LL.M. Program

FAQ

What LL.M. programs do you offer?
American Legal Studies LL.M. for foreign-trained lawyers (fall semester enrollment only).
International Law LL.M. (enrollment in both the spring and fall semester).
Family Law LL.M. (fall semester enrollment only).

What is the size of the current LL.M. programs? Approximately 20 students.

What are the application requirements? Completion of the Hofstra Law School LL.M. application, two letters of recommendation, $60 application fee, personal statement, official law school transcripts (foreign-educated applicants must send their official law school transcripts with certified translations, if the original is not English. Credential services such as World Educational Services, www.wes.org, offer certified translations) and the TOEFL, if your academic legal training was in a language other than English (see questions 10 and 11 for further details on the TOEFL).

Should I apply for the J.D. program or the LL.M. program? You may apply for both; however, if you already have a foreign law degree and would like to be eligible to take the New York State Bar exam, the LL.M. degree may be better suited for you. The J.D. program is designed to offer a comprehensive three-year course of study that will give you the opportunity to select one of several course concentrations. The American Legal Studies LL.M. program is for foreign-trained lawyers, and the Family Law and International Law programs are designed for domestic and foreign lawyers seeking a thorough study of family or international law. Admission to the J.D. program requires a qualifying score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Admission to the LL.M. program does not require an LSAT score.

I want to take the New York state bar exam after I complete the LL.M. program. What do I need to do? You must complete a "Request for Evaluation of Foreign Academic Credentials," which can be found on the New York State Board of Law Examiners Web site (www.nybarexam.org/eval_form.pdf). The Request and official transcripts must be filed as provided on the Web site in order to determine your eligibility to sit for the New York State Bar exam. We recommend you obtain this evaluation before you enroll in any LL.M. program.

May I start the LL.M. program immediately after finishing law school or should I work a period of time prior to enrolling in an LL.M. program? Students are eligible to begin an LL.M. program immediately after completing law school.

Can previous legal work experience be considered for credits toward the LL.M. degree? No. You must take 24 credit hours from the Hofstra University School of Law curriculum.

Do you grant application fee waivers? Yes, if you apply online through the Hofstra Law School Web site, www.Hofstra.edu/law (select Prospective Students, Apply to HLS, Apply Online J.D., Apply Online LL.M.).

Will copies of my transcripts suffice? No. We will only accept original documents with an official signature of the Dean or Registrar for Academic Records on undergraduate and law school transcripts.

Is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required? The TOEFL is required if your native language is not English. However, if you can prove that your degree in law was taught in English, you do not need to take the TOEFL.

What is an acceptable TOEFL score? 580 for the paper-based test or 237 for the computer-based test, and 92 for the Internet-based test.

Will Hofstra Law School give credit toward the first-year J.D. program after completing the Hofstra American Legal Studies LL.M. degree? Yes, provided that you receive the Dean's permission to have your LL.M. course work count towards the J.D. program.

How many credit hours must be completed to obtain the LL.M. degree? 24 credit hours of courses from the Hofstra University School of Law curriculum.

What additional course work is required for the American Legal Studies program? Successful completion of a one-week minicourse in U.S. Legal Methods and Systems is required prior to the start of classes. You must also complete the J.D. legal writing course and an analytic writing requirement in the form of a seminar paper or an independent study that meets the standard for J.D. writing requirements.

How long does it take to complete the LL.M. degree? For students attending full-time, the degree can be completed in two semesters or one academic year. For students attending part-time, the LL.M. degree can be completed in four semesters or two academic years. Credits for the International Law program or the American Legal Studies program can also be completed in the summer study abroad program in Nice, France, Sorrento, Italy or Sydney, Australia, or the winter study abroad law program in Curacao, the Netherlands Antilles.

What grade point average (GPA) must I obtain in order to earn an LL.M. degree? Students must have a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.

What are the tuition and fees?
The cost of the LL.M. program (full-time or part-time) is the same as the tuition for two full-time semesters in the J.D. program. The School's 2006-2007 full-time J.D. tuition and fees are $35,260. The University reserves the right to change its tuition and fees at any time.
Part-time LL.M. Cost - four-semester example:
A part-time LL.M. student entering in the fall of 2006 will pay approximately 1/4 of the full-time J.D. tuition each of the four semesters.
First fall tuition plus fees cost: $8,660
First spring tuition plus fees cost: $8,660
Second fall tuition cost: 1/4 of full-time J.D. annual tuition rate, plus fees, for new academic year
Second spring tuition cost: 1/4 of full-time J.D. annual tuition rate, plus fees, for new academic year

Should a part-time LL.M. student complete his/her degree in three semesters, the student is responsible for the total remaining cost of the program, plus fees, prior to starting the third semester.

Part-time LL.M. Cost - three-semester example:
First fall tuition plus fees cost: $8,660
First spring tuition plus fees cost: $8,660
Second fall tuition cost: approximately 1/2 of full-time J.D. annual tuition rate, plus fees, for new academic year

Do I have to demonstrate financial ability to attend the LL.M. program? All international students are required to submit proof of financial support demonstrating the financial ability to attend the Hofstra LL.M. program.

How can I obtain proof of financial support?After an international student is admitted to the program and the student submits a seat deposit, he/she must prove financial funds for the first year of study and financial capability for all subsequent years. Currently, you must submit official financial documentation proving the existence of the funds and sources in the amount of $55,000 U.S. dollars for each year of attendance. Please also note that you will need to prove an additional $10,000 (U.S.D.) per year in financial resources for each dependent you wish to bring to the United States. Official financial documentation includes: bank statements, financial aid notification of merit scholarship, employment letter, or IRA statements. All documentation must be original, on bank letterhead or bank certified, in English and U.S. dollars, and may not be more than two months old. If the bank statement is from a parent's account, your parent must submit a letter stating that they will be supporting your legal education at Hofstra University.

Proving financial capability for the second and third years of attendance can be accomplished in many ways. Parents may submit a letter from their employer stating their years of employment and that they make more than the designated dollar amount. Additionally, financial capability may be demonstrated through additional bank statements or an IRA statement that will mature within the duration of the student's academic career at Hofstra.

Does Hofstra University School of Law offer scholarships, fellowships or tuition fee waivers? We do not offer any of the above financial options; however, you may want to investigate your options of financing an advanced law degree through some of the financial resources listed on the Hofstra Law School Web site.