LL.M. Admissions

Thank you for taking the first step to join UW Law’s community. We look forward to getting to know you and helping you through the process.

Admissions Overview

Admission is competitive, both your ability and motivation are important factors. We also strive for geographic and cultural balance within the class. U.S. and international applicants worldwide are welcome.

The central criterion for admission will be your potential for successful completion of, and contribution to, the program. Important factors to be considered are your overall academic record (particularly in law school), relevant experience and demonstrated interest in your program of choice.

Eligibility

Applications for autumn 2024 admissions will open on September 1, 2023.

Degree Requirement

All applicants must have a legal education that meets one of the following conditions:

Applicants who received their legal education in the United States must have a J.D. from a school accredited by the American Bar Association.

Applicants who received their legal education outside of the United States must have a first degree in law (LLB, BLaw) or credentials to demonstrate equivalent qualification through work experience and their professions.

For example, those who have passed a bar exam and are practicing lawyers in their own country are usually deemed to have LLB equivalence for the purposes of admission to this program.

Work Experience

We generally prefer LL.M. applicants to have had some professional work experience.

Language Ability

Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. The ways in which proficiency can be demonstrated are outlined in UW Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements.

Application Instructions

To review the University-wide admissions policies that apply to all graduate programs, visit our Graduate School’s guide to understanding the application process.

1. There are two ways to apply; either through UW's MyGrad application portal or LSAC. Applicants may apply through either one, but not both.

Option 1: MyGrad Application

Fill out an online application, designate recommenders, pay the application fee and upload the required materials.

An application through the UW portal costs $85. Only one application fee is required, so do not pay fees to UW and to LSAC.

Or,

Option 2: LSAC Application

LSAC applicants pay the application fee through LSAC, which is the final step of application submission. LSAC applicants should not submit any documents or fee payments through MyGrad.

Log in to your account to start your application. Please choose the international application if you anticipate needing an F1 or J1 visa (for any LL.M. program), and choose one of the domestic applications based on your program of choice if you do not need a visa:

• International L1: all seven LL.M. Programs
• Domestic L2: Asian & Comparative, Global Business, General, Sustainable Int. Development
• Domestic L3: Health, Intellectual Property, Tax

2. A complete application will include the following materials:

• Resumelisting educational qualifications, work experience, date of admission to legal practice (if applicable) and any other professional affiliations relevant to the application.
• Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages) describing your background, primary area of interests, practical or academic experience in the area, career goals and the educational objectives which you expect to meet through the program.
• Transcripts and Degree Statement from all colleges and universities attended. Please also upload transcripts for in-progress degrees and any degrees that you did not complete.
• Two (required) or three (maximum) recent letters of recommendation from professors, supervisors or others who know you and your legal/professional background and can evaluate your capacity for graduate study in the U.S. Applications submitted through UW MyGrad cannot be processed for review until at least two recommenders are designated.

Applicants whose native language is not English

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit English Language Proficiency scores or documentation that satisfies the English test score exemption policy. Please self-report your scores in the application and electronically submit your test scores to the UW using the following instructions. Offers of admission cannot be made until the UW receives the official scores electronically:

• Have ETS send your official TOEFL score electronically using Institution Code #4854.
• Have Duolingo electronically report your score to the UW.
• Have IELTS electronically report your score to the UW via the IELTS system (E-TRF), using the University of Washington’s organization ID 365.

For the full details of the English proficiency requirement, please see the UW Graduate School’s ELPR policy.

Minimum scores: TOEFL 80, Duolingo 105, IELTS 6.5.
Scores required to clear AEP requirement: TOEFL 92, Duolingo 120, IELTS 7.0.

3. Interview

You may be required to participate in an interview in person, via Zoom, or by phone after submitting your application.

Application Deadlines

International Applicants

International applicants must submit a full application no later than February 15 of the year in which they plan to commence study at the University of Washington. As the processing of international applications requires extra time, we appreciate early submission of application materials.

The February 15 deadline is for those students who need to obtain a visa. Applicants who reside in the U.S. or are concurrent J.D./LL.M. students at UW can use the deadlines for U.S.-based applicants.

Due to delays many applicants are experiencing from current global health threats, we will extend our application deadline for anyone affected by them. To request an extension, send an email to Gradlaw@uw.edu with a brief statement of your situation.

U.S.-based applicants

Applicants for Asian & Comparative Law, Global Business Law, General Law and Sustainable International Development Law must submit a full application no later than May 1 of the year in which they plan to commence study at the UW.

Applicants for Health Law, Intellectual Property Law and Taxation must submit a full application no later than July 1 of the year in which they plan to commence study at the UW.

We recommend U.S.-based applicants submit a full application by February 15 for consideration at the same time as international applicants, so as to maximize their chances of admission. Domestic students may also begin Winter or Spring quarter, but may be limited in their choice of classes, as many prerequisites are only offered during Autumn quarter.