MASTER OF LAWS (LL.M.) DEGREE FOR FOREIGN-TRAINED LAWYERS
In 1973, a student from Brussels, Belgium, became the first foreign-trained lawyer to earn a Master of Laws, or LL.M., degree at the University of Georgia School of Law. In the ensuing decades, the law school and its Dean Rusk International Law Center have produced more than 580 LL.M. graduates, with ties to 75 countries and every continent in the world.
Our LL.M. graduates include judges and law firm partners, leaders in governments and in intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, CEOs and heads of corporate legal departments, and university professors and administrators. They form a valued part of a vast network of more than 11,000 University of Georgia School of Law alumni and alumnae.Wewelcomeyoutojointhis tradition of global practice preparation.
SUPERB EDUCATION AT A TOP U.S. LAW SCHOOL
As a member of a select class of LL.M. students at one of the United States’ top law schools, you’ll complete a ten-month, fulltime plan of courses. Studying side by side with J.D. candidates, you’ll benefit from research facilities like our Alexander Campbell King Law Library and Louis B. Sohn Library on International Relations; experiential learning opportunities; world-class lectures and conferences; and our renowned faculty.
Our faculty include officers of groups like the American Societyof International Law, winners of awards like the American Law Institute Young Scholars Medal, and former U.S. Supreme Court clerks. Some give expert testimony before Congress, while others advise institutions like the International Criminal Court. Books authored by University of Georgia law professors examine issues ranging from the selection of the U.S. Supreme Court to the use of rap lyricsasevidenceincriminaltrials.
PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Our Career Development Office and the staff of the Dean Rusk InternationalLaw Center stand ready to help you explore your career options and goals through individual counseling, résumé and interviewing sessions, and professional development trips. Eligible students also may apply for Optional Practical Training to gain work authorization in the U.S. for up to 12 months after receiving their degree.
The UGA School of Law is one of 33 U.S. law schools taking part in the International Student Interview Program. At ISIP, LL.M. students have the opportunity to be considered for positions with more than 130 legal employers from the United States and abroad.
STUDENT LIFE IN A VIBRANT LOCALE
The main campus of the University of Georgia is in Athens, a popular college town. Known as the “Classic City,” Athens enjoys a mild climate, diverse population, and affordable cost of living.
The law school is conveniently located in two buildings on the university’s historic North Campus, close to downtown Athens, which features unique shops, restaurants, and live music.
About 70 miles from Athens is Georgia’s state capital: Atlanta, one of the United States’ premier hubs for culture and global commerce. Atlanta is home to nearly 5.9 million people, a burgeoning film industry, and many international law firms and Fortune 500 corporations.
KEY FACTS
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (UGA)
u state-chartered in 1785
u major research institution with 18 colleges/schools and the Delta Innovation Hub
u > 40,000 students
u > 760-acre Athens main campus
u #19- best public universities (US News 2026)
u NCAA Division I/Southeastern Conference
u College football national champions (2021 and 2022)
SCHOOL OF LAW
u founded 1859
u 600 law students
u #11 - public law schools (US News 2021/22)
u #22 - international law curriculum (US News 2025)
u #22 - best law schools (US News 2025)
u Dean Rusk International Law Center
u #1 - best return on investment for legal education (The National Jurist 2023/24)
u #1- Georgia Bar Exam passage rate for J.D. exam takers 12 straight years
ATHENS
u incorporated 1806
u Top 5 Best College Towns & Best Food Cities (Southern Living 2024)
u > 126,000 residents
u 70 miles from Atlanta
GEORGIA
u > 10.7 million residents
u Key industries include Arts, Commerce, Film, Music, and Tourism
u World’s busiest airport: ATL (2-hr flights to Washington, DC, New York, Chicago, Miami)
u 34 Fortune 1000 HQs, including CocaCola, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines
u 12th largest exporting state in the U.S.
u > 70 full/honorary consulates/trade offices
u 31 binational chambers of commerce
u 1 international arbitration center
FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM
The LL.M. degree is conferred upon successful completion of 26 credit hours, typically over one academic year. All LL.M. students are required to take two courses: Legal System of the United States and Legal Writing and Research, for a total of 5 credit hours.
Aided by an academic advisor, LL.M. students choose courses from the law school's extensive course offerings. Most law school courses are open to LL.M. students. You may choose a program of study based on your professional goals or area of interest and the availability of courses.
DUAL LL.M./MBA DEGREE
Students may seek to earn, on an expedited, 2-year basis, both the Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Georgia Law and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Terry College of Business, another highly regarded University of Georgia unit.
TRANSFER TO J.D. STUDIES
LL.M. students who demonstrate a high level of achievement may apply to transfer, upon graduation, to studies leading to a University of Georgia School of Law J.D. degree.
APPLYING FOR LL.M. STUDY AT GEORGIA LAW
Foreign-trained lawyers who demonstrate English proficiency may qualify for admission to study for a Georgia Law LL.M. degree. Our application is available at the website of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), http://www.lsac.org/llm.
DEADLINES
u January 15
u March 1
u April 15
First Scholarship Priority Deadline
Second Scholarship Priority Deadline
Final Deadline
CONTACT
We welcome you to e-mail us at LLM@uga.edu, phone us at +1 (706) 542-5211, or visit us at the Dean Rusk International Law Center, University of Georgia SchoolofLaw,225HertyDrive,Athens,Georgia.
Can’tmakeithere?Takeanonlinevirtualtourathttp:// georgialaw.university-tour.com/.
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