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Testimonial

“John Marshall’s externship program offers quality field placements that develop professional and practical skills while ensuring  successful and meaningful on-the-job performance.” Paul Nam, Graduate (’12)

Testimonial

“I wanted to go to an ABA-accredited school that has a strong bar passage rate. John Marshall Law School in Atlanta was the best fit for me.” Aslean Zachary, 3L

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“Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School has a 13:1 faculty-to-student ratio and the professors have open-door policies that foster mentorship.” Alex McArthur, Graduate (’12)

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“I wanted a law school that looked at the whole person. The caring atmosphere and specialized attention of the faculty have given me an excellent education to positively impact the community.” Chad Alexis, Graduate (’12)

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“I wanted to complete my education at a school that catered to me. I wanted to experience a world-class city full of energy. Atlanta and John Marshall – truly the best of both worlds.” Amber O’Conner, Graduate (’12)

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FAQ

Is the LL.M. in American Legal Studies program approved by the American Bar Association?

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School is accredited by the ABA. The ABA does not accredit LL.M. programs in the way that it accredits law schools. Rather, ABA accredited law schools apply to the ABA for acquiescence to offer LL.M. degrees. The ABA has acquiesced in the resident LL.M. in American Legal Studies.

How do I apply to the LL.M. Program? What is the admissions deadline?

Complete instructions regarding how to apply, required documentation and admissions criteria are available at the How to Apply page.  There is no admissions deadline for the LL.M. program. Applications  are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

What qualifications must I have to apply to the LL.M. program?

Candidates for the resident LL.M. in American Legal Studies program must meet the following criteria: possess the Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the foreign-educated lawyer’s home country; possess a degree equivalent to the J.D. degree whether at undergraduate or graduate level, in the lawyer’s home country; and be admitted to the practice of law by the relevant authorities in the lawyer’s home country.

What is the duration of the LL.M. program? When does the program begin?

The resident LL.M. in American Legal Studies degree is earned upon satisfactory completion of 32 credit hours earned over two semesters. Students  begin the LL.M. in American Legal Studies program at the beginning of the academic year in August. There is no mid-year admission. You can view the Academic Calendar here.

What is the cost of the program?

Tuition for the 2012-13 Academic year is $1,174 per credit hour. The resident LL.M. in American Legal Studies degree consists of a minimum of 32 credit hours.

What career planning support is offered to LL.M. students?                                                

LL.M. students have access to the same resources, relationships and support as J.D. students. John Marshall’s Career Development Office is committed to providing services and resources to help our students and alumni achieve their career goals. Please see the Career Development page for information on resources and career guidance.

Do LL.M. students attend classes with J.D. students?

Yes, students in the resident LL.M. in American Legal Studies LL.M. take all of their courses with the J.D. students, allowing for immersion in the American law school experience.

Is the “Introduction to U.S. Legal System and Legal Method” seminar mandatory?

Yes, the seminar serves as your orientation to the program, the law school and U.S. legal education.

NOTE: In 2012, students will attend this seminar during the fall semester. Beginning in 2013, the seminar will be held in August, before classes begin.

Are there any elective courses in the LL.M. program?

Yes, LL.M. students may take five or six hours of elective coursework.

Are foreign graduates of the residential American Legal Studies LL.M. program eligible to take a bar examination in the United States?

As of 2012, graduates of foreign law schools who obtain an LL.M. degree from an ABA-approved law school may be qualified to sit for the state bar examination in New York, California, Alabama, New Hampshire, and the jurisdiction of Palau.  Various additional states have indicated some willingness to consider internationally trained lawyers holding an LL.M. degree from an ABA-approved school.  AJMLS has designed its LL.M. program with the standards of the New York and California Bar Examiners in mind, in an effort to optimize the qualifications of our LL.M. graduates should they decide to seek admission by examination to these jurisdictions.

Each state’s bar admission authority exercises the discretion to decide on a case-by-case basis whether or not any individual international LL.M. graduate will be permitted to sit for that state’s bar examination.  In exercising that power, state bar admission authorities consider a variety of other factors in addition to the LL.M. degree, such as the equivalency of the foreign legal-education to the jurisdiction’s educational requirements; the applicant’s bar-admission in the home jurisdiction; and the amount of law practice experience the applicant has had in the home jurisdiction.

Before matriculating into any U.S.-based LL.M. program, AJMLS strongly encourages international LL.M. students who have graduated from any foreign law school and are interested in taking a US bar examination to consult the bar admission authorities of each state where they wish to take the bar examination to see if they will be eligible to do so.  For more information about state bar examinations and for state bar contact information, please visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners and American Bar Association.

Please contact our LL.M. administrative office at 404-872-3593, ext. 131 if we can be of more help in answering your questions. You can also reach LL.M. Director Lisa Kaplan by e-mail at lkaplan@johnmarshall.edu.