Below is a list of application deadlines for LL.M. programs starting in the fall of 2021 offered by law schools in the United States. The schools were chosen based on the most-visited university programs on LLM GUIDE and other top programs.
This year, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected LL.M. applications substantially, in some cases pushing back deadlines and start dates. There is still some uncertainty, so make sure you check with the schools themselves to confirm all application deadlines. Some US law schools are also offering spring starts, for those who want to start their LL.M. before the fall.
Some law schools have different deadlines for domestic and international students, so make sure you apply by the correct deadline.
Applications at some schools are already open, and some open their applications cycles in September. The deadlines for some LL.M. programs is as early as November or December 2020.
Some law schools have not announced their LL.M. application deadlines yet; we'll update this list as more add their deadlines.
Unless otherwise stated, the deadlines below are for full-time LL.M. programs beginning in the fall of 2021.
USC Gould School of Law
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline: March 1, 2021 (priority), June 1 (final)
New York University (NYU) School of Law
- Foreign Credential Applicants: December 2020
- Deadline for applications with domestic education credentials: April 1, 2021 (February 1 priority scholarship deadline)
- Deadline, part-time LL.M. programs: June 1, 2021
UC Berkeley School of Law
- Application deadline, LL.M executive track deadline: November 15, 2020 (track A); December 18, 2020 (track B)
- Application deadline, LL.M. traditional and thesis track: December 18, 2020
USC Law School
- Fall 2021 LL.M. intake application deadlines not yet available.
Georgetown University Law Center
- Application deadlines, LL.M. (foreign-trained attorneys): November 13, 2020 (early action), February 5, 2021 (regular action)
- Application deadlines, LL.M. (US-trained attorneys): January 6, 2021 (early action)
- Other application deadlines: Scholarship deadline: February 5, 2021; Deadline for stand-alone certificates and online programs: April 1, 2021
Columbia Law School
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline: December 18, 2020
Harvard Law School
- The final deadline for the 2021 LL.M. program is December 1, 2020
UCLA School of Law
- LL.M. deadline: February 1, 2021
Stanford Law School
- Application deadline, LL.M.: TBA (December 8, 2020 for those applying to the Knight-Hennessey Scholars Program)
Boston University School of Law
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline for international applicants: April 15, 2021
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline for domestic applicants: July 31, 2021
UPenn (Penn Law)
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadlines: November 15, 2020 (early notification) or December 15, 2020
George Washington (GW Law)
- Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Northwestern University School of Law
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline (ELLMC, LLM, and LLM-IHR programs): January 15, 2021
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline (JD/LLM Tax, and JD/LLM-IHR programs): February 15, 2021
UC Irvine
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadlines not yet available
University of Miami School of Law
- LL.M. application deadlines not yet available
Cornell Law School
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline: December 15, 2020
- Cornell Tech LL.M. application deadlines: Round 1: November 15, 2020; Round 2: January 15, 2021; Round 3: March 15, 2021; Round 4: April 30, 2021)
Fordham University School of Law
- LL.M. application deadline: March 1, 2021
Duke Law School
- LL.M. application deadline: January 20, 2021
University of Chicago Law School
- Fall 2021 LL.M. applications priority deadline: December 15, 2020 (documents such as application, personal statement, and resume must be submitted by this date). Priority application completion deadline is February 1, 2021
American University - Washington College of Law
- Deadline, international students: May 1, 2021
- Deadline, U.S. Citizen/Permanent Resident Students: July 15, 2021
- Deadline, Online / Hybrid LL.M.: August 1, 2021
University of Washington, Seattle (UW Law School)
- Deadline, international students: February 15, 2021
- Deadline, US students: May 1, or July 1, 2021, depending on program)
University of Hawaii at Manoa - William S. Richardson School of Law
- Applications for the 2021 fall intake are considered on a rolling basis, from October 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021
UC Davis School of Law
- Application deadline, LL.M. August start: applications are reviewed continuously until the semester begins; it's suggested to apply by March 1.
Yale Law School
- Application deadline, LL.M.: December 1, 2020
Cardozo School of Law
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadlines not yet announced
University of Maryland Law School
- LL.M. application deadline, fall 2021: Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials no later than August 1, but late applications may be considered, depending on space.
University Virginia School of Law
- LL.M. application deadline: February 1, 2021
Vanderbilt University Law School
- LL.M. application deadline: April 30, 2021
UC Hastings
- Priority deadline, scholarships and financial aid consideration: March 1, 2021; final deadline: June 30, 2021.
Florida International University (FIU)
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadlines not yet available
Michigan Law
- LL.M. application deadline: January 15, 2021
Brooklyn Law School
- Rolling applications
Penn State Law (University Park)
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadlines not yet available
Ohio State University - Moritz College of Law
- Fall 2021 deadline: April 15, 2021
University of Arizona - Rogers College of Law
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline not yet available
Albany Law School
- 2021 LL.M. application deadline: August 1 (July 1 deadline for LL.M. for International Lawyers)
Northeastern University
- 2021 deadline not yet available
Tulane Law School
- Application deadline, LL.M.: May 1, 2021
University of Houston Law Center
- Fall intake deadlines: Applicants with a non-US law degree: April 15, 2021 (priority decision), June 1, 2021 (regular decision); applicants with a US law degree: June 1, 2021 (priority decision), August 1, 2021 (late decision)
Loyola Law School Los Angeles
- Fall 2021 application deadline not yet available
George Mason University
- Deadline for international students who need to apply for a student visa: May 1, 2021
- Deadline for students who do not need a visa: August 1, 2021
University of Texas School of Law (UT)
- LL.M. application deadline: March 1, 2021 (for priority consideration)
Tufts University - Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
- Deadlines: November 10, 2020 (early notification); January 10, 2021 (scholarship priority); February 20, 2021 (Round 3); April 1, 2021 (Round 4)
University of San Francisco - School of Law (USF)
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadlines not yet available
University of Minnesota Law School
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline not yet available
Pepperdine University School of Law
- Applications accepted on a rolling basis for most LL.M. programs
Emory University School of Law
- LL.M. application deadline, fall 2021: April 15 (early deadline); June 30 (general deadline)
University of Florida (UF)
- LL.M. application deadline, fall 2021: not yet available
Pace Law School
- No official deadline for LL.M. program; candidates are urged to apply as early as possible
Chapman University - Fowler School of Law
- Rolling applications
Golden Gate University
- Fall 2021 application deadline not yet available
Boston College Law School
- Rolling applications
University of Oregon School of Law
- Rolling admissions: International applicants are encouraged to apply by June 30, 2021. Domestic applicants and those who currently have F-1 visas are encouraged to apply by July 31, 2021.
University of Connecticut School of Law (UConn Law)
- Fall 2021 LL.M. deadline for non-US residents: June 15, 2021
- Deadline for US residents; July 15, 2021
University of Notre Dame Law School (NDLS)
- Fall 2021 LL.M. application deadline: April 1, 2021
Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Law
- LL.M. applications are accepted on a rolling basis; applications should be submitted by March 10 to ensure visa processing.
Indiana University - Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Rolling admissions accepted
Louisiana State University (LSU) - Paul M. Hebert Law Center
- Fall 2021 applications due: March 31, 2021
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
- Applications for LL.M. beginning Fall 2021 due: November 15 (guaranteed decision); March, 2021 (scholarship deadline), April 1, May 1 (international applicants), July 1(domestic applicants)
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- No fixed deadline, but it is recommended to apply by March 31, 2021
Wake Forest University (WFU) School of Law
- Admissions accepted on a rolling basis for LL.M. beginning Fall 2021
Syracuse University College of Law
- LL.M. beginning Fall 2021: the school recommends LL.M. candidates submit application materials by the June 1, 2021 for priority consideration
Indiana University Maurer School of Law - Bloomington
- Application deadilnes not yet available
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) - William S. Boyd School of Law
- Applications accepted on a rolling basis
IMPORTANT: All prospective students are advised to double-check the above application deadlines with law schools as soon as possible before applying.
