There is plenty of information about applying to U.S. law schools, if you know where to look! Between law schools hosting their own recruitment events, consortium events and events with organizations like EducationUSA, and university websites, you can learn a lot directly from the law schools. There are also numerous consultants, law school graduates, and others sharing information online, both paid and free.

This post will focus on the LL.M. application process. I continue to work with my LEALS students to ensure they’re positioning themselves to get into their first choice school, maximize scholarship money, or some combination of both.

Step #1: Research schools and the application process. Applying to law schools is expensive and knowing the number of schools and type of schools you should be applying to is important. While you can more easily identify reaches, targets, and safetys for J.D. programs based on LSAT scores and ABA 509 Reports, you may need to speak with a couple of schools to get a better sense of your LL.M. admissions likelihood based on your background, grades, etc.

Step #2: Earlier applications are generally better. There’s more scholarship money and the class has not yet been built. For J.D. applicants without a reported GPA, you’ll likely be relying on your LSAT to do the heavy lifting. This can work in a positive or negative way. For LL.M. applicants, scholarship money and places in more selective programs are the main drivers. Review school websites and information to get a sense of when applications are due.

Step #3: Ensure polished application and documents. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on personal statement or application reviews. At least in my sense from my LEALS students, schools look at LSAT for the J.D. more than any other part of the application. On the LL.M. side, it seems to generally break down (they apply to lots of schools so it’s a combination) to: (1) GPA and School; (2) TOEFL/IELTS; (3) recommendation letters, including mine; (4) internships and other experiences; (5) personal statement and other essays. That is not to say the personal statement is not important. It should be well thought out and proofread. You should connect it to the school(s) you’re applying to. See if you can bounce the theme off a trusted colleague. And set the date you’d like to have all your application materials completed a month earlier than you need them. Sometimes, recommenders take longer to write your LORs. Something may happen that’ll delay your TOEFL/IELTS. Or you may be busy and push off finalizing your personal statement.

Step #4: For J.D. programs, you’ll likely be applying through LSAC. LL.M. programs differ in whether they require an LSAC application or allow you to submit directly to the law school. Check as that may save you money. Also ask schools if they offer fee waivers to applicants, especially for the school application fee portion. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars!

Step #5: Keep a chart of the schools you’re applying to and when you’ve applied and heard back. This will help you keep track of your applications and may help your junior colleagues in future cycles if you feel comfortable sharing. This will also help you if schools are faster or slower in getting back to you, help you ensure you don’t miss any schools before deciding, etc.

Step #6: Additional research during the admissions process is great. As you start getting your admission letters, you can start digging deeper into those schools. What’s the scholarship policy? Are clinics or externships available? What sort of bar exam support do they have? How do their international students find jobs? It’s generally easier to have extended and deeper conversations with U.S. law schools once you’ve been admitted, and you can and should continue to follow up.

Step #7: Try not to make decisions with incomplete information. It may feel great to get into a school, and you may see a very quick deadline or turnaround. It’s okay to ask for an extension. To get a clearer picture on the scholarship award. Or other concerns. Most people I’ve met understand that this is an important decision you’re making and that you need time to make an informed decision. For my students at least, the worst a school has said is “no” to a request, though they’ve asked politely and professionally. It may be impossible as a school takes significantly longer or puts you on a waitlist. But once you start getting your decisions, you can reach out to slower schools to let them know you’ve been admitted elsewhere and hope to receive an update on your file. This may also help as you figure out which scholarship package is best for you.

Step #8: Try to speak with current students or recent alumni. You may not have the luxury to visit a campus as an international student. Before your deposits are due, see if you can speak with a current student or recent graduate. Luckily my LEALS students have a large number of alumni who are currently or recently part of U.S. law schools, so they can use that powerful network. But you may be able to use LinkedIn or ask a school to put you in touch with people similarly situated.

Step #9: Final Decision. At some point you’ll need to make your decision.

Best of luck with the 2023-24 application cycle!