The LL.M. degree has been an important part of American legal education for over 100 years. Advanced law degrees serve as recognition of formal legal education beyond the J.D. degree. San Luis Obispo College of Law/Monterey College of Law is the first California Accredited Law School (CALS) to be authorized to grant the LL.M. degree.
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Graduation Requirement
The LL.M. degree requires successful completion of 24 graduate law units. Transfer credits will be allowed for certain graduate and law courses that meet MCL’s academic standards. If approved, transfer credits may be applied towards up to one-half of the 24-unit graduation requirement.
Admission Qualifications
Applicants to the LL.M. Program must have received their first degree in law at either an American Bar Association (ABA) approved law school, a state accredited law school, or at a law school approved by the appropriate authority in a country other than the United States. In addition, SLOCL will consider any applicant, domestic or international, who is licensed to practice law and is currently in good standing in the jurisdiction in which they are licensed.
Program of Study
The philosophy of the LL.M. program is to offer students a broad platform to design their own course of study within parameters set by the SLOCL law faculty. For international students, the program emphasizes exposure to U.S. law, a comparison of U.S. and other legal systems, and advanced legal theory and policy. Subject to criteria established by the State Bar of California, the LL.M. may qualify an foreign-educated graduate to sit for the California Bar Exam. For U.S. students, the program provides an opportunity to utilize the resources of SLOCL to pursue advanced study in areas of specific interest. Within this framework, LL.M. students have considerable latitude in planning their course of study.
Administration & Student Advising
The LL.M. degree program will be under the academic direction and supervision of the Dean or his designee. The regular departments of MCL will provide all other administrative services.
Tuition & Fees
The tuition rate and fees for the LL.M. program are the same as for the J.D. program. SLOCL provides a limited number of special tuition grants for qualified applicants. Please contact the Dean of Admissions for additional information.
The San Luis Obispo Region
The San Luis Obispo area provides a rich, diverse, and unique academic environment in which to pursue this advanced law degree. The region is home to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cuesta College.
For more information about MCL’s LL.M. program, please contact Dean of Admissions Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@montereylaw.edu or (831)-582-4000 ext. 1012.