A degree designed for the global lawyer
Pitt Law’s LLM program provides lawyers who have completed their law degree outside the United States with an opportunity to study the common law legal tradition and the U.S. legal system in the United States. At the same time, it allows concentration in one of several substantive areas relevant to the global practice of law. You can build the degree you want from a wide range of electives, from public international law and human rights to international business transactions, global disputes, and international arbitration. No matter your choice, at CILE we offer:
- Full integration with the JD student body: Other than two required LLM-only classes, you will take all of your coursework in the same classes and seminars as our U.S. JD students.
- World-class instruction with personalized interaction: Our faculty are a dynamic community of scholars who are at the forefront of domestic and international legal scholarship. Both the CILE staff and the law school faculty welcome inclusive contact with our LL.M. students and provide individualized advice and support.
- Moot competitions: Alongside our traditional strength in the Vis and Jessup moot court competitions, our LLM International Commercial Arbitration Moot team routinely ranks among the very best in the United States.
- Internship opportunities: LLM students who wish to stay in Pittsburgh or the surrounding region for the summer after graduation may intern at law firms, multinational corporations, international organizations, or with independent arbitrators. We work with each student to assist them in finding an internship provider that best suits their field of interest.
Apply Now
Pitt Law’s LLM program welcomes applications from foreign-trained lawyers who are seeking to expand their knowledge of the U.S. legal system through a year of study in our dynamic community of students and scholars. We seek students whose record shows their ability to thrive in a demanding, competitive academic atmosphere.
Course Options
Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits to graduate. The program is completed in one academic year from August to May. Part-time admission is considered on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about the LLM degree requirements.
Microcredentials Program
Each of the micro-credential programs requires a minimum of nine credit hours of coursework chosen from a menu of courses currently offered on a regular basis by the School of Law.
Tuition and Expenses
Pittsburgh is regularly ranked as one of the most affordable metropolitan areas in the United States, and Pitt Law's tuition and fees have historically compared favorably to many competing programs. Pitt Law's combination of world-class faculty talent, small class size and dedicated staff support make our program a real value.
Bar Admissions
The bars of several states allow foreign-trained lawyers who complete an LLM degree to sit for their bar examinations and seek admission to legal practice. At present, most Pitt Law LLMs who wish to sit for a US state bar sit for the New York bar examination. LLM graduates who practiced in their home countries for at least 5 of the preceding 8 years may seek to sit for the Pennsylvania bar examination. CILE staff can advise you on which courses of study during your LLM would be best suited to preparation for one of these exams.