Master of Laws (LL.M.)
The Master of Laws (LL.M.) program at Penn State Dickinson Law welcomes legal professionals worldwide who seek to advance their careers by developing specialized knowledge and mastery in specific areas of law. Through its LL.M. degree program, Penn State Dickinson Law aims to prepare lawyers for the 21st century, equipping them to tackle complex legal challenges with expertise and confidence.
The Penn State Dickinson Law Difference
The LL.M. program at Penn State Dickinson Law is ideal for both domestic and internationally trained legal professionals seeking to gain a competitive advantage in the legal field. This flexible one-year program allows LL.M. students to enroll in a diverse array of courses, enabling specialization in various areas of law. The LL.M. degree is for ambitious legal professionals dedicated to advancing next-generation legal scholarship and practice.
A world-class faculty with a personal touch.
LL.M. students benefit from a distinguished and committed full-time faculty complemented by adjunct faculty consisting of practicing attorneys and judges. The faculty at Penn State Dickinson Law bring extensive experience from years of legal practice and actively engage in national and international realms through their research and scholarship. At Penn State Dickinson Law, faculty members maintain an “open door” policy for LL.M. students, fostering close mentorship and support. Explore more about Dickinson Law faculty.
A generalized curriculum that supports specialized concentrations.
Penn State Dickinson Law offers a generalized LL.M. degree program designed to allow students to concentrate in distinct areas of law. Students may complete required coursework necessary to sit for the New York bar examination while pursuing a specialized concentration. Concentrations are available in many fields, such as Business Law, Intellectual Property, Technology and Privacy Law, and Litigation and Dispute Resolution.
Two state-of-the art campuses strategically located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Penn State Dickinson Law offers unparalleled access to legal education at two distinct campus locations: Carlisle and University Park. The historic Carlisle campus features a state-of-the-art facility and a modern research library to support advanced legal scholarship. Strategically located near Harrisburg — the capital of Pennsylvania — the Carlisle campus offers proximity to judicial, legislative, and executive offices. The University Park campus is located in State College, Pennsylvania and is Penn State’s largest campus with a diverse population of nearly 50,000 graduate, undergraduate, and professional students, including about 7,500 international students. Both campuses offer convenient access to Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, and New York City.
A commitment to professional development and career success.
LL.M. students have access to career-related support and guidance to navigate future career decisions. Additionally, Penn State Dickinson Law participates in the annual International Student Interview Program (ISIP) which facilitates the hiring of highly qualified foreign-trained lawyers enrolled in U.S. LL.M. programs. International LL.M. graduates are generally eligible for Optional Practice Training, which allows one-year of paid employment in a legal setting.
A welcoming community committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Penn State Dickinson Law is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive community where all feel welcomed and supported. The campus is home to students from all around the world and include diverse racial and ethnic minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) community, veterans, adult learners, and other students who have experienced subordination, marginalization, or isolation in academic communities because of their identity.
Note on Reunification
In November 2022, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi recommended the reunification of its two separately accredited law schools, Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law, into a single entity to be known as Penn State Dickinson Law. This unified law school will maintain its campuses in Carlisle and at University Park. Starting from the 2025-2026 academic year, Penn State Dickinson Law will offer a unified LL.M. program, providing students the opportunity to study at either campus location.
Contact Us:
Please contact us with any questions. For campus-specific inquiries, please use dickinsongraded@psu.edu for Carlisle or llmadmit@pennstatelaw.psu.edu for University Park.