LLM Application Procedure
The priority application deadline for August 2010 admission is February 15, 2010. Applications completed after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis only. The Admissions Committee reviews files in the order they are completed, on a rolling basis. Therefore, it is to the applicant's advantage to submit the complete application with supporting materials as early as possible.
Applicants will be reviewed once all required documents and the application fee have been received. Applicants will be notified by email once their application is received by USF and once the application file is complete. Applicants will be notified by mail or courier as soon as an admission decision has been reached. Those who require an early decision may contact the Office of Admissions by telephone or email to confirm the status of their application.
Applicants will be evaluated on academic and personal criteria. Academic information to be submitted with the application includes law school transcripts and other university records. Personal information includes extracurricular activities, employment experience, and other biographical information. Recommendations from professors or employers and a personal statement from the applicant are also required. All documents not in English, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, must be accompanied by an English translation.
- Application Form
Beginning mid-September you may complete the application form and submit it electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) by clicking here. You may also download the application here. All mailed admission materials should be sent to the following address:
University of San Francisco School of Law
Office of Admissions
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080 - $70 Application Fee
If you are mailing your application, payment must be in U.S. dollars by check drawn on an American bank or in the form of an international money order payable to the "USF Bursar." If you are applying electronically through LSAC, you may pay by credit card. If you are applying electronically and are unable pay by credit card, you may submit your application electronically and mail the application fee to the USF School of Law Office of Admissions with the LSAC Certification Form.
- Personal Statement
This two page statement should discuss your reasons for applying to the USF LLM program, your work experience, education, background, career goals, and other pertinent information. If applying electronically via LSAC, your personal statement may be submitted as an electronic attachment.
- Two Letters of Recommendation
Letters should be from university professors or employers and must be printed on letterhead, signed, and submitted in sealed envelopes. If not in English, the letters of recommendation must be accompanied by an English translation. The letters may be submitted with your application or mailed directly to the USF School of Law Office of Admissions.
- Certification of Finances
Foreign applicants (those who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents) must submit the Certification of Finances Form and supporting documents, showing funds covering the nine months of study at the university. Certification may be submitted either with your application or after you are admitted. If an applicant submits the certification early and is subsequently admitted, he or she will receive the documentation required to apply for a visa more quickly. Please click here for information on the cost of attendance, tuition, and fees.
- Financial Aid
The USF School of Law awards a limited number of partial tuition scholarships and occasionally several fully-funded scholarships (tuition plus living expenses, excluding transportation costs) each year to highly qualified international applicants who would otherwise be unable to attend the LLM Program.
International applicants who wish to apply for financial aid from USF must include a separate written statement with their application materials explaining their financial situation and an amount they can actually contribute to their studies at USF. Since funds are limited, it is to the scholarship applicant's advantage to complete their complete application with supporting materials as early as possible.
In addition, a Citibank program offers loans to international students, who are neither citizens or permanent residents if they have a credit-worthy U.S. citizen as a co-signor. See www.citiassist.com.
U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents needing financial aid may submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15th for grant and scholarship eligibility. Such students may qualify for subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans of up to $20,500. U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents needing additional financial aid information should click here.
- Transcripts
Original transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended are required. The transcripts should show your grades, approximate class rank, and any degree received. If the degree received is not printed on the transcript you must provide a copy of the diploma certificate. If not in English, transcripts and diplomas must be accompanied by an English translation. The transcripts must be sent directly to the USF School of Law Office of Admissions in sealed envelopes by your university. If possible, please provide a grading system explanation sheet from each school.
Applicants can submit their international transcripts through the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service (CAS). This service is included in the LSDAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your LSDAS report. To use the JD CAS, log in to your online account at www.lsac.org and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it to them promptly. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts. Questions about the JD Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at (215) 968-1001 or lsacinfo@lsac.org.
- LSAT Scores (for U.S. applicants only)
U.S. law graduates must supply an official copy of their LSAT score.
- English Language Requirement
Strong English language ability is a prerequisite to admission. For foreign students whose native language is not English, this requirement may be satisfied by having completed basic legal studies in an English speaking country in a university where instruction was in English or by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and receiving a score of 600 PBT, 100 IBT or higher. Applicants should register to take the test as early as possible so the scores will be received by the February 15 deadline. Only TOEFL scores from tests administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS) will be accepted. The TOEFL score report must be sent directly to USF by ETS. Use school code number 479203 to ensure the score will be forwarded to the LLM program of the USF School of Law. For information on taking the TOEFL exam visit www.toefl.org. As an option, applicants that use the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service can have the TOEFL report sent directly to LSAC using the code 0058. The score will be forwarded to USF along with an evaluation report of transcripts prepared by LSAC. We also accept an official International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic score reports. Fluency in English, equivalent to an overall band score of 7.0, is required. Testing locations and times may be obtained from www.ielts.org. Only TOEFL and IELTS scores from tests taken within two years of your application submission will be valid.
Applicants who present a TOEFL between 575–600 PBT, 90–100 IBT, or an IELTS overall band score between 6.5–7.0, may be conditionally admitted to the LLM program. These students are required to complete a six-week summer English program at USF.
In rare circumstances, applicants may be admitted conditionally by an evaluation process that includes an extensive interview in person with a USF law professor. Acceptance is subject to production of documents, such as transcripts, and validating statements made at the interview. In these instances, students may be required to take a 6-week, 12-week, or 16-week ESL course at USF prior to the LLM program.