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Application Process

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Columbia Law School strives to admit students to the Executive LL.M. program who offer diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and interests, and who share a commitment to excellence. We look for evidence of that commitment in areas including your professional accomplishments, academic records, and community engagement. Learn more about the application process below.

Eligibility
How To Apply
Required Application Components
Deadlines

To be eligible for application to the Executive LL.M. program, you should have:

A first degree in law (a degree in a field other than law, even if followed by a master’s degree in law, generally does not suffice for admission).
A minimum of five years of work experience post-first law degree graduation.
A stellar academic record, as demonstrated by graduation with honors from all post-secondary education institutions.
Minimum scores on the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition: 105 overall score, with a minimum of 26 on Reading and Listening and a minimum of 24 on the Speaking and Writing sections. Or minimum scores on the TOEFL ITP Plus for China: 627 overall score, with a minimum of 61 on each section. We will also review the Vericant interview.

Submitting Your Application

Applications for admission to the 2023 Executive LL.M. program and all supporting documents must be submitted through LSAC. Please familiarize yourself with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). We do not accept supporting documents by mail or email.

Joint Application (Executive LL.M. and LL.M.)

If you would like to be considered for both of Columbia Law School's LL.M. programs - the Executive LL.M. and the full academic year, on-campus LL.M. Program - you may complete our Dual Application also available at LSAC.

Application Components

Submit the following components through LSAC’s online application:

Nonrefundable application fee of $85, which will not be credited against your tuition
Personal statement (this is uploaded with your application)
Résumé or curriculum vitae (this is uploaded with your application)

Submit the following components through LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS):

All post-secondary transcripts and diplomas
Statement of rank (if official transcripts for your first law degree do not include your class rank) *not required*
Two letters of recommendation (professional or academic)
TOEFL scores

Once submitted, all application materials become the property of LSAC and/or the Office of Graduate Degree Programs and will not be returned to you under any circumstances.

Early Decision Deadline

October 1, 2022. If your application is submitted and complete by this date, you will receive a decision by November 1, 2022.

Regular Admission Deadline

The Regular Admission Deadline is December 18, 2022.

Applications submitted between October 1 (the Early Decision deadline) and December 18 will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Typically, the admissions committee begins rolling out decisions in December and continues to release decisions until early February.

The online application and all application materials for the CAS report must be sent to LSAC well in advance of the application deadline. It is your responsibility to ensure adequate time for your application documents to be mailed, received, and processed, which can take several weeks.

If any of your personal information changes after you submit your application, email [email protected] as soon as possible to let us know.

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