Program Overview
Experience the best of both worlds - an intimate program with personalized support in a major metropolitan area full of professional opportunities.
The LLM Program is a one-year in-person program at the School of Law’s main campus in the center of San Francisco, just 15 minutes from City Hall and 10 minutes to Golden Gate Park. Take advantage of all the city has to offer, including numerous professional events.
USF’s LLM program is designed with you in mind. There are only two required LLM-specific courses and beyond those, LLM candidates are fully integrated into the JD program, providing the full immersive experience of law school in the United States. The program requires 25 units of credit toward completion, but students may take up to 30 units of credit.
The degree requirements for the general Master of Laws (LLM) differ from the LLM in Intellectual Property and Technology program. For more information on the specific degree requirements and courses see our Curriculum page for each program.
Customize Your Experience
Tailor your LLM degree based on your areas of interest and career goals. You may choose from USF’s wide range of elective courses and bar exam subjects, including business law, international and comparative law, labor and employment law, public interest, and more. Together with your dedicated academic advisor, craft a curricular plan that fits your needs. USF’s expert faculty will guide and mentor you as you dive into the coursework of your choosing. In addition to traditional classroom learning, gain practical, hands-on experience through USF’s clinics, including the International Human Rights Clinic and Immigration Clinic, as well as through a range of externships.
Prepare to Pass
With the support of USF’s established Academic and Bar Exam Success Program (ABES), prepare for success on a U.S. state bar exam such as the California or New York exam. Enroll in bar preparation classes like Legal Drafting and Advanced Legal Analysis, and improve your writing and test-taking skills. Throughout your time at USF, dedicated faculty provide individual feedback and coaching to support your learning of bar exam subjects. In the summer preceding the exam, join the ten-week summer bar prep program where you’ll sit for simulated bar exams, draft essays, and receive personalized assessment and grading from USF’s seasoned ABES staff. Note: earning an LLM. does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a U.S. bar exam. In addition to the bar exam, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction.
Outside the Classroom
Engage with our community by joining one of the dozens of USF Law student organizations, including the Business Law Student Association, Environmental Law Society, International Law Society, Labor and Employment Law Student Association, Pride Law Association, Public Interest Law Foundation, and the Women's Law Association. In addition to the many law school and university-hosted events, the Student Bar Association (SBA) also regularly plans social and cultural activities, providing ample opportunities to meet and connect with students, faculty, and staff.
With your fellow LLM students, you’ll also get an insider view of San Francisco’s federal, state, and local government agencies and Courts. Hear oral arguments at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the California Supreme Court, attend a jury trial, and join a guided tour at San Quentin Prison. And in your spare time, explore San Francisco’s many cultural, culinary, and recreational opportunities, from cycling in Golden Gate Park to concerts at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the city offers an endless lineup of activities.
Building Your Career
With the help of expert advisors in the Office of Career Services, create a personalized job search strategy and receive guidance throughout each phase of your job search. USF’s Career Services include individual career counseling, resume and cover letter review, career workshops, programs on job search skills and practice areas, and access to a job posting database.
Please note that earning an LLM. does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a U.S. bar exam. In addition to the bar exam, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction.
Students are therefore encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. The majority of USF students take the California or New York bar exams. For more information, you should consult the California State Bar Examiners Rules. To learn more about the eligibility requirements for the New York Bar exam, visit the New York State Board of Law Examiners website. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.