Application Process

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 strong academic record.
• An English standardized test score is required for all applicants, except those who are automatically waived and those who receive a waiver. Only the internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or the Academic Version of the IELTS will be accepted. 
  • TOEFL iBT (Test Center / Home Edition): 105 Overall Score
  • IELTS (Test Center / Online): 8 Overall Score

Contact us for more information!

Submitting Your Application

Apply for admission to the 2026 Executive LL.M. program on our Application Portal. 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.

Application Components

Applications for 2025 are now closed. The 2026 Application will open in early September 2025.

Submit the following components through Columbia's Application Portal:

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

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

• All post-secondary transcripts and diplomas
• Two letters of recommendation (professional or academic)
• English language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS) 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, 2025: Applications submitted by October 1 will receive an admission decision by November 1, 2025. 

Regular Admission Deadline

December 2, 2025: Applications submitted after October 1 (the Early Decision deadline) 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 must be submitted 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.