LL.M. Program

LL.M. Program

MC Law offers several different LL.M. degree programs for applicants with diverse backgrounds and interests, including Traditional Studies, American Legal Studies, International and European Studies, and Advocacy. The programs are tailored for candidates who wish to take full advantage of MC Law’s small class size, the dynamic research community, extra-curricular activities, and location in the capital to pursue their personal and professional goals. In addition to exploring the website, please contact LLM@mc.edu to learn more about these opportunities.

Academic Support

MC Law is unique in meeting the diverse individual requirements of LL.M. candidates. At the center of the LL.M. programs are the candidates themselves. In addition to a wide range of course offerings to sharpen professional skills from faculty with rich advocacy experience and international legal expertise, MC Law offers competitive prices, one-to-one faculty mentorship, small class sizes, and administrative support at every stage of your studies, from help in securing housing and immigration status to preparing for the New York, California, Alabama, DC or other U.S. Bar to post-graduation work placement. Candidates are also offered a tremendous variety of extra-curricular activities, including career events, field trips, internships, visiting lectures and workshops, and regular social activities.

Advocacy Studies

The Master of Laws (LL.M.) In Advocacy at MC Law

In the modern legal market, young attorneys are given few, if any, opportunities to develop the advanced advocacy skills so critical to effective client representation. Compounding this problem is the fact that many budding new lawyers do not complete more than one or two classes of advocacy during their J.D. studies. The solution is the Master of Laws (LL.M.) In Advocacy at MC Law.

A hands-on, practice-based course of study, the Advocacy LL.M. integrates trial and appellate advocacy externships at top State and Federal agencies. Students can focus on developing their knowledge and skills in civil or criminal advocacy at the trial and/or appellate level. Perfect for the practicing attorney, students have five years to complete the degree, a variety of scheduling options and all classes also count towards CLE credit.

Professor Patricia Bennett, one of the most respected trial advocates in the region, let alone the State of Mississippi; and Professor Victoria Lowery, who built MC Law in a nationally respected appellate advocacy program, will guide and teach these graduate legal students, transforming them into polished advocates prepared to excel in front of any court in the nation. Assisting these professors will be a team of the most experienced and respected jurists and advocates in the South.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must have completed or be scheduled to complete their J.D. degree from an A.B.A. accredited law school by the time they begin the LL.M. Program.
• Applicants must be eligible for or have been admitted to practice before the highest court in a U.S. state following a bar examination.
• Applicants must possess the professional and personal integrity associated with the practice of law in the United States.
• Applicants must have a proven record of academic success.

Graduation Requirements

• 24 credits completed from the list of classes under the program within five years of beginning the program
• Cumulative 2.0-grade point average

Costs and Scholarships

MC Law is committed to providing a high quality but affordable legal education and Jackson is one of the more cost-friendly capitals in the United States. Even so, an LL.M. degree can be a substantial financial commitment and potential candidates will be requested to demonstrate the ability to finance their entire course of study. Candidates who are U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents may apply for financial aid loans, and international candidates are encouraged to contact the MC Law Financial Aid Office and LL.M. Programs Office to discuss possible funding opportunities.

LL.M. students at MC Law enjoy the exact same low per credit tuition rate as our incoming J.D. students. For academic year 2015/16, the tuition rate is $1068 per credit hour. Total costs will vary based on the number of credits (12-36) and length (1-4 semesters) of your specific academic plan. For a total estimated cost of attendance specific to your academic goals, email LLM@mc.edu

In addition, MC Law provides selective merit-based scholarships[RM1] for exceptional LL.M. applicants, as well as significantly discounted costs for candidates from international partnership institutions. Potential candidates are encouraged to contact the LL.M. Programs Office at LLM@mc.edu to learn more about available scholarship opportunities.

Graduate Admission Application Checklist

The LL.M. programs at MC Law offer students an unparalleled opportunity to sharpen their understanding of American law and hone their specialized interests through advanced study in American or non-American legal fields. Graduating candidates have gone on to pass the New York and other local bars, secure legal employment in the United States, and have successfully found international job placements in industry, finance, law firms, and universities. MC Law provides tailored academic and career support at every stage of the degree to ensure candidates achieve their professional objectives.

To apply to the LL.M. Programs, candidates must have either graduated with a JD from an ABA-approved U.S. law school, earned a JD equivalent degree from a foreign law school, or be completing a degree from an international partner institution. Unlike many U.S. law schools, MC Law does not charge any application fee, which is part of our commitment to provide an affordable degree that may be achieved in an efficient time period. Applicants for all LL.M. programs must submit the following:

• Application Form (either through LSAC or LL.M.@mc.edu)
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Personal Statement
• Transcripts
• English Language Skill Verification
• Letters of Recommendation (Optional)
• Seat Deposit

English Language Skill Verification

The applicant must be able to prove English language proficiency by one of the following:

• being a native born English speaker;
• a personal interview conducted by the Director of the Foreign LL.M. Program at MC Law;
• a score of at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL (http://www.ets.org);
• a score of at least 95(5) on the iBT TOEFL; or
• a score of at least 6.0 (http://www.ielts.org) on the IELTS.

Traditional Studies, American Legal Studies, and International and European Studies

The Traditional, American Legal Studies, and International and European Studies LL.M. Programs are specifically designed for candidates educated outside the United States or with an interest in developing their knowledge of non-American legal systems. A significant number of the faculty have the international legal expertise or include comparative elements in their teaching. Through access to the full JD curriculum, research and practical engagement, candidates have the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge of the American legal system to pass the local or New York Bar while honing their specialized interests. MC Law offers competitive prices, one-to-one faculty mentorship, small class sizes, and administrative support at every stage of your studies; from help in securing housing and immigration status to preparing for the local or New York Bar to post-graduation work placement. Candidates are also offered a tremendous variety of extra-curricular activities, including career events, field trips, internships, visiting lectures and workshops, and regular social activities. In addition, candidates are eligible for successful completion of the LL.M. degree to enter the JD program at the unit requirement.