HOW TO APPLY FOR THE LL.M. PROGRAM
OCT 1
Begin accepting LL.M. applications
MARCH 15
Foreign-trained lawyers priority application deadline
APRIL 15
U.S. lawyers priority application deadline
JUNE 1
Foreign-trained lawyers final application deadline
JULY 1
U.S. lawyers final application deadline
Steps to Apply
Submit Your Application
Fill out the required online application form and submit it through LSAC (Law School Admission Council) along with your $50 nonrefundable application fee (paid by debit card, credit card or online check). Keep a copy of your application for your personal files.
This service requires at least three to four weeks before the application deadline to receive, process and forward your materials to the College of Law. This may take longer for foreign-trained lawyers than for U.S.-trained lawyers.
Submit Personal Statement
Include a typed personal statement with your online LSAC application. This is your opportunity to describe why you are pursuing legal study at Georgia State Law and highlight any experiences, qualifications or other information you believe to be relevant.
The statement should be no more than two double-spaced pages.
Submit Transcripts
Send official school transcripts to LSAC for inclusion in your Law School Report. You will need to submit academic transcripts from each college and/or university attended regardless of whether or not a degree was conferred.
Foreign-trained lawyers must submit a transcript from their first professional degree in law. For information on translating transcripts, follow LSAC guidelines.
Submit Letters of Recommendation
Submit two letters of recommendation, no more than two years old, through your LSAC Law School Report.
These letters should speak to your ability to be successful in a graduate program. Professional and academic letters are strongly recommended. If you have been out of school for multiple years, employer references will suffice.
Instructions for this service, which are included in your LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration, are available at www.lsac.org.
Decision Notifications
We will notify you by email once your application has been received. The email will include your login credentials to monitor your status via the Applicant Status Online system.
If you have been admitted, you will receive an email with next steps shortly.
English Proficiency
- A minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 100 on the Internet-based test
- A minimum of 7.5 on the academic version of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
No other test or certificate based methods of demonstrating English proficiency will be considered for the LSAC application. Additionally, in some cases, a video teleconference, telephone or in-person interview may be required to confirm English proficiency.
Conditional Admission
Applicants scoring lower than 100 but above 90 on the TOEFL or lower than 7.5 but above 6.5 on the IELTS may be conditionally admitted to the LL.M. program at the discretion of the LL.M. Director and Admissions Committee, pending completion of additional requirements on a case-by-case basis.
- The LL.M. degree program for foreign-trained lawyers is open to any graduate with a law degree (e.g., J.D., LL.B., B.L., B.A. in Law and Society) from another country.
- Applications are accepted for fall semester only, which begins in mid-August. You should plan your arrival for the beginning of August to make housing arrangements.
- Neither the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) nor the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required.
- Please do not send documents directly to the Admissions Office unless requested.
- If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident holding a green card, you are eligible for either the part-time or full-time LL.M. program. If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident you are eligible only the full-time program in order to meet the minimum hours required for a student visa.
- Most of the required LL.M. courses for foreign-trained lawyers are held in the evening to accommodate work schedules.
- The bar track LL.M program is offered in person, rather than online, in compliance with the Supreme Court of Georgia’s directives.
- Credits are not transferable from another LL.M. program to Georgia State Law.
- The LL.M. degree program for U.S.-trained lawyers is open to domestic law graduates with a J.D. from a U.S. law school.
- Some post-J.D. experience is preferred.
- Applications are accepted for fall semester only, which begins in mid-August.
- Please do not send documents directly to the Admissions Office unless requested.
- You may attend part-time or full-time, taking courses to fit your schedule.
- The majority of the LL.M. program is offered in person, although some classes may be offered online.
- Credits are not transferable from another LL.M. program to Georgia State Law.
Citizenship Verification and Lawful Presence: The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires that any student applying to Georgia State University must provide verification of his or her lawful presence in the United States before his or
her admission to the university can be finalized.
At the time of admission, In compliance with the policy, a Citizenship Verification Hold preventing registration will be placed for any student admitted until lawful presence is verified.
How can the Citizenship Verification Hold be removed?
Students may be verified through one of the following options below:
- Verification through the Federal Aid Financial Aid Form (FAFSA)
If you are either a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible noncitizen (does not apply to international students on a visa) who has completed and submitted a FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will verify your lawful presence. If you are not able to be confirmed as lawfully present the Office of Financial Aid will follow up with you for additional documentation. - Submission of one of the following documents directly to the College of Law’s Office of Admissions, [email protected]:
*Copies of these documents are acceptable.- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization *
- U.S. Certificate of Citizenship *
- U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad*
- Current U.S. Passport* (full page with signature)
- Current Georgia driver’s license* (front and back)
- Current Georgia ID Card* (front and back)
- Permanent Resident Card* (front and back)
- Certified U.S. birth certificate (must be submitted in person)
- Military ID (must be verified in person)
- Verification through SEVIS (Student and Exchange Information System)
If you have or are applying for an F, or J visa we will verify your lawful presence through SEVIS. As this is part of the immigration process there are no additional steps required to have your Citizenship Verification Hold removed. Simply comply with the requirements outlined by our Office of International Student and Scholar Services as you prepare to arrive to Georgia State University. - Verification through SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements)
If you are not a U.S. citizen and are not able to be verified by one of the options above, contact Shantay Bennett at 404-413-9006 to query the SAVE Database.
This requirement applies to all newly admitted students at Georgia State University.
This includes students who have been previously enrolled at GSU but are either returning (Reentry) to a degree program or applying for a new degree program. Transient students must also be verified; however Cross-Registration students do not.
What If I Do Not Provide Proof of Lawful Presence?
Your offer of admission is contingent upon completing or opting-out of the verification of lawful presence process. Failure to do so will result in the withdrawal of your admission.