Columbia University School of Law: LLM Profile

Part of the esteemed “Ivy League,” Columbia University provides some of the country’s strongest academics—not to mention a campus in America’s most famous city, New York. Students interested in pursuing an LL.M. degree should certainly consider Columbia as one of their top choices.

Columbia’s LL.M. students enjoy a flexible curriculum in which they can make their degree as specific or as well-rounded as they choose. All LL.M. degrees at Columbia are general (rather than specialized degrees in a particular field), and students also have the opportunity to take courses at Columbia University’s other graduate schools, such as Columbia Business School. The LL.M. program at Columbia is particularly well-known for its curricula in Finance and in Human Rights.

Columbia University’s LL.M. Degree in a Few Words

Each year, Columbia accepts around 300 LL.M. students from more than 50 countries. Over the course of a year, they each design their own curriculum, free to pursue their own particular interests in as much depth or breadth as they choose.

Students may complement their learning at Columbia University School of Law by taking graduate-level classes at one of Columbia’s other schools. They also have access to New York’s many networking and professional opportunities, such as the United Nations Headquarters or Columbia’s own Human Rights Institute.

Academics

Columbia University’s LL.M. degree is a general program. The only required classes are an Introduction to American Law course and a Legal Research and Writing course that are obligatory for international students. Although students can choose their classes from nearly 2 dozen areas of study, many students are drawn to Columbia for its strengths in Human Rights Law, Financial Law, and International Law.

Students also have access to a wide array of clinics and workshops. One of the most popular workshops teaches students about business deals, where they spend a semester analyzing real-world contracts. There are also a variety of externship opportunities that take advantage of Columbia’s location in the Financial District.

In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Columbia University School of Law the #5 Best Law School in the Country!

Campus Life

New York City is without a doubt one of the most exciting places to live. Columbia University is located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Students have easy access to Broadway, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times Square, and professional opportunities in one of the world’s most important political and financial capitals.

Columbia students take part in many extracurricular organizations, including affinity-based groups, pre-professional organizations, and over a dozen student-run law journals, including Columbia Business Law Review and Columbia Journal of European Law.

How Do I Apply?

Columbia only accepts students who hold a previous undergraduate law degree. Columbia strongly recommends that applicants have at least one year of post-graduate professional experience. Columbia uses the Law Student Admissions Council (LSAC) online application system.

Columbia has two application deadlines: the Early Review deadline is November 1st, with responses by the end of December; the Regular Application deadline is December 18th, with decisions no later than the end of April.

The application requires transcripts, a resumé/CV, a statement of rank, 2 letters of recommendation, a personal statement, TOEFL scores for international applicants, and an optional financial aid application.

Affording Columbia University

The total cost of tuition and fees for Columbia’s LL.M. program is $77,398, with an additional estimated $23,947 for living expenses in New York City. International students are eligible for the same financial aid as American classmates. Applicants interested in receiving financial aid must complete an additional section of their application.