Admitted LL.M. Students

Students in Classroom

Welcome to Dickinson Law! This site contains information relevant to students admitted to our LL.M. program, so be sure to check back frequently for updates. To stay up to date on the latest news and events happening on campus, be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

View the LL.M. Student Orientation Schedule

Important Information for LL.M. Students

Frequently Asked Questions

What school code do I use for the FAFSA?

(*Please note this is only needed for LL.M. students who hold U.S. citizenship. International students, please disregard this question.)

Please use code 003329 (the code for all of Penn State) when completing the form and double check to ensure you are completing the correct year (2020-2021).

How do I reserve my seat in the incoming class?

You can reserve your seat by paying a nonrefundable deposit of $500. The deposit must be paid by the date provided in your admissions letter. Deposits may be made by check or money order, payable to The Pennsylvania State University. Payments should be sent to Office of Admissions, Penn State Dickinson Law, Lewis Katz Hall, 150 S. College St., Carlisle, PA 17013. If you are paying your deposit by credit card, please use our secure online form. If you have any issues or questions, please call 717-240-5228.

Do I need to submit an official transcript to Penn State Dickinson Law?

Although you do not need to submit an official transcript to Dickinson Law, you must ensure that an official copy of your final transcript is on file with LSAC. If you have not completed your undergraduate degree at the time of submitting your application, please be sure to take this additional step once your final grades are available.

What happens to my deposit once I matriculate?

Deposits are placed onto your Penn State tuition account and apply towards tuition and fees for your first semester.

What, if any, requirements must I fulfill to keep my scholarship?

To maintain your scholarship, you must remain in good standing under the LL.M. academic standing rules as well as the Honor Code. It is important to note that maintenance of good academic standing is a prerequisite for continuation at the law school and for graduation — not just for scholarship retention.

To maintain good standing under the academic rules, you must:

  • earn a semester grade point average of at least 2.0 at the end of each semester, except for the first semester of the first year;
  • earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 at the end of each semester, except for the first semester of the first year; and
  • in the first semester of the first year, earn grades below C in no more than 9 credits.

Additionally, because Dickinson Law places a high value on academic integrity, if you are found to have violated the Honor Code, you may be subject to a revocation of your scholarship among other sanctions.

Who should I contact about classroom accommodations?

We recommend that incoming students submit a disability accommodations request as soon as possible but no later than Friday, August 14, if seeking approval of classroom-related accommodations for the first day of classes. Click here to initiate a disability accommodations request. Questions? Email Dean Santibañez-Bania.

Do I need to purchase health insurance? And where can I get it?

Full-Time U.S. Students — Penn State requires full-time U.S. students to submit their health insurance coverage information at the beginning of each academic year. If students do not have health insurance coverage, they will be able to note that on the form. Here are the instructions on meeting the current requirement to report or waive insurance or enroll in SHIP:

  • Log in to LionPATH.
  • Navigate to the Health Insurance page.
  • Under the current coverage year, select Waive.
  • Follow instructions to either note that you do not have health insurance coverage or to provide policy details of your current coverage using the information found on your health insurance card.

If you do not have health insurance or are not adequately covered at the campus you attend, the Health Insurance Office strongly encourages you to consider purchasing the Penn State Student Health Insurance plan (SHIP). The Penn State SHIP is offered through First Student College Student Health Insurance, underwritten by United Healthcare Student Resources. Dickinson Law students are eligible to purchase the Penn State SHIP if they are enrolled in six or more credit hours. Please note that for U.S. students who do not have insurance, SHIP is not the only option; it is the provider recommended by Student Health Insurance. Please feel free to explore other options that may be available to you, including Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act exchange, the private health insurance market, etc.

International Students — International students and any accompanying dependents are required to purchase the Penn State Student Health Insurance plan (SHIP) or submit proof of health insurance coverage that meets the full set of requirements. Students who do not take action to Waive or Enroll through LionPATH by the deadline, September 6, 2020, will be automatically enrolled in the Penn State SHIP and the health insurance premium will be charged to their student account.

For more information or to have your questions answered, contact Student Health Insurance at 814-865-7467 or email uhs-insurance@psu.edu.

I have some questions about my Penn State access account. What is it? What can I do with it?

A Penn State Access Account is a digital identity for students, faculty, staff, and designated PSU affiliates. The electronic profile grants permission to users for protected online PSU resources and services. Access Accounts provide access to the PSU community at all times, while maintaining a high level of security.

The following link contains everything you need to know about your Access Account.

How do I obtain my student ID and Penn State email address?

During your orientation at Penn State Dickinson Law, we will help you obtain your student ID card as well as email address. We will convene a new student orientation where you can learn about everything you need to know in order to live and study at Penn State Dickinson Law.

Can I bring my wife/husband/children/parents to the United States during my residency?

Yes. They can apply for a visa as your dependents.

How should I pay for my tuition bill?

The tuition bill should be paid during each semester in residence. That means you need to pay your bills at the beginning of each semester. Several payment options are available via the University Bursar.

Also, you can split your tuition bill into three payments each semester via the Installment Payment Plan.

I am an international student. How do I start the visa process?

International students work with the Directorate of International Student & Scholars Office (DISSA) for advising through the visa process. Within 1-2 weeks of paying your seat deposit, you will receive an email from international@psu.edu with additional information on how to request your necessary immigration documents.

I have a question regarding my visa, and other U.S. immigration-related issues.

DISSA is in charge of general international student advising and should be able to provide you with all the answers. DISSA’s office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday (closed 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m. for lunch). You can call them at 814-865-6348 or email DISSA-Adviser@psu.edu.

When will I be able to access my PSU email account?

You should have already received an email from Penn State with instructions on how to set up your Penn State Access Account, which will allow you to log into LionPATH (Penn State’s student information system), Canvas (Penn State’s learning management system), and any secure pages on Dickinson Law’s site. Please note, however, that setting up your Access Account will not automatically give you access to WebMail (Penn State’s email account system). Penn State does not attach University email to incoming student accounts until closer to the date of matriculation. Accordingly, for the remainder of the summer, Dickinson Law will continue to communicate with you using the email address that you provided to us on your application—not your PSU email address. To update the email address that we have on file, please contact the Admissions Office.

Will I have homework due on the first day of class? If so, when and how will I be able to access my assignments?

Yes, most of your professors will expect that you have completed work (usually reading) that they have assigned for the first day of class. You will receive an email when first assignments are available. They will be posted on this portal for you to complete at your convenience prior to Orientation.

What should I know about parking?

Free street parking is readily available; however, we advise you to stay alert to days of the week when parking is restricted for street cleaning. On such days, parking is typically restricted from the hours of 8 a.m. until noon.

Parking in any Dickinson College lot is prohibited. Dickinson College Public Safety will ticket vehicles as necessary.

What if I don’t see my question on this list?

Feel free to contact the Admissions Office.

Housing

You’ll find plenty of reasonably priced housing within walking distance of campus. To help make your house-hunting easier, Dickinson Law maintains a database of available housing and apartments.

If you are a landlord or are seeking a roommate, please complete our housing list submission form for your posting to be automatically added to the Law School’s housing database.

View the Carlisle Housing List

In addition to the Law School’s list, you’ll also find available housing in the following:

IT Recommendations

Computer Recommendations and Requirements

Dickinson Law does not have a laptop requirement* and almost all devices are compatible with Penn State Wireless. If you are planning to purchase a new computer for law school, for peace of mind you should consider a full-coverage warranty (including accidental damage) for your entire stay at the Law School (or possibly longer to cover your bar exams) if it is within your budget. There are more important things to worry about than a broken computer!

*Final Exams: If you would prefer to type your final exams, you should be aware that our current exam software, Exam4, does have minimum requirements.

Please Note: iOS devices (iPads) and Chromebooks are NOT supported; however, these devices can still be used throughout the semester to take notes and draft assignments. You should also be aware that because typing an exam is not required, in the event your device is not supported, Dickinson Law IT does not maintain or provide loaner devices during the exam period and you will need to rent/borrow a computer or handwrite to take your exam.

Penn State Technology Guide — Recommendations

Student Discounts

Services to Know — LionPATH, Canvas, Office 365, and Zoom (from the Connect to Tech Student Guide)

  • LionPATH is the student information system where you can view transcripts, access financial aid information, pay tuition bills, schedule courses, and much more.
  • Canvas: Your professors may post lessons, give quizzes, and collect assignments through Canvas. This course management systems help you keep assignments organized, communicate with professors and classmates, and keep track of your grades. You can also link Canvas to University email and calendaring systems to receive up-to-date message notifications.
  • Office 365 includes your Penn State email via Outlook, all of the other Microsoft programs you’re familiar with—from Word to Excel—and much more. Explore new ways to unleash your creativity and increase your productivity.
  • Zoom is the preferred video conferencing tool of the university. New students need to sign in at zoom.psu.edu to obtain a licensed account with Penn State. Accounts are provisioned upon first login. Follow these instructions to setup Zoom with your Penn State account.

Managing Your Accounts

  • Your Penn State Account — Your automatically assigned Penn State user ID usually consists of your initials followed by a one- to four-digit number. There are no password limitations, but Penn State’s Office of Information Security suggests you create a “passphrase”—a phrase, sentence, or random series of words—which is much harder to hack. You will use your Penn State Account to log in to all the University’s sites and services for as long as you’re affiliated with Penn State.
  • Manage Penn State Account Security Settings.
  • Follow these instructions to forward your PSU email to an external address.

Protect Yourself

  • Protect your devices, data, and Penn State account — Learn about steps you can take to protect yourself and the University from phishing attacks, viruses, spyware, ransomware, identity theft, theft of data, denial of service attacks, and other forms of cyberattack.
  • Two-Factor Authentication — Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an additional layer of security that requires verifying your identity on a secondary device. 2FA is mandatory for all students.
  • Phishing — Phishing is an attempt to steal your personal information with a fake email message or call. Learn how to protect yourself and where to report a phishing attempt.
  • Stay Legal — Intellectual property laws and guidelines can be complex and difficult to navigate. Make sure you’re familiar with Penn State’s policies.
  • Virus Detection/Spyware Tools — Download free anti-virus software and learn best practices for keeping yourself safe online.
Seat Deposit Form

Pay your deposit using our secure online form. For Deposit Type, select LL.M.