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The decision to enroll in a graduate program is a significant commitment that should only be made after careful consideration. In light of this, we have compiled the top queries submitted via email, phone, and in-person interviews by our applicants. If you have any additional questions about admission to BU Law, please ask them by emailing them to us below. We hope they help you make your decision.
What are the admissions requirements?
We search for students with solid academic records and proof that a candidate can succeed in a demanding academic program. A personal statement and curriculum vitae (CV) are additional requirements for the application, in addition to transcripts and letters of recommendation. All applicants must submit either a TOEFL or an IELTS exam report, unless they are exempt. It is essential for students to have a high level of English proficiency because they are expected to actively participate in class discussions. The Director and/or Assistant Director conduct telephone or video interviews with all deserving candidates.
How and when should I apply?
We accept applications online through LSAC. Serious candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible as the application assembly and review process can be lengthy. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.
When do the programs start?
| Program | Start Dates |
|---|---|
| American Law | August, January |
| Banking and Financial Law | August, January |
| Intellectual Property | August only |
| Graduate Tax Program | August, January, May |
| Legal English Certificate Program | August, January |
Is work experience required?
| Program | Is Work Experience Required? |
|---|---|
| American Law | Preferred, not required |
| Banking and Financial Law | Preferred, not required |
| Intellectual Property | Preferred, not required |
| Graduate Tax Program | Preferred, not required |
| Legal English Certificate Program | Preferred, not required |
How does the admissions process work?
As soon as the Graduate and International Programs Office receives all necessary documents (transcripts, recommendation letters, evidence of English language proficiency, personal statement, CV, and financial documentation), applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. It could take up to several weeks for our office to receive and review all of your application materials and make an admissions decision, depending on when you submit your application. Please let us know if you need a decision right away, and we’ll try to meet your request.
A phone or video interview with the director and/or assistant director is scheduled with promising candidates. You have the opportunity to tell us more about your background, program interests, and career goals during the interview. Additionally, you have the chance to ask any questions you may have. We will be happy to schedule an in-person interview in place of a phone interview and give a tour of BU Law if a candidate is fortunate enough to be in the Boston area or be able to travel there before admission.
How are decisions made regarding applications for admission?
Together with the Admissions Committee, the Program Director and/or Assistant/Associate Directors choose which applicants will be granted admission based on their complete records. As a result, when evaluating an applicant, scores on tests, academic credentials, work history, letters of recommendation, accolades, and language proficiency will all be taken into account.
May I apply to more than one of your programs?
You are welcome to apply to more than one program. After submitting all of your materials via LSAC, in order to be considered for more than one program, please email us to let us know which programs you want to be considered for. You need not resubmit all of your application materials. Transcripts and other materials that have already been sent to BU Law via LSAC will be taken into consideration. Candidates must still make sure their application is complete and that they have submitted or received all additional materials that our office may require. Please be aware that in order to be considered for admission, you must satisfy all admissions requirements.
What does the program cost? All the most up to date tuition and fee information for all of our programs can be found
You can find all the information about the Credential Assembly Service here.
How will I be notified of the admissions decision?
Every effort is made to notify applicants of the decision regarding their application in a timely manner. Given the anticipated volume of applications, it could take several weeks to review and decide on your application after it is submitted. Notification of your admissions decision will be made via email. Please be aware that we are unable to give admissions decisions over the phone, but you are welcome to call our office to find out how your application is progressing.
If I have been admitted, what happens next?
If you are accepted into the program, we ask that you let us know by the deadline listed in your acceptance letter if you plan to enroll in BU Law. Extensions may be granted at the Director’s discretion. We require a non-refundable $750 deposit after you confirm your decision to enroll in BU Law in order to reserve your spot in the course.
Once we receive your deposit from applicants with foreign education, we will start processing your visa paperwork. Without the required financial documentation, we cannot process your immigration documents. These contain a bank statement, a letter, and, if required, a sponsorship certification form. The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) of the university will receive your completed file once your financial documentation is complete, and they will then issue your official Form I-20. Your Form I-20 and an email confirmation that the document has been sent will be sent to you once it is finished. This process typically takes around four weeks.
We send incoming students course information and other registration materials later in the summer in preparation for the start of the semester.
If I have been admitted, when should I arrive?
Although the required orientation is in late August, students are strongly advised to arrive in early August in order to find housing and settle in. Students who enroll in CELOP’s summer Legal English Program, which starts in early July, must arrive by late June.
Should I attend the summer Legal English Program?
Attending CELOP’s summer Legal English class is highly recommended for incoming international law students. The CELOP program helps students prepare for their upcoming studies by acquainting them with the language and materials of American law, despite the fact that it is a language class rather than a law class. Additionally, it introduces them to fundamental doctrine, which helps them adjust to their substantive classes. Students who attend say they enter law school with much more confidence and learn more after participating in the summer program and during the fall semester. Another advantage is that students can start adjusting to their new surroundings in Boston before the demands of law school start by meeting people early, exploring the city, and taking care of practical matters. On occasion, admission to a program may be contingent upon participation in CELOP’s Legal English class or another intensive English program.
I was not admitted into the program. May I reapply?
You may reapply for admission even though unsuccessful applications are not subject to appeal. You do not need to submit all materials again if you do so within a calendar year of your prior application. You must submit a fresh online application, an updated resume, and a personal statement. You must also pay the application fee. Additionally, we firmly advise that you send updated letters of recommendation. If your test results are less than two years old, you do not need to resubmit your transcripts or test results. Please note that unless you are submitting an application that is qualitatively stronger than your prior application, reapplying is unlikely to increase your chances of admission. e. , demonstrating evidence of improved language skills, more work experience or responsibility, additional coursework, etc. ).
What is the LLM Credential Assembly Service?
International applicants must register with the LLM Credential Assembly Service provided by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). This service collects and authenticates the academic records and TOEFL scores of international lawyers who are applying for admission to US LLM programs, and sends reports to participating LLM programs to which these lawyers have applied. Because applicants will need to obtain only one set of official academic transcripts in order to make them available for all applications to participating law schools, the service should save them time and money. Students therefore do not need to send additional, original transcripts from each of their schools to Boston University School of Law; LSAC will send us all of their records in one package. Applicants can register for this service online. We do not accept application materials submitted in the mail or via email.
English Language Proficiency Requirement
We require official TOEFL or IELTS score reports sent through the LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service as satisfactory evidence of your English language ability.
We require a minimum TOEFL score of 100 for the internet-based test if you are taking it. The minimum required score for each section should be 25. If taking IELTS, you must obtain a minimum score of 7. 0.
We need a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 85 or higher, or a score of 5, if you’re interested in the Two Year LLM Program or the Legal English Certificate. 5 or higher on the IELTS exam.
We encourage all applicants to apply to the program, regardless of their English proficiency test results, as we take a comprehensive approach to application evaluation.
What are the exceptions to the English language proficiency requirement?
If English is your native tongue or if you earned your first law degree from a college or university in a nation where English is both the language of instruction and the only official language, you may be exempt from the English proficiency requirement.
If applicants have completed at least three (3) years of post-secondary education in a nation where English is the only official language and the language of instruction, they may request that we waive the English Proficiency Test Score requirement even if they do not automatically qualify for an English proficiency waiver. Requests for English language waivers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please complete the English Proficiency Exam Waiver Request Form to formally request a TOEFL waiver. Please include the file in the attachments section of your LSAC application.
Should I apply if my TOEFL or IELTS score is below the suggested minimum?
English proficiency is a key consideration in our admissions decisions. Our minimum scores serve as guidelines for the minimal level of English proficiency needed to succeed in our programs, but the majority of applicants who are accepted have scores that are significantly higher than those. If you are otherwise qualified but your test results fall short of our minimum requirements, you may still apply, but we may request that you retake the exam for our review or enroll in one of our summer Legal English programs. Please be aware that we review applications holistically, and that no one component, such as a test score for English proficiency, will automatically disqualify you from admission.
If my English proficiency test scores are below your minimums, may I receive a provisional acceptance?
Occasionally, applicants are accepted into the program with the understanding that they must complete additional requirements in order to enhance their English proficiency or achieve our minimum test score requirements. If an applicant can successfully complete BU’s summer program in legal English at CELOP or provide other documentation of testing or intensive ESL course completion, we may accept them provisionally. For information on CELOP, please visit CELOP’s website.
Who is the program suited for?
The LLM in American Law Program is intended for foreign lawyers who wish to gain a thorough understanding of American legal institutions, customs, and culture as well as American substantive law. Lawyers who anticipate working with American-trained attorneys on international transactions involving American law and legal institutions are particularly drawn to the degree. This includes attorneys who represent foreign clients with interests in the United States or American clients with interests abroad—basically, any attorney who anticipates participating in the increasingly international legal market of today. Learning American substantive law benefits lawyers trained in civil law systems, such as those found in many European nations, but it also gives them a solid foundation in the common law tradition’s case law method and legal reasoning process. For many foreign-trained attorneys, this is a novel and eye-opening experience. A master of laws from an American law school is increasingly valued as a qualification for career advancement in many foreign nations.
How large is the program?
The average LLM in American Law entering class has 110–120 students from more than 30 different nations. The program’s small size is one of its advantages; all the participants get to know one another, and the Director works closely with each participant all year long on any concerns they may have regarding academic planning or other matters.
Two Year LLM/Legal English Certificate Program
- TOEFL: an iTOEFL score of 85 or higher, a paper-based TOEFL score of 550 or higher, or a computer-based TOEFL score of 200 or higher (as opposed to 100 required for regular LLM admission).
- IELTS: a score of 5.5 or higher
Are interviews required? All promising candidates for both tracks of the LECP will be interviewed, via phone or video call, as part of the application process. After your application has been received by BU Law and has been confirmed as complete, we will contact you to schedule an interview. These typically will last 15 to 30 minutes.
What is the Boston University Center for English Language and Orientation Programs (CELOP)? The CELOP offers a variety of intensive language courses, including a six-week pre-LLM “Legal English” program for international students who have been accepted to an LLM program. All LLM candidates with law degrees from nations other than the US, Canada, or the UK are encouraged to seek early preparation for their studies by enrolling in a CELOP summer program. When a candidate successfully completes one of the CELOP summer programs prior to enrolling in the fall, we may offer full-time admission. Students should be aware that joining a CELOP program will result in higher costs. For more information on CELOP programs, visit CELOP.
Two-Year LLM and Legal English Certificate ProgramLLM candidates with impressive qualifications who require significant English training prior to enrolling in an LLM program should apply to our Two-Year LLM Program. Students spend the first year enrolled in BU Law’s Legal English Certificate Program (LECP), which provides intensive instruction in English communication and legal English, as well as a graduated and foundational exposure to American legal culture, vocabulary, concepts and law school studies, including academic skills. After completing the LECP, they attend the pre-LLM summer Legal English program and then enter the one-year BU Law LLM program to which they have been admitted. The Legal English Certificate Program is also available on a “certificate-only” basis, appropriate for foreign professionals – including non-lawyers – who seek only a legal English training credential, with no plans to pursue LLM studies.
Candidates must submit all necessary materials and choose their preferred LLM program in order to apply directly to the Two-Year LLM Program. In the future, applicants will be asked if they want to add legal English training (if their chosen program is a Two-Year program option that is eligible). If so, applicants should select “Two-Year LLM (with LECP).
All of the aforementioned documents must be submitted, and applicants must choose “Legal English Certificate Program (LECP)” as their response to question 1 on the application form, in order to apply directly to the Legal English Certificate Program (the “certificate-only track”).
Is it possible to continue my studies at BU Law after graduation?
Graduates of BU’s graduate programs and former exchange students may continue their studies at BU Law as Special Visiting Students if they are not eligible for advanced standing in one of BU’s LLM programs. For either one or two semesters of study, this option is available. Please email us at bullm@bu. edu for more details about this.
Bar Admission
It is generally expected that international students enrolled in LLM programs in the United States will return to their home countries after they complete their studies. Most states in the United States will allow only individuals who have earned a Juris Doctor degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association to take their bar examinations. However, New York, Massachusetts, and a few other states do allow some foreign-trained lawyers from abroad who have received LLM degrees from Boston University to take bar examinations. Each of the fifty states of the United States has its own criteria and procedures for admitting lawyers to practice, and these criteria and procedures change from time to time. It is essential that a foreign-trained lawyer who wishes to practice in this country directly contact the lawyer-licensing authority in the state or jurisdiction in which he or she expects to be located. Individuals can also request a copy of the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements from:
The National Conference of Bar Examiners ABA Order Fulfillment Department 750 North Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois 60611 Phone 312-988-5522
Bar admissions information is also available from the American Bar Association.
Foreign-trained LLM candidates may apply to the JD program as transfer students during the spring semester of their LLM year and, if accepted, may satisfy up to one-third of their JD credits through their LLM coursework in accordance with American Bar Association standards. These candidates must be enrolled in the American Law, Banking and Financial Law, Intellectual Property, and Taxation LLM programs. This suggests that with two more years of study, they might be able to finish the JD program. Transfer students who matriculate into the JD program must satisfy all of the program’s requirements. Transfer candidates are required to take the LSAT and are evaluated against all other JD transfer candidates. Candidates should not anticipate special treatment from the JD Admissions Committee simply because they are enrolled in BU Law’s LLM program. Admission is not guaranteed. Application forms and fees for transfer students are due to the Office of JD Admissions by June 1 and finished files with all necessary supporting documentation are due by August 1 for the fall semester. For fall enrollment, LLM students can take the LSAT as late as June.
Related to Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate Admissions
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FAQ
What GPA do you need to get into Boston University grad school?
Students with a 3. A student’s current undergraduate department will automatically accept them into a master’s program if they have a GPA of at least 4. Every master’s-level applicant will be given consideration for a merit-based tuition scholarship.
What is a good LLM GPA?
Is there a GPA minimum? No. However, we advise students to only submit an application if their cumulative LLM GPA is 3. 50 or above for both the Fall and Spring semesters. Past applicants have tended to be in the top 10% of their LLM class, with an average cumulative GPA of 3 67.
What is the acceptance rate for Boston University graduate school?
Acceptance Rate for Graduate Programs at Boston University The acceptance rate for graduate programs at Boston University is 41. 5% for the academic year 2021.
What LSAT score do you need to get into Boston University?
Fully 75% of the class had an LSAT score at or above 165, and a GPA at or above 3 53, so if your numbers fall within that range, your chances of admission are unquestionably much higher.