MLS in
Master of Comparative Law (MCL)
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Key Information
Campus location
Bloomington, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 - 3 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 48,800 / per year **
Application deadline
01 Nov 2023*
Earliest start date
Request info
* Priority Date: September 1. Deadline: November 1, then rolling admissions.
** Full details: https://law.indiana.edu/graduate-apply/financial-info.html
Introduction
Choose your interest, build your specialization
As an Indiana Law graduate student, in addition to earning a general LLM, you can choose from several specialized areas of study that suit your interests and career goals. Many students select from more than 80 courses in the six areas of specialization shown here, but the list is not exhaustive. Your academic advisor will help you select the courses that are right for you. Twelve credits are required to complete a specialization. Two courses — Introduction to American Law and Legal Discourse and Writing — are required for an LLM.
- Business and commercial law
From accounting to white-collar crime, we have a wide variety of courses to prepare you for the global business environment - Information privacy and cybersecurity law
Indiana Law's faculty includes some of the world's leading experts in these areas, including a member of the Council on Foreign Relations - Information privacy and cybersecurity law
Indiana Law's faculty includes some of the world's leading experts in these areas, including a member of the Council on Foreign Relations - Intellectual property law
The Law School's top-25 IP program offers you a full range of courses in copyright, patent, and trademark law, including international IP law - International & comparative law; globalization
IU is one of the world's great global research institutions. The Law School alone offers more than 20 courses in this field. - LLM in American law
A broad range of courses that prepare you for the bar exam in the United States and provide an overview of American law
Why choose Indiana Law?
As a highly qualified legal scholar, you have many options for graduate studies. Our superb faculty, community support, and great location make Indiana Law a wise choice.
The approach to the study of law is different from that of other countries. An Indiana Law LLM student explains how in this video.
Your key to global success
Globalization is affecting almost every area of law. An international graduate degree from Indiana Law is your key to success in this new and rapidly changing world. Here are some of the reasons why:
World-renowned faculty and programs
Our LLM program is more than 100 years old — one of the oldest in the US. Our tradition and experience combine with the expertise and global prestige of our facultymembers to bring you a first-rate educational experience — for thousands of dollars less than at other universities.
Flexibility, support, and opportunity
The Law School has a six-person staff dedicated to international graduate students and programs. Students also enjoy excellent support from the university office of International Services. These offices are at your service for assistance with visas, housing, and other ways to make your stay in Bloomington more comfortable. Indiana Law graduate students benefit from the support of a six-person Office of Graduate Legal Studies and International Programs. This office is the home away from home for international students while they are in law school.
Some of the many ways in which we help you are:
- Teaching assistants to explain and clarify class assignments
- International peer group advisors– JD student peers who help you settle into Bloomington and get acclimated to law school life
- Specialized courses in legal discourse and writing, and an introductory course in American law for foreign lawyers
- An optional intensive course in legal Englishoffered the summer before the fall semester
- A professional development series that helps prepare you for the job market, both in the United States and in your home country
- Assistance in finding internships while you're in the US
- One-on-one academic advising and bar exam application and preparation
- If you're an aspiring academic, special programming to help you prepare for the profession, including the doctoral colloquium, a course on scholarly legal writing, and course development and teaching workshops
- Help with visa issues, integration into US culture, and other personal matters that may arise during your stay
You'll also have the benefit of Indiana University's global engagement. IU is one of the nation's leading public research universities, with a major commitment to a place on the world's stage. IU's new School of Global and International Studies brings together a distinguished community of scholars, students, staff, and alumni united by a common commitment to meet the global challenges of the 21st century with world-shaping ideas and world-altering graduates. Indiana University'sGlobal Gatewaysin China, Europe, India, and Mexico connect the IU community with resources that make international programs, projects, and other activities possible.
Beautiful Bloomington
You already know that law school can be difficult and often time-consuming. So why spend your graduate school year in a crowded urban area, juggling metro passes, dodging traffic, and paying high rent? In Bloomington, you’ll find a more relaxed pace — a college town focused on students, but with the amenities, sophistication, and fun of a large city. Everything you need is within reach in Bloomington, so you can bike to campus and shopping or take advantage of free bus service, and focus on what’s really important!
Admissions
Curriculum
Master of Comparative Law (MCL)
The M.C.L. is a two-semester program that offers international students without a first degree in law but with legal experience or a strong interest to gain familiarity with American law and legal institutions. Degree requirements:
- Complete at least 20 hours of course credit;
- Complete one academic year in residence in the Law School;
- Complete B504 Introduction to American Law for 2 credits and B530 Legal Discourse and Writing for 2 credits;
- Carry no fewer than 8 hours of course credit per semester;
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0; and
- Complete the degree requirements in no more than three consecutive semesters.
Gallery
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships: Indiana Law scholarship opportunities
The IU Maurer School of Law considers every applicant to our LLM and MCL programs for one of our Graduate Legal Studies scholarships, with preference given to those who meet our application priority date. Scholarship decisions are based on academic and professional merit and financial need, as well as a number of other factors, including geographic diversity and the relationship of the applicant to one of our partner institutions (see below).
Multiple scholarships may be awarded in combination, and total awards range from a few thousand dollars to 50 percent of tuition. Even without a scholarship, our overall costs are often less than you would pay elsewhere. We offer one of the best values in legal education in the United States.
Merit scholarships (LLM, MCL)
All admitted students are automatically considered for merit scholarships. Qualified students are selected on the basis of academic and professional merit. Merit considerations include the student’s previous academic performance, English proficiency (if applicable), academic achievements and awards, as well as professional experience. Scholarship funds are limited, so it is advisable to apply as early as possible.
Need-based scholarships (LLM, MCL)
All admitted students are automatically considered for need-based aid, as demonstrated by their admission file. Need-based scholarships are awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need as described in the student’s personal statement, application, or other indicators during the application process. To be considered, your personal statement should indicate and demonstrate a need for financial assistance.
Diversity scholarships (LLM, MCL)
You are welcome here! Indiana Law makes every effort to broaden our incoming class and extend the reach of legal education by reaching out to and assisting underrepresented groups. Our diversity awards are for graduate law students who are a member of a diverse group, which can vary from year to year or evolve with time. Diversity awards are primarily defined by students of underrepresented origin or ethnicity, but may also be applied based on gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical disability, or other broadly defined diversity traits.
George P. Smith, II Fellowship (LLM, MCL)
George P. Smith, II, an internationally recognized scholar, lecturer, and professor emeritus of law, received his undergraduate and JD degrees from Indiana University. He also received an honorary doctorate in law from IU in 1998 and was inducted into the Law School’s elite Academy of Law Alumni Fellows in 2007. In 2008, a fellowship in the LLM program was created in his honor. The fellowship is available to students pursuing a Master of Laws degree (LLM) at the Maurer School of Law, with a preference for a student who is a citizen from any of the 53 countries that make up the British Commonwealth. The number of recipients and amount of scholarship funds will be determined by the school’s Scholarship Committee.
Partner institutions and organization scholarships (LLM, MCL, SJD)
We have established formal and informal partnerships with universities and higher education organizations around the world to assist graduate students in continuing their legal education at the Maurer School of Law. If you are a current or past student of one of our partner institutions or working with a partner organization such as Fulbright, IIE, EdUSA, FUNED, COLFUTURO, or others, you may be eligible for a scholarship of up to 50 percent of tuition. Because our list of partners is constantly expanding, please check with your university’s law department, or the local education organization you are working with, to inquire about an existing partnership with the Law School. If one does not exist, encourage them to reach out to us to discuss the possibilities.
Third-party fellowships and scholarships
The following third-party funding sources may also provide options for Indiana Law graduate students:
- American Association of University Women Educational Foundation
- Australian Federation of Graduate Women Inc. (AFGW)
- DAAD Scholarships for German Citizens
- Foundation Center - Has a free tutorial for students seeking scholarships
- Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP)
- Fulbright Commission
- Fulbright Grants for Israeli Students
- Fulbright Grants for Students from Turkey
- Fulbright Program for Students from the Middle East and North Africa
- Fundação Estudar (Scholarships for Brazilian students)
- Indiana University’s GradGrants Center - Provides specific information about grants and scholarships available to graduate students at IU.
- Institute for International Education (IIE) Web site
- Inter-American Foundation - funds fellowships for students from Latin America and the Caribbean who have a specific interest in the issues of poverty and development
- Graduate Women International
- Japanese Association of University Women
- Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowships & Grants for Polish Citizens
- Open Society Institute
- Organization of Istanbul Armenians Scholarship
- P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund for Women
- Post Grad Solutions Study Bursaries
- World Bank Scholarship Program
Domestic student financial assistance
To qualify for federal student aid, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States (i.e. US permanent resident).
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program as a degree-seeking student
- Have repaid any financial aid for which you were not eligible.
- Have made satisfactory arrangements to pay off any defaulted student loan.