Download App | FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
 Upload Your Resume   Employers / Post Jobs 
  1. Home
United States
We Believe in You. Let's Find Your Next Job.

Advanced Search

Browse Legal Jobs | By State | By City | Government | Law Firm | In-House | Public Interest
Employers & Reviews | Upload Resume | Search Articles

University of San Diego School of Law

MAILING ADDRESS
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92 110-2492
MAIN PHONE
619-260-4600
WEBSITE
http://www.sandiego.edu/law/
ADMISSIONS EMAIL:
llminfo@sandiego.edu
REGISTRAR'S PHONE/FAX/EMAIL:
619-260-4526/619-260-5961/
lawreg@sandiego.edu
CAREER SERVICE PHONE/FAX/EMAIL:
619-260-4529/619-260-6828/
lawcareers@sandiego.edu

An Overview


These are challenging times for students considering law school. Many are questioning the value of a law degree, especially given the high costs of tuition and the uncertain employment prospects facing law school graduates. Despite these challenges and questions, it's the University of San Diego dean's firm belief that a legal education is a valuable investment that will serve students well throughout their life. At the University of San Diego School of Law, students receive with an excellent legal education, one that combines academic rigor with hands-on, practical experience, that will prepare them for success.

USD School of Law's faculty, who rank among the nation's top law school faculties in their scholarly achievements, are also committed teachers and mentors. USD's newest faculty appointments include:
  • Noted tax specialists Professor Miranda Fleischer and Professor Victor Fleischer, who will be joining our faculty in August 2013.
  • Professor Howard Abrams, another tax specialist, who will join their faculty as Warren Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of Tax Programs in August 2014, after spending a year as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School.
  • Horacio Spector, formerly provost and dean of the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella law school in Buenos Aires, who will be joining their faculty in spring 2014 to teach courses in the areas of Latin American and international law and jurisprudence, legal theory and law and economics.
  • Professor Sharmila (Mila) Sohoni, teaching civil procedure and a seminar on the legislative process.
  • Professor Dov Fox, offering seminars on bioethics and health law issues

Visiting faculty for 2013-14 include Jody Freeman, Archibald Cox Professor of Law at Harvard University who will return to USD in spring 2013 as the Stanley Legro Professor in Environmental Law. Among their new course offerings next year will be an advanced constitutional law course, Sexual Orientation and the Law, taught by Professor Miranda McGowan, an advanced torts class on Product Liability taught by Adjunct Professor Vickie Turner, and an Estate Planning Seminar, taught by Visiting Professor Adam Hirsch. Their students can also take cross-listed courses, including new courses in International Human Rights, taught by Professor Dustin Sharp of the School of Peace Studies, and Sexual Equality, co-taught by Professor Lori Watson of the Philosophy Department and Professor Catharine A. MacKinnon, Elizabeth A. Long - Professor of Law at the University of Michigan.

Degrees Offered
Four specialized concentrations provide the opportunity for a student to complete specified courses and obtain a certificate of specialization.
  • LL.M. in Taxation
  • LL.M. in Comparative Law
  • General LL.M. with Concentration
  • LL.M. in International Law
  • LL.M. in Business and Corporate Law

Admission Information


Requirements Details
Eligibility International applicants to their LL.M. programs must have equal to a U.S. law degree from an accredited institution outside the United States.

Admission to their LL.M. programs is competitive and is primarily based upon previous excellence in law studies and significant professional experience.
Transcripts International applicants must submit an official English translation or evaluation of an official transcript from each law school attended.

Transcripts should be sent directly from the law school, or may be submitted in a sealed envelope along with other application materials from the applicant.

For applicants from countries in which a university will only release official transcripts to the student, the applicant may submit a photocopy if a notary or other official third-party certifies that the photocopy is a true and correct copy of the original document.
Letters of Recommendation
  • Applicants need to submit at least one signed, original letter of recommendation, but may give more if desired
  • Letter(s) should be from a law professor, attorney, or other legal professional who is familiar with the applicant's work
  • Letter(s) could be sent directly to Graduate and International Programs by the recommender, or may be submitted in a sealed envelope along with other application materials from the applicant
Personal Statement A brief personal statement should be submitted (2-4 pages) which addresses:
  • the nature and extent of their legal background,
  • other related professional experience,
  • why they will be a successful candidate for this degree,
  • how they plan to make use of their graduate degree, and
  • any additional information they deem important.
Proof of Competency in English Official TOEFL or IELTS English Language Exam Score
  • An applicant needs to submit an official TOEFL or IELTS score if: [1] the applicant's native language is not English, or [2] the applicant graduated from an international law school.
  • Minimum required TOEFL score:
  • 98 points on internet-based TOEFL
  • 600 points on paper-based TOEFL
  • Minimum required IELTS score:
  • 7.5 points on academic IELTS
  • Applicants must request that the test administrator submit the applicant's official TOEFL/IELTS score directly to USD's office (TOEFL institutional code 4849, department code 03)
  • Institutional TOEFL/IELTS scores are not accepted
Application Fee $50
Law School Admission Test N/A
Curriculum Vitae a current resume or curriculum vitae should be submitted

Other Information


Criteria Details
Nature and Tenure of Courses Offered One Academic Year
Application Procedure/Time to apply/Application deadline Fall Admission: File complete by June 1
Spring Admission: File complete by November 1
LL.M. Degree Requirements U.S. applicants to USD's LL.M. programs must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.

Admission to their LL.M. programs is competitive and is based primarily upon previous excellence in law studies Admitted applicants have excellent academic credentials and may also have significant professional experience Almost all of USD's admitted U.S. applicants are in the top half of their class at a nationally ranked law school. Applicants currently enrolled in U.S. law schools may apply for admission after completing two years of law school at an ABA-accredited institution.

Full-Time or Part-Time Student Status
An applicant may apply to be either a full-time (9 or more credits) or a part-time student (8 or fewer credits) The choice to apply as a full-time or part-time candidate is not a factor used in the admissions process Some evening courses are available in most programs, but the part-time option is not exclusively an evening program All students (full-time or part-time) are responsible for completing all degree requirements within the time limit specific to each degree.

May I apply as a transfer student?
With advance approval and depending on the degree program, students currently enrolled in an LL.M. program at another school may apply as transfer students Up to 3 credits of non-USD law school work may be applied toward the LL.M. in Comparative Law, provided the candidate received a grade of at least C. Up to 6 credits of non-USD law school work may be applied toward the LL.M. in Business and Corporate Law, LL.M. in International Law, LL.M. in Taxation or General LL.M., provided the candidate received a grade of at least B. Transfer grades do not count toward the degree candidate's USD School of Law grade point average. Any approved credits earned elsewhere will be transferred to USD as pass/fail credits.

Can the applicant apply as a visiting student?

Applicants enrolled in an LL.M. program at another ABA-accredited law school may apply for admission as a visiting student.

Applicants who wish to enroll as a visiting LL.M. student must submit, as part of their application materials, a letter from the applicant's current law school dean, dated after issuance of the required transcript, indicating that the applicant is in good academic standing and has approval to study at the School of Law as a visiting student.

Visiting students are permitted to enroll for courses, but are not considered degree candidates at the School of Law.

Credits earned by visiting students may be applied toward the degree requirements at their home school, per the approval of such institution.
To earn an LL.M. degree in the Specialized Programs, students are required to get:

Course Requirement
LL.M. in Comparative Law A candidate for this LL.M. degree must successfully complete 25 credit hours of appropriate coursework. Required courses comprise 4 of the 25 credits:

Introduction to U.S. Law (2 credits): This course provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. legal system and comparatively introduces approaches to law, lawyering, and legal processes.

Legal Writing and Research for LL.M. in Comparative Law Candidates (2 credits): Students learn the research and writing techniques used by practicing U.S. attorneys, including training on both the Lexis and Westlaw electronic legal research systems.

Two of the 25 credits must fulfill a written work requirement, which may be satisfied through successful completion of a designated written work course.

Remaining credits may be chosen from USD's extensive upper-division elective offerings.
LL.M. in Taxation Tax I will count toward the 24-credit LL.M. in Taxation degree requirement.
LL.M. in International Law Full-time (9 or more credits) and part-time (8 or fewer credits) options are available.
LL.M. in Business and Corporate Law A candidate for this LL.M. degree must successfully complete 24 credit hours of appropriate coursework.

Required course: Corporations

4 of the 24 credits must fulfill a written work requirement, which may be satisfied by a thesis or a minimum of two research papers in the area of business & corporate law.

15 of the 24 credits must come from approved elective courses in the area of business and corporate law.

Remaining credits may be chosen from any of USD's other course offerings.
General LL.M. with Concentration A candidate for this LL.M. degree must successfully complete 24 credit hours of appropriate coursework.

10 of the 24 credits must be from courses in the area of concentration.

4 of the 24 credits must fulfill a written work requirement, and at least 2 of these credits must be in the area of concentration. Remaining credits may be chosen from our elective offerings.

Details of Courses Offered


For 30 years, the LL.M. in Comparative Law has provided international law school graduates with the opportunity to design a program that specifically suits their academic interests and professional goals. The program offers candidates maximum flexibility in selecting courses from a contemporary and dynamic curriculum, and is ideal for attorneys, judges, professors, and other graduates of international law schools.

Courses for this program can be selected from many subject areas; including Business and Corporate Law, Criminal Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Law, Public Law and Tax Law.

Combining fundamental courses in U.S. Law with the opportunity to select from a broad variety of electives allows candidates to develop a highly personalized LL.M. program.

Studying alongside J.D. and LL.M. students from the U.S. and around the world prepares LL.M. candidates to deal effectively with U.S. attorneys on questions of common interest, and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the law and policy in a wide array of subjects.

LLM in Taxation and Diploma in Taxation

For more than 30 years, the Graduate Tax Program at the University Of San Diego School Of Law has produced skilled leaders in the field of tax law. The LLM in Taxation and Diploma in Taxation programs offer candidates the necessary theoretical and practical framework that employers need. Through intensive study, students develop a broad skill set in traditional tax lawyering skills. In addition, students gain a deep understanding of the policies forming the basis of our tax laws and Internal Revenue Service pronouncements and are able to analyze the various proposals for tax reform and their correlation with current tax laws.

The LL.M. in Taxation and Diploma in Taxation prepare attorneys for the private practice of tax law, for in-house counsel positions, for positions in the tax departments of businesses or allied professions, as well as for academia.

Candidates are provided with a strong fundamental basis in tax law, but also have the flexibility to select advanced tax electives from the core curriculum to create a course of study that focuses on their particular areas of interest.

The strong core of distinguished faculty comprises a diverse range of scholars and practitioners, all of whom are leaders in their areas of teaching and practice and have a remarkable commitment to the academic and professional development of their students.

More than 800 graduates are in practice in California, throughout the United States and around the world.

Alumni include current and former U.S. Tax Court clerks, members of the judiciary, partners and associates in a variety of firms, sole practitioners and government officials.

The LL.M. in International Law is a professional development degree that allows graduates of ABA-accredited law schools to further develop their knowledge and expertise in international law. With the growing global economy, studying international law in a dynamic, multi-cultural city that is home to the busiest land and port entry in the world is a unique opportunity for U.S. attorneys.

Candidates have significant flexibility to create a course of study that focuses on their particular areas of interest within the field of international law.

Available courses highlight practical as well as theoretical knowledge, and focus on a wide range of subjects that impact legal transactions in the U.S. and around the world

Candidates for this degree have the opportunity to study along with the attorneys, judges and government officials from around the world who are enrolled in USD's LL.M. in Comparative Law program.

Events sponsored by USD's Transborder Institute, Ahlers Center for International Business and Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice provide additional opportunities to enhance classroom learning.

Subject to prior approval, courses taken abroad through the university-sponsored study abroad programs may also be credited toward this degree.

The LL.M. in Business & Corporate Law is a professional development degree that was designed specifically for attorneys who need to expand an existing practice to include complex business transactions, as well as those who seek to change their practice from a law firm to an in-house position as corporate counsel.

Available courses highlight practical as well as theoretical knowledge, and focus on a wide range of subjects that impact business transactions in the U.S. and around the world.

Common subjects include taxation, labor and employment, corporate finance, intellectual property, and international transactions.

Creating an individualized combination of approved electives and other courses allows candidates to design a program that best suits their professional interests.

The General LLM with Concentration is a professional development degree which provides attorneys with additional education in selected areas of study. This degree is ideal for attorneys seeking in-depth training in an area of law in which they currently practice, as well as for those planning to develop a new area of practice.

Available concentrations include: Criminal Law, Environmental and Energy Law, Intellectual Property Law, or Labor and Employment Law.

Candidates work closely with the Associate Director to design a program of study that is to their greatest interest and benefit, as well as consistent with available School of Law resources.

Available courses may be selected from the upper-division School of Law curriculum and are taught by USD's distinguished full-time and adjunct faculty.

Not all concentrations are available each year; Graduate and International Programs can be reached for information about specific concentration availability.

Financial Aid


LL.M. Merit Scholarship
The University of San Diego School of Law awards Merit Scholarships to admitted LL.M. students based on the merits of the applicant's scholastic and professional experience, as demonstrated by the contents of the applicant's admission file.

Merit Scholarship awards are available to full-time U.S. and international applicants. Full-time applicants accepted to an LL.M. program at the School of Law are automatically considered for this partial tuition scholarship award at the time of admission.

Merit Scholarship awards are not renewable, and upon enrollment are applied against the applicant's tuition costs. No additional application is necessary to be considered for this scholarship.

LL.M. in Taxation Scholarships

In addition to available merit Scholarships, admitted LL.M. in Taxation students may be considered for the following scholarship and fellowship awards:
  • The Carr Ferguson Graduate Tax Research Fellowship
  • The Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves and Savitch Tax Scholarship
  • The Richard A. Shaw Scholarship

These awards are based on the merits of the applicant's scholastic and professional experience, as demonstrated by the contents of the applicant's admission file

Cost of Attendance

LL.M. Cost of Attendance-2013-2014

Tuition $1,460 per credit (24-25 credits)
Mandatory Fees $210 - $260
Health Insurance $1,590 (estimated; can be waived with proof of sufficient insurance)
TOTAL $36,840 - $38,350

Career Development/Services Offered


Career Services has developed a comprehensive series of career guides covering resume and cover letter preparation, networking, interviewing, salary negotiation, and many more topics listed below.

USD Law students and alumni have access to all Career Services guides via USD's password-protected Symplicity system. Enrolled law students or graduates can log onto Symplicity, click on Resources. If they are not registered in Symplicity, they can view the registration instructions.

References