LL.M. in American Legal Studies

On completing the LL.M. – American Legal Studies degree, you can:

• Reason, research, and problem-solve in the context of the United States legal system.
• Analyze the influences of law, policy, and government around the globe.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the common-law legal tradition in the United States.

Career Opportunities

• Corporate, Private-Practice, or Nonprofit Law
• Human Resources
• Consulting

Admission Requirements – LL.M. in American Legal Studies

Application Deadlines

Please visit the International Admissions page for information regarding International Application, Decision, & I-20 Issuance Deadlines. Early applications are strongly recommended for all applicants because priority consideration for admission, scholarship, and grant assistance from Regent Law are given to those who apply by the given semester deadline.

Law School Admissions Criteria

The Regent Law admissions committee seeks to do more than simply enroll those with the greatest academic potential. We admit men and women who have demonstrated both academic ability and a commitment to the school’s mission as a Christ-centered institution.

The admissions committee, comprised of faculty members, associate deans, and the director of admissions, evaluates applicants according to the following criteria:

• Academic achievement (GPA, course rigor, and institution attended)
• Career accomplishments
• Skills relevant to the practice of law
• Responses to the questions in the application for admission
• Mission fit

Prerequisites for the LL.M. Program

In addition to the below list of application requirements, students seeking admission must possess the international equivalent of an ABA J.D. degree, must be in the process of completing such a degree, or must be able to prove that they are completing or presently hold a foreign law degree which qualifies, or will qualify, them to practice law in their home country or that they currently are, or will be, eligible for licensure abroad.

Once you have fulfilled the admission requirements listed in the below application process, you may be contacted for an admissions interview, which is by invitation only.

Admissions Decisions

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, with most applicants being notified within three weeks of the date that the application and all supporting documents are received by the Admissions Office.

LL.M. Application Process

1. Application for Admission

Submit your application using our Regent University Online Application.

2. $65 Application Fee

Pay the nonrefundable $65 application fee with personal check or by money order mailed to Regent University, Enrollment Support Services, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.

3. Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts

We are able to examine and view your unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary degrees completed from U.S.-based schools in order to review you for an admissions decision. Please submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. For further details, please review the International Admissions Checklist on the International Students Admissions page.

International Applicants: Please visit the International Students Admissions page for a more detailed explanation of the Regent University application information and to determine whether or not you qualify as an international student.

*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. We will notify you if your previous institution will not release transcripts directly to us.

4. Letters of Recommendation

Please have two references submit letters of recommendation on your behalf to lawschool@regent.edu with the following subject line: Letter of Recommendation on behalf of [Insert Applicant Name].

One recommendation must be from a former professor or instructor capable of evaluating your academic preparation for the type of degree you seek to complete with us. If it has been more than five years since your last schooling, a supervisor recommendation may be submitted in lieu of the faculty recommendation. You are welcome to submit more than one faculty recommendation, but please consider selecting professors who can address different aspects of your academic abilities.

A clergy recommendation must also be submitted. This may come from a minister, priest, or someone else who has the ability to evaluate your spiritual maturity and suitability for graduate study that will include a Christian integration.

These forms may not be completed by family members.

5. Current and Thorough Resume

Email your resume to lawschool@regent.edu with the subject line: LLM Application – Resume.

6. Personal Statement

The admissions committee attaches significant importance to the applicant’s personal statement. The statement can provide the committee with insights into the applicant’s passion and motivation for studying law, his or her commitment to receiving a legal education that integrates Christian principles and ethics, and knowledge of special skills and abilities developed through employment experiences. This will also be emailed to lawschool@regent.edu with the subject line: LLM Application – Personal Statement.

7. Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

8. Additional International Applicant Requirements

On-Campus Program Applicants

Please refer to our International Admissions Checklist to make sure you have successfully completed the proper documentation and forms, along with your application. LL.M. applicants must obtain one of the following:

• Internet-Based TOEFL: 100
• PTE: 68
• IELTS: 8
• Duolingo: 125

For any further questions, please feel free to contact our office by email at lawschool@regent.edu or our International Students Office.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Why should you come to Regent for your LL.M.?

Not only does our program offer broad exposure to a wide range of American law topics, but it does so in the context of a Christian community of students, professors, and friends.

What courses will I take?

In addition to standard courses in American law, our comprehensive LL.M. curriculum allows students to take courses in many different areas, including but not limited to: corporate, commercial and transactional law; constitutional law; public law; alternative dispute resolution; intellectual property law; family law; and criminal law and procedure, among others.

What exactly is a Christian law school?

We do more than just provide our students with a fully accredited legal education. We integrate a solid foundation of Christian faith and values into the curriculum, and we instill in our students the principles of excellence and integrity in every course we teach. Whether as judges, legislators, human rights advocates, or in public or private practice, our graduates make a difference wherever they are called to serve.

What about your faculty? And what’s life like on campus?

In addition to having a rigorous academic program taught by a distinguished faculty of Christian legal scholars, we are located on a beautiful campus just minutes from the beach, and we offer a diverse and supportive Christian community.

Will I receive financial aid?

The School of Law may award partial assistance based upon academic promise and need. Courses offered at our HILS host site in South Korea are not eligible for financial aid. View full information regarding financial aid.

Will this degree enable me to take an American bar exam?

Although the primary purpose of this program is not bar exam preparation, some U.S. states allow attorneys from other countries who earn an LL.M. degree at an accredited U.S. law school to take the state bar exam. The eligibility requirements vary from state to state. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine if he/she would be eligible, after earning our LL.M. degree, to take an American bar exam. If an applicant is pursuing the LL.M. for the purpose of qualifying for a bar exam, he/she should investigate this issue thoroughly prior to committing to earn this degree. Requirements may change at any time, so continue to check with your jurisdiction in The Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which provides annually updated information on bar admission requirements in all US jurisdictions, including a directory of state bar admission agencies.

What is Regent University’s Quality Matters (QM) Program?

Regent University is a subscriber of the Quality Matters (QM) Program. QM is a faculty-centered, peer review process that is designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses. QM is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received national recognition for its peer-based approach and continuous improvement in online education and student learning. There are three primary components in the Quality Matters Program: The QM Rubric, the Peer Review Process and QM Professional Development. The QM Rubric incorporates principles from Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Learning objectives, assessment and measurement, instructional materials, learner interaction and engagement, and course technology are critical components.

The Quality Matters process is designed to ensure that all reviewed courses will eventually meet expectations. The QM process is integral to a continuous quality improvement process. The QM Rubric is based on national standards of best practice, the research literature, and instructional design principles. The QM Rubric and process are designed to promote student learning.

Are all of the courses taught in English?

All of the courses are indeed taught in English. This is necessary not only because the vast majority of American legal writing is in English, but also the fact that if the foreign law graduate taking the LL.M. program wants to take a bar exam, that exam will be in English and greater English proficiency is a necessity.

Regent’s LL.M. in American Legal Studies seeks to develop the writing skills of its students. Every student must take a research and writing course which builds English proficiency. Regent’s program requires weekly written interaction between students and their professor, and is therefore more rigorous than similar programs.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the LL.M. program, students will demonstrate:

• A familiarity with the United States legal system, in the context of selected substantive law topics.
• An ability to reason, research, write, and problem-solve in the context of the United States legal system.
• An understanding of the common-law legal tradition, as opposed to a civil law system.
• An appreciation of Christian principles applicable to law.

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