Why Choose USC Law's LL.M. Program
Deciding where to pursue your Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree can be one of the most important decisions in your professional career. You will have a number of factors to consider when choosing a school that is right for you.
What is the reputation of USC Law?
USC Law is over 100 years old, and is recognized as one of the most prominent law schools in the world. Ours is a small, highly selective top-ranked law school with an international reputation for academic excellence. Diversity is our hallmark and admission standards are high.
What will my curriculum be like?
Students in our LL.M. program are free to pick and choose from a broad spectrum of courses offered by USC Law. Classes and seminars are small and the instruction is intensive. USC Law's curriculum is among the best, with rigorous courses that provide a solid foundation in law. Our LL.M. students even have exclusive classes that cater to their needs.
Who are the faculty?
USC Law attracts world-class legal minds to its faculty, who are among the most productive in scholarship in the U.S. Our distinguished professors are accomplished, approachable, supportive and dedicated to preparing students for outstanding careers. With over 600 J.D. students and 50-60 international graduate students, USC Law maintains an exceptional faculty/student ratio of better than 14:1. Our faculty maintains an "open door" policy with students.
Will I be lost in the crowd?
Our Graduate and International Programs (G&IP) office at USC Law is here to serve you. Unlike large programs where you may get "lost in the crowd", we are committed to making your USC experience the best that it can be. We provide end-to-end service from processing your application, to transitioning to life in Los Angeles, registration for your classes, reserved parking for our students, to hosting social events that are not only a lot of fun, but are designed to promote interaction between LL.M. students, J.D. students and students from other graduate schools at USC. Our USC Law community is a diverse yet close-knit community.
What academic and professional support will I receive?
Our LL.M. students are provided with academic support sessions throughout the semester. USC Law students learn studying techniques, tools for exam preparation and have the opportunity to review their coursework with professors during their academic support. Incoming LL.M. students can enroll in our Summer Law and English Program, a four-week intensive program that helps students prepare for their LL.M. studies with the basics of American law and English language instruction.
Our G&IP office offers career development services and workshops for students, ranging from resume and cover letter writing, successful interviewing, networking and job search strategies. We also offer Bar Examination preparation workshops, and our students participate in the International Student Interview Program (ISIP) in New York each January.
Will I be studying all the time?
While you will need to devote time to your studies, USC Law students attend events and workshops, and network with leading professionals in the field at our Tax, Entertainment, Corporate, Real Estate and Intellectual Property Institutes. We also have events planned especially for our LL.M. students, including a night at the Hollywood Bowl, the USC Trojan football game, and a Los Angeles basketball game at Staples Center.
Why choose Los Angeles?
With our legendary Southern California weather, why would you go anywhere else? In January, when cities like New York and Chicago may be frozen beneath the snow and ice, it is usually warm and sunny here in Los Angeles. With such great weather, our students are active all year round, enjoying the beaches of Malibu, hikes in the Hollywood Hills, skiing at resorts on Big Bear, all within easy driving distance from USC.
USC is an integral part of the cosmopolitan and dynamic Los Angeles community, with countless opportunities to learn about how the law operates in American society. From small biotech start-up companies, to huge giants in aerospace, shipping, and of course, entertainment and media, the tremendous variety of industries and government is unmatched anywhere.
Will I feel at home?
At USC, we understand that coming to the U.S. to study can be quite challenging and we want you to "feel at home". USC also has the largest number of international students of any university in the U.S., and the Office of International Services is a great resource for our students as they assist with immigration needs and issues, and provide a wealth of information on studying in the U.S. and adjusting to life in L.A. They also host special orientation activities where new international students like yourselves can meet each other from different schools on campus.
Will I be a part of the Trojan Family?
USC is known worldwide for our "Trojan Family", which describes the strong loyalty felt by USC graduates toward their school and toward each other. We have over 250,000 members in our Trojan Family, and due to our long history and commitment toward training foreign students, USC has the most international alumni in the United States. With over 29,000 members of our Trojan Family worldwide, USC has established a network of overseas offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Mexico City to help promote our University and coordinate international alumni activities.
