similar opportunities exist with local public sector and non-profits organizations such as Cincinnati Public Schools, Children's Law Center and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati many more.

Career Services
The College of Law LLM program is specifically designed to provide each student with direct access to career oriented resources. This will allow students ample opportunity to work one-on-one with the program director and faculty members on issues related to career planning. Students are also encouraged to work with UC Law's Center for Professional Development. Our career counselors will work one-on-one with LLM students on a full range of professional development topics, including networking, US style resume writing, interview practice, business cards and internships. In addition, monthly networking events allow students to interact with local attorneys and judges.

The University of Cincinnati, est. 1819

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. 

Established in 1819 and with a student population of 45,000 located in a vibrant, diverse urban community, UC offers a rich collection of co-curricular experiences and support services in partnership with our academic programs. Students can choose to participate in hundreds of organizations, work out in our state-of-the-art recreation center, play and/or watch intramural and collegiate sports, and assume leadership roles of all kinds. UC also provides key support services for international students, aimed at easing the transition to the U.S. and ensuring student success through graduation.

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. A founding member of the American Association of Law Schools, the College of Law enjoys a solid reputation as one of the nation's premier, small, public, law schools, boasting institutes and clinics in the areas of human rights, social justice, law and psychiatry, corporate law, and negotiation. The College of Law has brought together a community of committed administrators, award-winning faculty, and skilled legal practitioners to create and promote an environment of intellectual exchange and academic excellence. With an enviable 8.1 student to faculty ratio, students at the College of Law benefit from an intimate, collegial environment and personal attention from faculty, while having access to groundbreaking centers and institutes.

The College of Law boasts several internationally acclaimed programs, including the Ohio Innocence Project (OIP), the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights, the Patent & Trademark Clinic, our Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic and the Corporate Law Center. To date, OIP has helped free more than 20 people who were wrongfully convicted of a crime. In April, 2011, OIP hosted the first international conference dedicated to exploring the phenomenon of wrongful conviction of the innocent. The Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights was the first international human rights program at a U.S. law school. At the core of the Institute's success is the Human Rights Quarterly, recognized as the leading academic journal in the human rights field. For over 20 years, the Corporate Law Center has addressed substantive issues in corporate, securities, and business law. Its annual Corporate Law Symposium provides an opportunity for scholars, regulators, practitioners, and law students from across the country to exchange ideas, debate issues, and discuss ongoing research and scholarship.

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.  Professors want to get to know you and are available for meeting outside of class.

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

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

An on-line application and instructions are available on our website, https://law.uc.edu. ; 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.  Questions? Email us at uclawllm@uc.edu.  We have only one intake a year at UC Law, which is each August.  We offer conditional admission if applicants need more time for their English.  We also offer possible transfer to the JD program after the LLM.  Find our free application here.

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 US!  Tuition for the year is $29,010 for those not eligible for in-state tuition. (If you have resided in Ohio for one year before starting at Cincinnati Law, you are eligible for in-state tuition, which is $24,010.  Students who have resided in Kentucky for at least one year before starting at Cincinnati Law will receive a special Kentucky metro rate, which is $24,610 for the year.) In addition, we offer scholarships of up to 50% off tuition costs.  This means your total cost for our program could be as little as $15,000 for the year.  We also offer part-time jobs on campus that can result in a monthly income of $500-600 dollars.

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. However, if you are interested in a scholarship please let us know by sending an email requesting consideration. Please address this message to the Program Coordinator at uclawllm@uc.edu.

Apply early to take advantage of more scholarship monies being available.  Our application deadline is April 30th, 2019 for an August 2019 start.

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. Ranked in Forbes.com's list of "Best Bargain Cities in America," and 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 US! 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 ten 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.

For additional information about life in Cincinnati please see the UC International Cultural Handbook here.

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. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in Cincinnati costs approximately $500 - $600 dollars each month; whereas, the same apartment would cost $1,000 to $1,500 in Washington, D.C. or $1,025 to $1,475 in New York City. The University's Graduate & Family Housing Office provides affiliated housing options, private listings and a roommate search service which you may find helpful. The College of Law will assist whenever possible in connecting incoming students who would like to share an apartment with another law student.

Newly arriving international graduate students may apply for apartments dedicated to graduate students. More information is available at https://www.uc.edu/housing/graduate-family.html

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

Over 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. http://www.uc.edu/international/services/future.html

The College of Law itself hosts over 35 student-run organizations and clubs based on various affiliations, interests and activities. Numerous scholarly institutes, legal clinics, Moot Court teams and law journals offer students ample opportunities to get involved.

LL.M. students will have the opportunity to participate in social occasions that will allow them to get to know one another as well as students in the J.D. program. In addition, LL.M. students will make visits to law firms, court houses and government institutions and participate in special networking events.

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, US university etiquette, the US culture and the Cincinnati legal community.