Online LLM in U.S. Law Required Courses and Electives

In order to graduate from the Online LLM in U.S. Law program, students must complete at least 26 credit hours, comprised of the core curriculum and electives.

There are 3 required courses for the Online LLM in U.S. Law. Courses included in the required core curriculum which are considered to be essential to the Scalia Law experience. The courses introduce students to the U.S. legal system, which varies significantly from many jurisdictions; teach the fundamentals of research, writing and analysis of U.S. laws and opinions and how to craft arguments; educate students on understanding the economic implications of U.S. law and opinions; and instruct students on the ethical and professional obligations of lawyers in the U.S.

In addition to the 3 required courses, there are 13 elective options available to students. Courses included in the list of electives represent fundamental tenets of United States Law and reflect the type of introductory substantive and theoretical material that U.S. attorneys are expected to possess. These courses also match-up with courses that provide eligibility for sitting for a bar examination in the United States.

The chart below shows the courses in the Online LLM in U.S. Law that are required to qualify for the Bar exams in Washington, California, and Washington, D.C.:

Required Courses (6 credit hours)

Students must complete ALL of the following required courses in order to earn their LLM degree; however, every required course may not be part of the qualification requirements for each state’s Bar exam. The courses required to qualify for each state’s Bar exam are marked below.

Washington1 California2 Washington, D.C.3
Introduction to United States Law (2 credits)
Economics for Lawyers (2 credits)
Professional Responsibility (2 credits) X X X

Elective Courses (20 credit hours)

Students must complete at least 20 credit hours’ worth of the courses below in order to graduate from the LLM program. The courses required to qualify for each state’s Bar exam are marked below. In the case of Washington, D.C., students will need to take an excess of 20 credit hours of electives in order to qualify for that district’s Bar exam.

Washington1 California2 Washington, D.C.3
Business Associations (2 credits) X X
Civil Procedure (3 credits) X X X
Conflict of Laws (3 credits) X
Constitutional Law (3 credits) X X X
Contracts I (3 credits) X X
Criminal Law (3 credits) X X
Evidence (2 credits) X X
Income Tax (3 credits)
Introduction to Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis (2 credits) X
Property (2 credits) X X
Secured Finance (3 credits) X
Torts (2 credits) X X
Trusts and Estates (2 credits) X X
  1. Washington bar requirements: Students interested in qualifying for the Washington bar examination should familiarize themselves with the Washington requirements.
  2. California bar requirements: Students interested in qualifying for the California bar examination should familiarize themselves with the California requirements. Professional Responsibility must be one of those four courses.
  3. Washington, D.C. bar requirements: Students interested in qualifying for the Washington, D.C. bar examination should familiarize themselves with the Washington, D.C. requirements.

Learn More About the Online LLM in U.S. Law

Complete the form below to get more information on the Online LLM in U.S. Law and connect with a member of our admissions team.

Simple No-Fee Initial Application Process

1. Submit your Initial Application

To start your application, you only need to submit the simple no-fee Initial Application along with an updated resume.

2. Schedule an Admissions Interview

The admissions office will contact you via email if you are selected for an informal, remote interview with the Director of the LLM program. If you have completed your initial application but have not heard back about scheduling an interview, please feel free to reach out via email to llminfo@gmu.edu.

3a. Submit your Official Application

To apply, visit llm.LSAC.org and once you create an account/log in, add GMU to your LSAC profile. Next, fill out the GMU ONLINE LLM Application including:

  1. Required Transcript: Request and submit your official undergraduate transcript and official law school or equivalent transcript.
    • You may submit an unofficial transcript while you wait for officials to arrive. Once you receive them, the official transcript can be sent to llminfo@gmu.edu.
  2. Resume and Personal Statement: Submit your resume/CV and write a 500-word personal statement describing your personal and professional goals.
  3. Letter of Recommendation (as needed): Letter of recommendation addressing the applicant’s academic and professional potential may be required.
3b. Submit Proof of English Proficiency (as needed):

For applicants whose native language is not English, and do not possess a degree from a college or university whose primary language of instruction is English, a current TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score may be required. If submission of English proficiency is required, you will be told during your interview.

  • Institution code is 5827
  • Score Requirements:
    • TOEFL: Minimum of 90 in the iBT test
    • IELTS: Minimum of 6.5
    • Duolingo: Minimum of 110
4. Submit your Deposit and Enroll

If you are admitted to the Online LLM in U.S. Law program, you will receive an email with a link to submit your deposit.

Upon receiving your deposit, a member of the student support team will be in touch to provide you with recommendations for which classes to enroll in for your first term, as well as to answer any questions you may have regarding enrolling in classes.