LL.M. in American Legal Studies
GET A WORLD-CLASS LEGAL EDUCATION AT KU SCHOOL OF LAW
The Master of Laws (LL.M.) in American Legal Studies provides students with an introduction to the breadth of American Law. The program is open to students who have completed a law degree from an accredited non-U.S. college or university. KU Law LL.M. graduates can use their degrees to continue their law studies, take the bar exam in some U.S. states and practice law internationally. KU Law ranks in the top 50 among American law schools (U.S. News & World Report) and is the No. 6 Best Value Law School in country (National Jurist magazine).
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Required Courses (8 credits):
• Introduction to U.S. Legal System (fall)
• Graduate Lawyering Workshop (spring)
• Professional Responsibility
• Non-credit Legal English Intensive (prior to fall semester)
Core Curriculum (minimum of 6 credits):
• Business Organizations
• Conflict of Laws
• Contracts
• Criminal Law
• Evidence
• Family Law
• Property
• Torts
• Trusts and Estates
• Commericial Law
Electives (10 credits):
Choose from more than 100 additional courses
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
COSMOPOLITAN ENVIRONMENT
KU Law is an integral part of the University of Kansas, the state’s flagship research institution, and a Category 1 research institution holding membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Students from more than 100 countries come to study each year at KU, whose student body numbers over 30,000.
EQUALITY AND INCLUSION
International students are integrated into the law school and university community, and get full use of all services, including advising and career placement.
URBAN ENTICEMENTS
Just 40 minutes east of Lawrence is Kansas City, which offers an international airport, shopping, entertainment and exciting sporting events. The state capital, Topeka, is just 20 miles west of Lawrence.
SAFETY AND FUN
Lawrence is a safe college town of about 100,000 people, nationally ranked as a best small art town, a bicyclist- and runnerfriendly community, and one of the smartest cities in America. It boasts eclectic shops, beautiful parks and golf courses, and a plethora of music venues and art galleries. Lawrence’s vibrant downtown caters to all tastes, at a low cost, from fajitas to falafel, gyros to garden burgers, linguini to laksa, pad thai to pho, and samosas to sushi.
WHY KU LAW: LL.M. HIGHLIGHTS
SPECIALIZED ATTENTION
The LL.M. program at KU Law is led by a dedicated program director who provides individualized academic advising to LL.M. students and overall program support. The program is small, which means it can be designed specifically to meet students’ needs. The LL.M. program also offers regular “cohort” gatherings that address academic, cultural, career-related and other topics.
AFFORDABLE PRICE
KU has one of the lowest-cost LL.M. programs among major law schools in the United States, with 2025-26 total tuition and fees under $30,000. Limited scholarships are available. Combined with the low cost of living in Lawrence, KU Law offers an outstanding value for pursuing an LL.M. degree at a major university.
INCLUSION IN THE LAW SCHOOL COMMUNITY
KU Law LL.M. students are fully integrated into our programs and sit side-by-side in most courses with our full-time J.D. students.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
The KU School of Law is an integral part of the University of Kansas, the state’s flagship research institution. KU is the only school in Kansas to belong to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), a group of 71 American and Canadian schools that represent the highest levels of education. Other AAU members include Harvard, Stanford, UC-Berkeley and MIT.
OPTION FOR DOCTORAL STUDY
Students who complete the LL.M. program may apply for admission to KU Law’s Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) program with the benefit of knowing the faculty and the community.
BAR EXAM PREPARATION
All KU Law students have access to the school’s innovative Bar Prep Program. The program includes a post-graduation bar review course and access to an on-site instructor, all free of charge. Academic advising support is also available for students who desire to take a bar exam in certain states upon completion of the LL.M. program.
LEGAL ENGLISH INTENSIVE
Prior to the fall semester, LL.M. students whose first language is not English will participate in a two-week in-person Legal English Intensive program. Offered in connection with the graduate student orientation program from KU’s International Support Services office, this program is designed to prepare LL.M. students for success in their academic course-work and their time at KU.
LL.M. REQUIRED COURSES
Two of the required three-credit courses under the LL.M. program – Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Graduate Lawyering Workshop – are designed and offered only to LL.M. students. Introduction to the U.S. Legal System (fall) provides an overview of the U.S. legal system, including the U.S. Constitution, the structure of and function of the U.S. courts, common-law methodology and sources of legal authority. Graduate Lawyering Workshop (spring) provides foreign-trained lawyers with practical skills in U.S. legal research, writing, analysis and other skills needed to practice law effectively in the U.S. and globally. These small classes, taught by the LL.M. program director with assistance from other faculty, will provide LL.M. students with individualized attention and feedback.
DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAM
KU Law offers a dual-degree program to students from Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul, Turkey, and Tashkent State University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Students admitted to the dual-degree program spend their final year of studies at KU Law and earn their Bachelor of Laws from the partner institution and an LL.M. in American Legal Studies from KU at the end of the year. Dual-degree students participate in the LL.M. program along with other LL.M. students and must successfully complete the requirements of the program to earn their degrees.
RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Personalized Academic Advising
In addition to individualized academic advising by the LL.M program director, KU Law includes international students in faculty-led advising groups with J.D. students.
Career Coaching
International students at KU Law enjoy full access to the law school’s Career Services Office. The office helps connect students to training, resources and knowledge to help them start their legal careers. Career-related topics are included in LL.M. “cohort” gatherings and LL.M. students are encouraged to participate in the school’s training on resume writing and the job search process.
KU International Support Services
As the main resource for KU’s international population, International Support Services (ISS) serves students throughout their KU career. ISS services include cultural events, a student resource coordinator and immigration advisors. iss.ku.edu
Supplemental English Assistance
The law school also enjoys access to the resources of KU’s Applied English Center. KU Law works with the Center to offer programming for international students, in addition to the pre-semester Legal English Intensive and the personalized attention all our students LL.M. receive from faculty and staff. aec.ku.edu