The best way to gain information about potential Master of Laws programs is to go straight to those schools themselves. Here’s a quick summary of the LLM program at the London School of Economics.

LSE LLM Program

For American lawyers who want to study overseas and for lawyers across the globe who want to advance their careers, the Masters of Laws degree at the London School of Economics is an incredible opportunity. Simply put, the school offers one of the best LLM programs in the world. Despite its relatively short history, LSE can boast one of the most accomplished faculties in the world; LSE professors have been recognized for their extensive research projects. LLM degree candidates at LSE enroll in just four units (some courses count for one unit, while other count for a half unit), but acquire an immense amount of knowledge. Specialty tracks – or “specialisms” – include Banking Law and Financial Regulation, Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Corporate and Securities Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice, European Law, Human Rights Law, Information Technology, Media, and Communications Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Business Law, Labor Law, Legal Theory, Public International Law, Public Law, and Taxation.

In addition to standard coursework, LLM students must complete the London School of Economics LLM Writing Requirement. Many individuals enrolled in the LLM program choose to fulfill this requirement by writing a 15,000 word dissertation or 8,000 word extended essay.

Prospective applicants should keep in mind that LSE accepts students for both full-time and part-time study. Full-time students are expected to complete the degree requirements for an LLM in one year, while part-time students may elect for either a two-year or four-year program of study. Each year a new round of the LLM program commences at LSE in early October, however, there is no definitive deadline for applications. Instead, applications are considered on a rolling basis with preference given to early applications. Tuition for the LLM program is £12,144 for EU citizens and £17,712 for all other applicants. Accordingly, LSE offers generous LLM scholarships to qualified students. Admission is highly competitive; according to the LSE 233 individuals were selected from a pools of 1,828 applications in 2010. Applications to the LLM program at LSE are considered on the basis of grades, extracurricular achievements, letters of reference, and the online application form itself, however, no standardized test scores are required.