An LL.M. degree can be a fast ticket to the top. For many law professionals, having a US law school on the top of a CV can be extremely valuable.

Indeed, LL.M. graduates are expected to enjoy a career and salary boost, but they have to pay for it at the top law schools and sometimes dearly. 

With the US economy booming, the opportunity cost of leaving your job to return to full-time study is high. This is especially true for international students, who have to consider not only the tuition for an LL.M. program, but cost of living, which can be high in some American cities. 

Luckily, at many law schools, there is an abundance of financial aid for LL.M. students. Choosing to study outside of big metropolitan areas can help minimize expenses as well.

Here are the top 10 budget LL.M.s in the USA: 

LL.M. applicants are drawn to law schools in Canada for a number of reasons. Not only are LL.M.s in the country relatively affordable—especially when compared to their counterparts in the USA—Canada is also a country of stunning natural beauty and, subjectively speaking, friendly people. Although many law schools are clustered around main cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, there are also schools offering LL.M. programs in other parts of the country as well. Here are the top 10 law schools in Canada offering LL.M. programs.

The UK’s higher education system is renowned for its Oxbridge colleges – the name given to Oxford and Cambridge universities, which are among the best in the world. But London is the beating heart of Britain’s legal sector: it’s home to a plethora of Big Law firms from Linklaters to Hogan Lovells. 

Close proximity to guest lecturers and corporate recruiters is just one of a myriad of benefits to pursuing an LL.M. in London, an important global legal hub. 

London is also a nucleus for leading law schools, big names like LSE and UCL, but also newer institutions that offer good teaching quality at a relatively low cost.  

The living fees can be dear, but many students say it’s worth it to be in a commercial and cultural marvel that has a huge number of professional attractions and personal activities, from art to architecture, fine dining, sight-seeing and good global travel links to boot.  

Here are the Top 10 LL.M. Programs in London.

Europe is an important center for global law, as it is home to some of the world’s most significant institutions, such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.

The continent is also home to many of the world’s best law schools offering English-language LL.M.s. They draw on their close proximity to NGOs, Big Law firms, businesses and other organizations by inviting senior practitioners to teach on their courses, which are highly practical.  

Europe has a rich traditional of legal education and many of its universities have among the oldest law faculties in the world. And indeed, a number of these top law schools on the continent offer a range of LL.M. programs aimed at international students.

The list below includes ten of the best law schools in Europe offering general LL.M. programs (or a large range of LL.M offerings, covering many different topics.)

A number of top law schools in Europe also offer smaller, special focus programs in specialized subject areas, from finance to European Union Law; we’ve listed the Top 10 Special Focus LL.M. Programs in Europe here.

But for now, here are the law schools offering the top 20 LL.M. programs in Europe.

An Online LL.M. is a great choice for busy professionals or those who otherwise may not have the time to pursue a Master of Law degree.

While law schools have been slower to adapt to the digital revolution than other schools, such as business schools, there are a growing number of Online LL.M. degrees now available for those who cannot afford to take a year or more out of work. Some of these Online LL.M. programs are blended—or delivered in a 'hybrid' format—a mixture of online and on-campus learning for part-time students who could be anywhere in the world, tuning in to classes from a laptop or smartphone whenever it is convenient for them to do so.

The best Online and Hybrid LL.M. programs also offer specializations, meaning that students can delve into subjects like finance law, human rights law, tax law, and others, from the comfort of their homes. 

In terms of course delivery, Online LL.M. programs operate in various ways. In some programs, lectures are delivered in real-time, while in others, they're pre-recorded. Online degrees might also include other kinds of conent, such as discussion boards and group chats. Some Hybrid LL.M.s also offer on-campus residency sessions.

Rather than taking applications away from traditional LL.M.s, the Online LL.M. programs are actually attracting people who would not otherwise consider a graduate school education. If you’re in that camp, and want an LL.M. to advance your career without having to quit your job or forgo a salary, then here are the 10 best Online and Hybrid LL.M. programs for you:

For those looking for an LL.M., Germany is a great place in which to forge or further a law career. It’s Europe’s largest economy and holds significant economic and political influence among EU countries, and beyond. This means employment prospects can be excellent, with the country’s economy and job market currently booming. Another perk for international students is the ease with which they can secure study and work visas in Germany, an open, tolerant nation that embraces and values foreign talent. 

Fortunately, there’s a plethora of world-class law schools in the country, some of which have been around for centuries. And for international students seeking to study in the country, the good thing is that an increasing number of German law schools are offering LL.M. programs, in topics from business law to European law and more. 

See the top 10 law schools in Germany below.

What do you study in an Intellectual Law LL.M.? Intellectual property law—often just called “IP” law—serves to protect the rights of the people who have created artwork, or who own patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property. As you might imagine, the legal issues involved in this area can be thorny—especially in the age of the Internet, when artistic works are shared every day, sometimes legally, and sometimes not—and experienced IP lawyers are often needed to do everything from filing patent applications to drafting licensing agreements, and even defending trademark owners from infringement in court. IP lawyers are increasingly in demand for cases involving technology; see the Top 10 LL.M. Programs in Technology Law here.

An LL.M. program in Intellectual Property Law can help legal professionals get caught-up with current laws around patents, copyrights, and antitrust issues; some LL.M.s might even delve into specific fields where IP law applies, such as entertainment law. Fortunately, there are many career opportunities for a legal professional who has an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law. Indeed, there are entire law firms dedicated to IP law; jobs can also be found in the legal departments of non-legal firms that own or manage artistic works, technology, or other intellectual property.

Below are the best LL.M.s in IP Law.

For graduates of LL.M. programs in Health / Medical Law, career options are practically endless, due to the many legal needs of these very complex industries.

The healthcare field and related industries are huge: globally, at least two trillion dollars are spent each year on healthcare, according to some estimates. The sheer size of the field means that it’s governed by a complex set of laws, protecting patients, doctors, patents on medical devices, and more. The scope also means that LL.M. programs in Health Law and Medical Law can cover a huge array of topics, from contracts to bioethics.

And, perhaps fortunately for those with Health / Medical LL.M. programs, these laws seem to be constantly changing. In the US, for instance, court battles around the Affordable Care Act—'Obamacare'—mean that legal requirements and statutes are continuously in flux and require a specialized degree of knowledge to grapple with.

Grads who have LL.M.s in Health Law might go on to a variety of different careers, for healthcare providers, medical insurance companies, medical device manufacturers, and more.

In terms of LL.M. programs, India is an up-and-coming destination. Today, India may not boast as many top law schools as the US or western Europe, but it does hold a few aces up its sleeve. Its law schools are coming of age, boasting esteemed alumni from Chief Justices to Supreme and High Court judges, which is a sign of the quality of the education. India is also home to several prestigious law firms which pay good salaries. 

LL.M. programs in India are numerous, and offered at law schools across the country. In terms of quality, these degrees can vary, so potential India-bound LL.M. applicants are encouraged to do their research before settling on a school. The top LL.M. degrees in India are offered by the country’s world-class law schools, which may be ranked in global publications. 

India was once a net exporter of law students who went to do their Master’s in Laws programs abroad, but it now boasts a wide range of homegrown LL.M. programs that are approved by the Bar Council of India.

Here are 10 of India’s best LL.M. programs.

Mainland Europe is home to many of the world’s top law schools, which, each year, draw thousands of international students to the continent. These students are often attracted not only by the prestige of some of the world’s oldest universities, but also the cultural charms of the continent, not to mention its political and economic institutions. 

In terms of LL.M. programs in Europe, there are a number of larger, high-profile law schools that cater to a huge range of international students. To meet the needs of these students, these law schools offer great general LL.M. programs, or a range of specialized LL.M. programs. See LLM GUIDE’s Top 20 List of General LL.M. Programs in Europe.

In contrast, there are a number of law schools in Europe that run more specialized, niche LL.M. programs, focused on specific subjects, such as human rights law or finance law. While these programs may be smaller than the larger offerings from other schools, they are all high-quality and designed for students who have more specific interests and needs. And they are all offered by some of the best law schools in Europe.

See below for the Top 10 Special Focus LL.M. programs in Europe.