Two and Three Semester Programs
LL.M. Degree in American Legal Studies (Two-semester Program)
Our two-semester, full-time program commences in the fall or spring semester, and ends with graduation in May or January.
Before the fall semester, students participate in a mandatory Law Week alongside JD students. Law Week is a multiday introduction to law school and unique aspects of the legal profession in the U.S. which begins one week before the official start of fall classes. Law week is an excellent opportunity to meet classmates and professors and includes a series of sessions about the American legal system,legal writing and research,and other critical law school information. Before the spring semester, students participate in a one-day orientation unique to the LL.M. program with additional sessions scheduled in the initial weeks.
LL.M. Degree with Advanced Specialization (Three-semester Program)
William & Mary Law School offers an optional third semester LL.M. course of study to complement the two-semester program. LL.M. students must apply to be admitted to the third semester approximately 30 days before the registration for the spring or fall terms begins. More information will be provided in advance of that deadline.
To be eligible for the three semester program, LL.M. students are required to complete successfully, or have in progress, a total of at least 24 credit hours and satisfy all graduation requirements toward the two-semester program.
Subject to the credit hours requirements, LL.M. students admitted to the third semester will focus on one of the following concentrations:
- Business & Corporate Law;
- Constitutional Law;
- Criminal Law;
- Intellectual Property;
- International Law and Justice; or
- Methods of Dispute Resolution.
In order to satisfy the requirements for the three-semester program, students must take a minimum of 10 credit hours of qualifying courses within the chosen concentration. Such courses may be taken in any of the three semesters. A list is available below.
Upon completion of the third semester, students will receive their LL.M. Degree and their transcripts will reflect the successful completion of the Advanced Specialization in one of the six concentrations listed above.
Guidance will be provided on which subject-matter area is most suitable to each individual student, taking into account each student’s persoal academic and professional goals for their future law practice.
Credit Hours Required
LL.M. students seeking the LL.M. Degree must complete a minimum total of 24 credit hours.
LL.M. students seeking the LL.M. Degree with an Advanced Specialization must complete a minimum total of 34 credit hours.
To maintain their full-time status, students must register for a minimum of 10 credit hours and a maximum of 17 credit hours per semester. We strongly recommend that students to enroll in, at least, 12 credit hours per semester in order to have a balanced workload across semesters and to make steady progress towards completing the credit hours required for graduation.
Length of Program
Students seeking the LL.M. Degree must complete the program in two consecutive semesters.
Students seeking the LL.M. Degree with an Advanced Specialization reflected in their transcripts must complete the program in three consecutive semesters.
A limited number of extenuating circumstances may be taken into account to alter the length of the program. Any student experiencing difficulties must contact promptly the Director of the LL.M. Program.
International Students in F-1 Status
Students in F-1 status may enroll in the program for a maximum of 3 semesters, and a maximum of 34 credit hours.
Courses Required
Although students may choose their own coursework, most LL.M. students enroll in first-year J.D. courses including Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, and Torts. Students who wish to sit for a state bar examination are strongly encouraged to review carefully the relevant state bar’s application requirements and select courses that will meet those requirements. Students are also recommended to review the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which lists the bar eligibility requirements for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This guide is published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Legal Research and Writing (2 credit hours) is a graded, required course and must be taken in the first semester of the LL.M. program.
For the LL.M. Degree with Advanced Specialization, in addition to the course work described above, students will select courses from one of six concentrations: corporate & business law, constitutional law, criminal law, intellectual property law, international law and justice, and methods of dispute resolution. A full list of the courses required to achieve one of the Advanced Specializations can be found below. Students must obtain 34 credit hours, 10 of which must be taken in the area of specialization. Students who meet these requirements will receive their LL.M. Degree with a designation, reflected in their transcripts, that they have an Advanced Specialization in one of the six concentrations.
Grading Policies
Grade Point Average
LL.M. Degree candidates must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to earn the LL.M. Degree. They must also pass any pass-fail classes if those credit hours are needed to meet the minimum required credit hours to graduate with the LL.M. Degree.
Grading Policies
Please refer to the Law School’s grading policy page to review all pertinent policies and grading options.
