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University of Southern California Gould School of Law

MAILING ADDRESS
699 Exposition Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
MAIN PHONE
213-740-7331
WEBSITE
http://weblaw.usc.edu/
ADMISSIONS EMAIL:
admissions@law.usc.edu
REGISTRAR'S PHONE/FAX/EMAIL:
213-740-6314/000-000-0000/
registrar@law.usc.edu
CAREER SERVICE PHONE/FAX/EMAIL:
213-740-6314/000-000-0000/
careers@law.usc.edu

An Overview


The University of Southern California Gould School of Law cultivates analytical ability, ethical values, and a spirit of collegiality that prepare the students for meaningful careers benefiting society. This Law school enriches human knowledge and the principles of justice through superior scholarship.

With more than 100 years of renowned legal education, USC Law is an institution that continues to make history, through its philosophy of innovation, and through its people. By the students, for the students, that's the founding premise and guiding principle behind USC Law.

At the end of the 19th century, when there was no formal law school in Southern California, aspiring lawyers prepared by "reading law" at local firms. Then, in 1896, a band of ambitious apprentices brought organized legal education to Los Angeles. Their goal: Create "a school of permanent character," and educate lawyers of exceptional quality. Today's USC Law reflects a distinguished past built on the principles of equity and excellence, and the courage to break new ground.

Degrees Offered
  • LL.M. Certificate in Business Law
  • LL.M. Certificate in Entertainment Law

Admission Information


Requirements Details
Eligibility To qualify for admission to the LL.M. program at USC Gould School of Law, applicants must have earned their first law degree (LL.B. or the equivalent) outside of the United States. Admission is highly selective and those admitted will have excellent law school records, strong letters of recommendation, proficiency in English and leadership potential. Although not required, some work or research experience following completion of the first law degree is preferred. This program does not require the LSAT exam; however, it requires the TOEFL or IELTS exam.

Students who are completing their first law degree may apply for admission. Provided that they must have completed their degree prior to the start of their LL.M studies. One must submit academic records of all law coursework completed at the time they apply. If admitted, then they will be required to submit final transcripts showing all the degrees that were awarded before beginning of the fall semester.
Transcripts Applicants must submit their official transcripts through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. This service is an easy and convenient means of submitting transcripts to a number of different institutions. LSAC, in cooperation with AACRAO (the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers), provides law schools with verification, authentication, and evaluation of transcripts and allows USC Law to efficiently process the application. LSAC recommends applicants register for the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service four to six weeks before their first application deadline.

Transcripts must show all courses and subjects taken and all grades (marks) received along with a description of the school's grading system. All transcripts and degree certificates/diplomas must be written in the original language of instruction.
Letters of Recommendation Letters of recommendation must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. One should ask two people, one law professor and one employer OR two law professors, to write a letter of recommendation in English in their favor on their letterhead. Recommendation letters must be submitted directly through LSAC's LOR Service and may not be mailed to USC Gould School of Law. USC Gould School of Law does not require a specific Letter of Recommendation Form.
Personal Statement Personal Statements must be submitted with LSAC online application. The personal statement should include personal, academic and professional background and the reasons for seeking an advanced degree. Limit to no more than three pages.
Proof of Competency in English USC Gould School of Law requires that applicants who are not native English speakers, or who do not hold a law degree from an institution at which English is the primary language of instruction, submit a TOEFL score. Applicants should submit their TOEFL scores through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS). LSAC's institutional code is 8395. USC's TOEFL institutional code is 4852 and the department code is 03. Test scores are valid for two years from the date taken. USC law school recommends a TOEFL score of 100 on the internet-based test or 250 on computer-based test.

Applicants who would like to submit an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score in place of a TOEFL score should include the score on all application. Please request that the scores are sent to LSAC before or at the time of the exam so that USC will receive the official test report form (TRF) of IELTS score. A score of 7 on the IELTS is recommended.

TOEFL waiver requests will only be considered if the native language is English or if they possess an undergraduate law degree from an institution in which English is the primary language of instruction. TOEFL waiver requests from international students who have earned an LL.M. or another graduate degree in the U.S. will be subject to approval.
Application Fee $75
Law School Admission Test N/A
Curriculum Vitae Resumes must be submitted with the LSAC online application. The educational and professional background should be listed, in addition to any scholarships, awards or honors received.

Other Information


Criteria Details
Nature and Tenure of Courses Offered One Academic Year
Application Procedure/Time to apply/Application deadline Applications for the 2013-14 academic years are no longer being accepted. The application for the 2014-15 academic years will be available by September 1, 2013, with a deadline of February 1, 2014.
LL.M. Degree Requirements To earn an LL.M. degree, students are required to attend all classes in person at USC and must successfully complete 21 units of credit over two semesters of study. The LL.M. program is offered on a full-time basis only and is not offered part-time. Enrollment begins in the fall only. Students may not begin in the spring term.

LL.M. students are required to take two courses ( Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Research ) in their first semester. Students satisfy their remaining course requirements over the two semesters by enrolling in upper division courses offered at USC Gould School of Law.
To earn an LL.M. degree in the Specialized Programs, students are required to get:

Course Requirement
LL.M. Certificate in Business Law LL.M. students must take a total of at least 14 units of the mandatory and elective Business Law courses
LL.M. Certificate in Entertainment Law LL.M. students must take a total of at least 14 units of the mandatory and elective Entertainment Law courses

Details of Courses Offered


LL.M. students may elect to specialize in Business Law or Entertainment Law by earning a certificate in either field. All LL.M. students are eligible for USC Law certificate programs, which must be earned during their LL.M. studies. Students may tailor their courses based on the certificate requirements listed below. Graduates who have earned both an LL.M. degree and a certificate in Business Law or Entertainment Law are able to market their specialized degree to employers in these fields. USC Law certificates provide graduates with the knowledge and skills to be top-notch business or entertainment lawyers.

Students may elect to pursue a certificate during the fall registration period, which takes place during the summer before fall classes begin. Prior to registration, students will receive additional information from the office about certificate requirements and how to enroll in any certificate programs. There are no additional fees for enrolling in a certificate program, as the law courses that are taken for the certificate will also count toward the 21 units required for the LL.M. degree.

Financial Aid


USC Gould School of Law Scholarships: The USC Gould School of Law Graduate & International Programs office offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships each year. These scholarships are awarded to applicants who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. Very qualified applicants should submit a brief letter requesting scholarship consideration through LSAC when applying to the LL.M. program. Please contact gipadmissions@law.usc.edu for any scholarship questions.

Scholarship Opportunities for International Students: In addition to the scholarships provided by USC Gould School of Law, applicants are encouraged to seek financial aid funds from additional sources in their home countries.

Student Fellows: USC Gould School of Law offers LL.M. and M.C.L. students an opportunity to apply for Student Fellow positions with the Center for Law, History & Culture and within the LL.M. Legal Writing program.

Grants, Other Scholarships and Financing Programs: One may also apply for certain private financing programs. But, before considering a private student loan program, students should exhaust all Federal Title IV assistance available, including Federal Pell Grants, the Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Graduate PLUS Loan and the Federal Parent PLUS Loan.

Student Loans: Federal student loans are available to LL.M. and M.C.L. students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Loans are money that must be repaid with interest, and may involve extra fees. USC Law participates in several federal low-interest loan programs for students. Some of these loans are need-based, while others are not. For details, see the description for each program.

Federal Stafford Loan: Eligible graduate/professional students can borrow up to $20,500 per year in low-interest loans offered by the federal government through the Department of Education. Direct Stafford Loans have a fixed interest rate of 6.8% and repayment begins six months after graduation, or after enrollment drops to less than half-time. This is an unsubsidized loan, meaning interest will begin to accrue upon disbursement and is the borrower's responsibility.

Federal Graduate PLUS Loan: One option for financing remaining costs is the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan. This loan enables law students to borrow up to the cost of attendance, less any other financial aid received. The interest rate is a fixed rate of 7.9% and approval of this loan does require a credit check to be completed. This is an unsubsidized loan, meaning interest will begin to accrue upon disbursement and is the borrower's responsibility. Payments of principal and interest can be deferred while the borrower is enrolled in school at least half-time. Repayment begins six months after graduation, or after enrollment drops to less than half-time.

Private Educational Loans: Another option for non-eligible students who need to finance their costs is private educational loans offered by lenders. Private loans can cover up to the cost of attendance, less any other financial aid received. One major difference is that they have a variable interest rate which is determined by the lender upon review of the student's credit history. Most lenders require a co-signer who is a U.S. Citizen.

Cost of Attendance

2013-14 LLM Programs:

Tuition $50,638
Fees $852

Career Development/Services Offered


The G&IP Office is available to assist LL.M. and M.C.L. students in developing their individual job search strategies. USC Law School offers counseling and special workshops covering resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and networking skills. Students participate in the International Students Interview Program (ISIP) held in New York each winter where foreign-trained LL.M. students from top law schools are given the opportunity to interview with prospective employers from the United States and abroad. Some even participate in the West Coast LL.M. Job Fair held in Los Angeles during the spring semester. Students are granted access to Symplicity an online resource for jobs and internship opportunities around the United States. It is important to note that these students do not participate in the J.D. On-Campus Interview (OCI) program.

Many LL.M. and M.C.L. students choose to expand their experiences in the United States after completing their programs by looking for short-term "practical training" in law firms. The market for foreign-trained attorneys in the United States is very limited, and only a very small percentage of LL.M. and M.C.L. graduates from all United States law schools find work here. Those that do have typically earned excellent grades in their LL.M. and M.C.L. studies and have also passed a U.S. bar exam. Prospective students should be very clear about employment options before beginning graduate law studies.