LL.M. Application Instructions

Application Instructions

Prospective students have the option of applying directly to Penn State Dickinson Law or via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Dickinson Law does not charge application fees, making the process accessible to all prospective applicants.
 

Application Requirements:

Application — Applicants may submit a Direct Application or an LSAC Application. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Apply to Penn State Dickinson Law via LSAC

Apply Directly to Penn State Dickinson Law
 

Personal Statement — Applicants must submit a brief personal statement (1-2 pages) that provides a clear and well-organized rationale for pursuing an LL.M. degree and specifically why the applicant has chosen to do so at Penn State Dickinson Law. This rationale should succinctly explain the applicant’s career plans and the relevance of an LL.M. degree in realization of those plans.

Résumé or Curriculum Vita — Applicants must submit a résumé or CV outlining relevant work experience, education, and publications.

Writing Sample — Though optional, applicants are encouraged to submit a short writing sample (in English) written entirely by the applicant without assistance, usually in the form of a journal article or legal brief.

Transcripts — Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from each degree-granting, post-secondary institution previously attended. Transcripts must include both the original and, if needed, a certified English translation. LSAC applicants have the option of requesting the Credential Assembly Service through which their transcripts will be evaluated. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application, but official transcripts must be provided within two weeks of the start of classes.

English Language Proficiency — Applicants for whom English is a native language or those who have earned an academic degree from a college or university in which the language of instruction was English meet the language requirement. In some cases, an oral proficiency interview may still be required. For applicants who are not native English speakers and have not received a degree from a college or university whose language of instruction is English, a TOEFL, IELTS or similar score that demonstrates advanced proficiency in English is required. Applicants must provide evidence of a TOEFL score report of 88 or higher, an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher, a Duolingo English Test score of 120 or higher, or the equivalent.

Letters of Recommendation — Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation in English (or certified translations into English) from an employer or law professor. Recommenders should have knowledge of the applicant’s academic achievement and potential for a career in law. Each recommender should evaluate the applicant’s capacity for advanced study and potential for fulfilling the professional objectives for which the applicant seeks the degree. To the extent possible, letters should be specific to Penn State Dickinson Law.

Additional Documentation — As needed, applicants may submit additional supporting documentation that may be helpful with determining admissibility.
 

Direct Application Instructions

Applicants may apply directly on the Penn State Dickinson Law website: Direct Application. No application fees are required. Following submission, students must send all required application documents to LLMAdmit@pennstatelaw.psu.edu. As noted above, required documents include:

1. Personal Statement
2. Résumé or Curriculum Vita
3. Writing Sample (Optional)
4. Transcripts
5. English Language Proficiency (If applicable)
6. Letters of Recommendation (x2)
7. Additional Documentation
    

LSAC Application Instructions

Applicants may apply via Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Penn State Dickinson Law does not assess an application fee. However, LSAC does require certain fees. Students requiring an LSAC application fee waiver are requested to contact DickinsonGradEd@psu.edu for more information. Fee waivers requests are limited.

To apply, students must first create an LSAC account and then follow these application steps:

• Click on “School Search”
• Choose the alphabetical range option to search for “Penn State Dickinson Law”
• Click on “Add” and go back to “My Home”. Dickinson Law should now be listed under “My School List”
• Click on “Penn State Dickinson Law”
• Click on “Application Information” and select LL.M. Application for the desired semester
• Click on “Apply and Submit Online”

Please note that applicants are encouraged, but not required to register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). As part of that service, LSAC will compile official transcripts and letters of recommendation and send a comprehensive packet of these necessary documents to Dickinson Law. Alternatively, students may independently upload transcripts and letters of recommendation to their LSAC application after submission.
 

Application Deadlines

Penn State Dickinson Law admits students exclusively for the fall semester (August). International students who require a visa for study in the U.S. should apply no later than six months ahead of the anticipated semester start date. Applications are reviewed and admission decisions made on a rolling basis, so early submission is highly recommended. Application review will commence in November. From November, applicants can generally expect notification within one week completing their application.

Tuition & Scholarships

Penn State Dickinson Law is committed to providing every student access to a world-class education. All LL.M. applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships at the time of admission. No application is required for scholarship consideration. Scholarship awards are based on several criteria, including: 1) academic performance, 2) professional experience, and 3) other professional and personal experience (e.g., volunteer activities and initiatives demonstrating exceptional leadership skills).

International students usually do not qualify for U.S. government-sponsored financial aid. However, many external scholarship sources are available, see External Scholarship Sources. Application deadlines vary.

Please note that Penn State Dickinson Law has some country-specific scholarship agreements with key funding agencies around the world, such as Colfuturo in Colombia and the Fulbright Commission in Germany. Please contact us for more information.

For the most current information on tuition and fees, please see Cost of Attendance.
 

Questions

Please contact us with any questions. Prospective applicants may also direct questions regarding the LL.M. program, as follows:

Questions specific to the Carlisle location may be directed to:

Anthony C. Ogden, Ph.D.
Director, International Programs & Graduate Education
DickinsonGradEd@psu.edu
+1-717-241-3532
Carlisle, PA

Questions specific to the University Park location may be directed to:

Brenda Johnson
LL.M. Admissions Director
LLMAdmit@pennstatelaw.psu.edu
+1-814-867-2373
State College, PA