The University of Texas School of Law (Texas Law)

The University of Texas School of Law offers a single LL.M. degree with six different concentrations. Each degree concentration provides students with the opportunity to complete specified courses and obtain a certificate of specialization in that concentration. The LL.M. Program is flexible and allows each student to design an individual course of study tailored to their academic and professional interests. Our LL.M. concentrations are:

• Business Law
• Cybersecurity Law (ranked by LLM Guide among the top 10 LL.M. Programs for Cybersecurity Law)
• Global Energy, International Arbitration & Environmental Law (ranked by LLM Guide among the top 10 LL.M. Programs for Energy Law)
• Human Rights & Comparative Constitutional Law
• Latin American & International Law
• U.S.  Law for Foreign Lawyers

The U.S. for Foreign Lawyers concentration is a flexible program that provides students with a foreign law degree the opportunity to focus on a particular area of study or gain a broad foundation in U.S. law by taking courses in a variety of areas. Students with a foreign law degree are eligible for all six concentrations. Students with a U.S. J.D. are eligible for all concentrations except the one in U.S. Law for Foreign Lawyers.

Visit the LL.M. Program website for more information.

The University of Texas at Austin started with a constitutional mandate to be “a university of the first class.” Since 1883, we have been refining and updating what that means, but we have never stopped pursuing that ideal. We say, “What starts here changes the world.” But, what makes here so special?

Texas means top national programs with a public mission, an affordable cost, and a culture that welcomes talented, diverse students with unlimited potential. At Texas, we’re contributing to technological revolutions and a safer and healthier future. Here, our faculty and students are working to find energy solutions, to increase national security, and to deepen our sense of history and culture. When you place that in America’s No. 1 city to live, you have The University of Texas at Austin.

In addition to being ranked among the top 16 national law schools and among the top 5 public law schools in the nation, The University of Texas School of Law also has the most affordable tuition among the top 20 law schools in the nation. With a network of graduates 24,000-strong, whatever you want to do, wherever you want to do it, there will be a Texas Law alum ready to help. Additionally, we have an unbeatable set of 14 clinics, 16 programs and centers, 13 student-run journals, and 35 student organizations that round out law students’ legal education.

The University of Texas School of Law is situated on the northeast quadrant of main campus, a short walk to museums, two recreation centers with pools, and the football stadium. Law school facilities include two courtrooms; study lounges; state-of-the-art classrooms; a café; and the Tarlton Law Library, one of the largest academic law libraries in the world.

The Tarlton Law Library and Jamail Center for Legal Research offer course support, student guides, legal research, and student services. Students have access to a past exams database, course reserves, an exam prep guide, a study aid guide, legal writing titles, and CALI. Additionally, students have access to research guides, a team of dedicated law librarians, Bloomberg, Lexis, Westlaw, seminar papers, and law review notes.

The Law School Writing Center provides students with individualized, professional writing help at no charge. The Writing Center advises on issues of mechanics, clarity, and sentence structure. 

The Career Services Office (CSO) at The University of Texas School of Law is dedicated to helping all students at the law school, including those who are working toward their LL.M. degree. As an LL.M. student, you are welcome to meet with a career counselor to discuss your job search, have your resume (CV) and cover letters reviewed, practice interview skills, and take advantage of the many resources that CSO has to offer. 

A law school’s greatness begins with its faculty. Texas Law has one of the most talented and honored faculties in the nation, with 27 members of the American Law Institute and six members of the University of Texas’ prestigious Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Get to know all of them. 

Visit Texas Law Faculty for more information.

“I am currently completing a clerkship with Judge Michael J. Truncale for the Eastern District of Texas. I will begin clerking with the Texas Supreme Court’s Justice Guzman in September 2020. With Judge Truncale’s trust, I became the first foreign LL.M. graduate in the history of Texas Law to clerk for a United States Federal Court, and for that, I will be eternally grateful to Judge. The opportunity to clerk for Judge Truncale has allowed me to fast-track that learning curve and made me feel very confident to begin practicing. My advice for fellow foreign-trained lawyers interested in U.S. litigation is to take as many litigation-focused classes as possible during their LL.M. degree, to take every opportunity to participate in mock trials and moot court, and to focus on passing the bar exam to prove to employers that they are able to learn a new legal system in a short period of time.”

Isaac Villarreal, Class of 2018, Judicial Clerk at U.S. District Courts

“Last week, we toured the Sweetwater Wind Farm – one of the largest wind farms in the world! We attended a presentation on wind turbine operation and went inside an operational wind turbine. We also discussed issues pertaining to contracts and environmental law. The wind tour is a unique experience offered by the Law School’s Institute for Transnational Law and the best way to learn!”

Francisco Lanusse, Class of 2018, Associate at Latham & Watkins

“When I learned I had been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, I must admit that The University of Texas School of Law (Texas Law) was not the first school that came to mind when assessing where I would eventually end up doing my LL.M. However, I could not be happier that it turned out the way it did – that I did my LL.M. at Texas Law. Texas Law was a great match for me (which is why Fulbright recommended it to begin with) since the courses they offer matched what I wanted to focus on very well, namely international commercial arbitration.”

Andreas Hallbeck, Class of 2018, Senior Associate at Advokat på Roschier, Attorneys Ltd.

The LL.M. Program requires applicants to have a first professional degree in law. Applicants with a foreign law degree can check the Law School Admission Council LL.M. Eligibility Chart for minimum degree requirements by country to see if they are eligible for our program. The LL.M. Program does not accept applications from graduates of online law programs or U.S. J.D. programs not approved by the American Bar Association. The LL.M. Program currently has a maximum of 50 spots for each incoming class. 

LL.M. applications must be submitted through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The application opens on September 1 and is due by March 1 for priority consideration.

All applicants must purchase the LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS). Applicants with a foreign law degree must also purchase the International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES).

We hope you will join us for one of our upcoming virtual admissions information sessions. Admissions sessions are offered each Wednesday. You will need a computer or mobile device and an internet connection to access virtual sessions. You must also download the Zoom app. Register for an upcoming virtual session. Note that all times are Central Standard Time.

Take a 360 look at some of our beloved campus spots on this virtual tour. Click “Learn More” to listen to our audio guide. Do not click “Virtual Session” or “Apply Online.”

Visit Application Information for more information.

Tuition at Texas Law is the least expensive among the top 20 law schools in the U.S.  Tuition and fees are set by the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents and are subject to change without notice. Tuition and fees are updated on the LL.M. Program website as they change.

The nonresident (out-of-state) tuition rate in the School of Law is $23,557 per semester for 12 credit hours. The Texas resident (in-state) tuition rate in the School of Law is $15,854 per semester for 12 credit hours. Tuition and fees are set by the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents and are subject to change without notice.

Visit Tuition, Expenses & Financial Aid for more information.

The LL.M. Program offers scholarship support for its ablest applicants. Admitted students are automatically considered for internal scholarships, and a separate application is not required. Internal third-party scholarships require a separate application and have their own internal deadline.

Prospective and admitted international LL.M. students are encouraged to apply for financial aid and scholarships from their home countries. eduPASS and International Student Organization have compiled lists of scholarships for international students. Additionally, the LL.M. Program has assembled a list of external scholarships that are country-specific and criteria-specific.

Prospective LL.M. students interested in applying for a Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship can expect the application process to take 12-18 months.

Visit Scholarship Opportunities for more information.

We are in Austin–the Live Music Capital of the World, the second fastest growing city in the U.S., and the second best city for liberals to live. Boasting 400 live music venues, 100 barbecue restaurants, 200 miles of urban hike and bike trails, and 300 sunny days each year, Austin is the best place in the world to be a law student. Learn more at Visit Austin.

If you cannot get to Austin for Admitted LLM Students Day, then here is a sneak peek video of our amazing city and beautiful campus, and a little taste of what it is like to be part of our Texas Law community. At The University of Texas, we say “What Starts Here Changes the World” – and this is where it all begins.

No single housing solution exists for The University of Texas at Austin’s graduate student population, but these resources may help you find a place to call home—whether you want an apartment close to the university with an easy commute or a house in the suburbs with a yard for the kids or dogs.

Should you need help in determining where to live off campus, the Graduate School and the Graduate Coordinator Network did a survey of where students live. The summary offers a brief description of Austin’s various neighborhoods as well as an idea of what’s nearby. Visit Texas Global for more information. View a Guide to Austin Housing for information on private residences for rent near UT.

We recommend LL.M. students live as close as possible to the Law School. The Law School address is 727 East Dean Keeton St, Austin, Texas 78705. Download the CapMetro app to know where your bus is and map your route. UT students, faculty, and staff ride all Capital Metro services for free when they swipe their valid IDs.

The LLM Program helps LLM students achieve their academic and extracurricular goals. Throughout the year, the LLM Program organizes study breaks, works closely with student organizations to plan events, and holds academic support and advising sessions. The experienced staff is available for counseling on academic and personal matters.

The Law School Is home to the Texas Law Review and 12 specialty journals that vary greatly in legal, political, and social perspectives. As an example of impact, the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law has an impressive readership that reaches beyond academia, circulating among attorneys and energy industry professionals. 

Student Organizations at Texas Law run the gamut of interests, from the Chicano/ Hispanic Law Students Association and the Entertainment and Sports Law Society to Assault and Flattery (a theater group) and the Women’s Law Caucus. There are 35 organizations to choose from.