The LL.M./M.C.L. degree program is designed to meet each student's individual needs. Students are required to take Introduction to Legal Research, Legal Writing, and the U.S. Legal System. The balance of the course credits are electives, chosen from the more than 116 courses and seminars offered each year at California Western School of Law. Each student must have his/her overall course of study approved by the program's director. Students may also choose to participate in a four-unit clinical internship in the legal departments of various government entities, corporations, and law firms.

LL.M. degree candidates must, in addition to the aforementioned requirements, complete a scholarly research paper, which will account for at least two hours of academic credit.

M.C.L. degree candidates must spend two semesters in residence and satisfactorily complete a minimum of sixteen, and up to 25 credit hours in regularly scheduled courses, seminars, and independent study projects. 

The program director acts as your faculty advisor. In a addition, students are assigned a student mentor, a community lawyer/mentor, and student tutors.

Admission
Students may start their graduate studies in August or in January.  To request the application form, and more information, write to:

LL.M./M.C.L. Program
California Western School of Law
225 Cedar Street
San Diego, California 92101, U.S.A.

The application deadlines are:
     August classes - June 15
     January classes - November 1 


REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
Applications cannot be processed until the school receives all of the following materials:

Academic Records: 

Effective:  August 1, 2010

California Western School of Law Admissions Committee for LL.M./M.C.L. applicants recommends that applicants with a legal education outside of the United States use the LLM Credential Assembly Service. This service assists with the processing of applications by collecting, authenticating, and distributing credentials in an electronic report to all the schools to which an applicant applies. For registration information, visit llm.lsac.org.

Applicants using the LSAC Credential Assembly Service are not required to submit their transcripts to California Western School of Law LL.M. program. Applicants must submit their official transcripts (and certified translations, if required) and documentation directly to LSAC by the appropriate application deadline for the LL.M. program.

Letters of Recommendation: Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation from former law professors or other persons qualified to recommend them for graduate study in law. Your references may use the recommendation forms provided or may write a letter on professional letterhead. The recommendations may be returned to the applicant in a sealed and signed envelope to be submitted with the full application package or forwarded directly to the LL.M./M.C.L. Program, California Western School of Law.

Personal Statement: Applicants must write a personal statement describing their previous law study and professional experience, reasons and goals for studying law in the United States, professional plans following graduation, and any other information applicants consider relevant.

Proof of Competency in English: All courses are taught in English. Applicants from non-English speaking countries, or whose native language is not English, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) given by the Education Testing Service. Proof of competency in English may also be demonstrated by evidence of successful study of a significant nature and duration at an institution of higher learning in which English was the primary language of instruction. The ETS TOEFL code number for California Western School of Law is 4802.

TOEFL REQUIREMENTS:

Paper:                          575 

Computer:                    232

IBT (internet-based):  90-91

IELTS equivalent:         6.5

Certification of Adequate Financial Resources: Applicants must provide documentation of adequate financial resources to pay for tuition, books, medical insurance, and living expenses during the LL.M./M.C.L. program. This should be in the form of a letter from the applicant or the applicant's sponsor stating the specific amount available in U.S. dollars, as well as a letter from a bank verifying the applicant or the sponsor has sufficient funds.

LL.M./M.C.L. degree candidates, with the exception of those having permanent U.S. residency, are not eligible for financial aid. The law school strongly encourages applicants to investigate sources of financial assistance in their own countries and make timely application for such aid (e.g., with the bi-national Fulbright Commission in their countries or the Cultural Attache of the Embassy of the U.S.A.).

Photograph: Please attach a recent passport-size identification photo to your application.

Each application must be accompanied by a non-refundable $55 application fee (paid by money order or check drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. currency payable to California Western School of Law). All materials submitted by the applicant become the property of California Western School of Law and cannot be returned.

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