Penn Carey Law – University of Pennsylvania

Penn Carey Law graduate programs have been educating international lawyer-leaders for more than a century. Penn Carey law offers three graduate degree programs:  Masters in Law (LLM), Masters in Comparative Law (LLCM), and Doctor in Juridical Science (SJD). Penn Carey Law graduate programs welcomes talented and diverse lawyers, judges and diplomats from around the world every year.

MASTER’S IN LAW (LLM)

The Penn Carey Law LLM is a rigorous, full-time academic program designed for lawyers trained outside the United States. This general LLM degree allows customize your curriculum to focus on a specific area of law or to explore new interests. You can also choose from two concentrations:  Intellectual Property and Technology Law and Global Security, Sustainability, and Human Rights.  After the pre-term summer program, LLM students select their courses from an extensive curriculum alongside upper-level JD students and can also enroll in a class outside the law school to support their inter-disciplinary interests.

• Pre-Term Program: LLM students take a five-week, five-credit pre-term program. This innovative program provides an academic grounding in the U.S. legal system as well as social, cultural, and professional opportunities. The program includes two introductory courses: Foundations in U.S. Law and U.S. Legal Writing and Research.
• Public Service Program: Through the Toll Public Interest Center (TPIC) LLM students have the opportunity to develop professional skills and learn more about the communities outside the walls of Penn Carey Law. TPIC also supports students seeking to satisfy the New York Bar pro bono requirement.
• Clinical Programs: LLM students have participated in clinical programs focusing on Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property and Technology, International Human Rights and Immigration, and Mediation.
• WHARTON BUSINESS AND LAW CERTIFICATE (“WBLC”): Penn Carey Law LLM students are eligible to enroll in the WBLC, a program specifically designed for foreign trained attorneys. The WBLC program allows students to experience Penn’s cross disciplinary curriculum firsthand and learn from Wharton faculty and industry experts. All LLM students may participate in this program, which runs concurrently with the LLM program.

For more information about Penn Carey Law LLM program , check the program's guidebook and website. Watch this video to learn about what makes Penn Carey Law's LLM program unique.

MASTERS IN COMPARATIVE LAW (LLCM)

The Masters in Comparative Law (LLCM) is a one-year program of advanced study for students who have already earned an LLM degree in the U.S.

DOCTOR OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE (SJD)

The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) is the highest law degree offered by the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. It provides an opportunity to conduct extensive research, culminating in a dissertation, under the guidance of faculty from Penn Carey Law and where appropriate, other professional schools and graduate departments of the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Campus

The University of Pennsylvania has a history that dates to 1740. Penn is consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the country. It enrolls 10,000 undergraduate students and welcomes an additional 10,000-plus students to its world-renowned graduate and professional schools. With 100 countries and every U.S. state represented, academic life at Penn is unparalleled. Penn’s world renowned educators and scholars encourage students to pursue inquiry and discovery, follow their passions, and address the world’s most challenging problems through an interdisciplinary approach. Penn is located on a beautiful urban campus in Philadelphia with expansive college greens, recreational changes, and landmark architecture. Penn’s geographical unity is unique among Ivy League schools, fostering our integrated approach to education, scholarship, and research. Visit our website to learn more about University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Carey Law

The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School hosts eleven different academic centers, institutes, programs, and research groups. The Law School’s focus on combining theory and analytical thinking with experiential learning encourages students to test and hone their skills as they develop, thereby preparing them to lead their future fields with innovation, dexterity, and integrity. Located on the historic, ivy-league campus in Philadelphia, the Law School is known for its focus on inter-disciplinary studies. For example, all LLMs are eligible to enroll in the Wharton Business and Law Certificate program, custom-designed for LLMs and taught by Wharton faculty, within a short walk from the law school.  Our LLM degree begins with a unique pre-term summer program. Students get five weeks of academic preparation and immersive co-curricular, social, and cultural programming, allowing our LLMs to be fully integrated with the JDs and the greater Philadelphia community during the academic year. Visit our website to learn more about  the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

Fitts Auditorium

Penn Carey Law standing faculty are renowned and prolific scholars, publishing broadly acclaimed books and articles that advance knowledge in the law and related disciplines. Nearly 70 percent of faculty members hold advanced degrees in fields other than law and have diverse experience in international and comparative law. Penn Carey Law faculty members bring a broad, global view of the role of law in society to the classroom. In addition to our standing faculty, students can take classes with leading private and public sector adjunct faculty. Visit Penn Carey Law faculty webpage for more information.

• Applicant must hold a degree in law or expect to complete a law degree by matriculation.
• In special circumstances, Penn Law may accept candidates who do not hold a law degree. Typically, such students hold a graduate degree in a related field, have already embarked on an academic or professional career, and/or are licensed to practice law in their home jurisdiction. If this case, applicants must be able to show how legal training is important to the advancement of their career and/or  scholarly work and that they have sufficient legal training to succeed in the program.
• Learn more here.

All application materials must be submitted through LSAC. Applicants are required to submit the following materials:

• Application form (available on llm.lsac.org);
• Personal statement;
• Two letters of recommendation;
• Resume/CV;
• Transcripts from each degree-granting, post-secondary school attended;
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (or a waiver );
• Application fee of $85; $150 for the SJD (fee waiver information)
• SJD candidates only: dissertation proposal and a writing sample.

Visit the LLM program website for more information about application procedures.

Visit the LLM program website for information about tuition and fees.

To sustain the exceptional quality and diversity of the LLM program, Penn Carey Law offers merit scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 dollars. There is no separate application process, applicants simply check a box on the application indicating they would like to be considered for the scholarship. The Law School also offers Human Rights Scholarships for outstanding students with a substantial, demonstrated commitment to human rights. For more information about these scholarships and other funding sources, visit the LLM program website.

Philadelphia

Penn Carey Law School is located in beautiful and historical Philadelphia. Whether on or off campus, students can enjoy Philadelphia’s nightlife, restaurants, art, shopping, music, theater, bike and jogging trails, and professional sport teams​. New York City and Washington D.C. are easily accessible (2-3 hours by car or train) and beaches, lakes, and skiing are all less than 2 hours away.

Penn Off Campus Services provides support and resources to help you secure off-campus housing. 

Penn Carey Law Courtyard

Student activities include 90+ clubs. LLM students get involved with JDs in student groups ranging from the Law School Light Opera Company to the Penn Soccer Club. LLMs often participate in student run journals. LLMs also often participate in University wide clubs and events.

Pre-Term team building exercise

Pre-LLM Course

LLM students take a five-week, five-credit pre-term program in the Summer. This innovative program provides an academic grounding in the U.S. legal system as well as social, cultural, and professional opportunities. The program includes two introductory courses: Foundations in U.S. Law and U.S. Legal Writing/Research.