Yale Law School. LL.M. Program

Transcription

1 Yale Law School LL.M. Program

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3 LL.M. Program at Yale Law School Since 1876, graduate education has been a vital part of Yale Law School. Our graduate students serve as our window to the world, just as Yale Law School serves as their window into U.S. and world law. Our graduates now lead the finest law faculties in the world, and regularly send us their best students. Through this interactive process, we continue a unique dynamic of mutual instruction that keeps Yale Law School alive to the most vibrant currents of legal thought around the globe. Dean Harold Hongju Koh The Master of Laws (LL.M.) program at Yale Law School is a one-year course of study intended for students committed to careers in law teaching and scholarship. Each year, students from all over the world participate in the LL.M. program, taking advantage of Yale Law School s unparalleled opportunities for advanced study, independent research, and intellectual growth. The completely elective program has no formal specializations, but students are encouraged to create a course of study that reflects their particular background and interests. Advisers are available to assist in designing individual academic programs and exploring course options. Admission to Yale Law School s LL.M. program is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of approximately eight percent. We seek a diverse as well as a highly qualified student body. In , our 30 students came from 20 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Eritrea, Finland, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, P.R. China, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan, and the United States; the class was 53 percent male and 47 percent female; the average age was 29. Studying Law at Yale Law School With a rich history, a vibrant academic community, and an accomplished student body, Yale Law School is an exceptional environment in which to learn about the law. Our faculty-student ratio is unmatched; our average class size is under 20 students. Supplementing the vast array of courses offered are opportunities for independent research and writing as well as studentorganized seminars and reading groups. The Law School faculty includes prominent scholars of economics, history, and philosophy, as well as leading specialists in many areas of law. More than 60 full-time professors are joined each year by visiting lecturers, adjunct professors from other parts of the University, and practicing lawyers who teach in the clinical program. In addition, dozens of guest lecturers from many fields of endeavor contribute to Yale Law School s vigorous intellectual community. Many LL.M. students work closely with faculty members on independent writing projects. Questions? If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Programs Office at Yale Law School (see contact information inside back cover). Information on faculty, course descriptions, and a wide variety of topics relating to Yale Law School may be found on our website:

4 Yale University and New Haven The Sterling Law Building, which houses Yale Law School, occupies one city block at the heart of Yale University and downtown New Haven. Constructed in and recently renovated, it features classrooms, offices, the Lillian Goldman Law Library, a student computer laboratory, and a dining hall clustered around three pleasant courtyards. As a part of one of the world s great universities, the Law School draws on Yale s abundant academic resources, including an 11-million-volume library system. The Yale campus is also home to world-renowned museums of art and natural history, a Tony-award-winning regional theater, two concert halls that feature performances from symphony to opera, jazz to chamber music, and one of the most comprehensive fitness facilities in the world. The City of New Haven, a lively, small urban center between New York City and Boston, offers its own diversions. Strolling down the streets around the Law School, you ll pass shops and restaurants to suit any taste or budget. The University, as a vital part of the downtown area, has played a role in its redevelopment, supporting local merchants and attracting national retailers. New Haven is a coastal city on the Long Island Sound. Municipal parks and public beaches are easily accessible from campus. New Haven is also a city of neighborhoods, from Wooster Square (New Haven s Little Italy ) to East Rock, a tree-lined enclave of well-preserved Victorian homes and specialty shops, where many students choose to live. Visiting Trains run regularly to New Haven from New York City (via Metro-North Railroad or Amtrak) and from Boston (via Amtrak). US Airways and PanAm provide connections to Tweed-New Haven Airport from several U.S. cities, and limousine services run from international airports in the New York City metropolitan area and Hartford, Connecticut, to New Haven.

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6 Intellectual Life Yale Law School enhances the intellectual life of its academic community by sponsoring a variety of centers, programs, and workshops, inspired by the interests of its faculty and students. The faculty is as broad ranging in its interests and expertise as it is distinguished, including prominent scholars of economics, philosophy, and history, as well as leading specialists in every area of law. Over 60 full-time professors are joined each year by visiting lecturers, adjunct professors from other parts of the University, and practicing lawyers who assist the full-time clinical faculty as tutors in the clinical program. Centers & Programs John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics and Public Policy The China Law Center Cultural Cognition Project Information Society Project The Arthur Liman Public Interest Fellowship and Fund Middle East Legal Studies Seminar Orville H. Schell, Jr. Center for International Human Rights Yale Center for Law and Philosophy Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy Yale Law School Center for the Study of Corporate Law Yale Law School Projects in South America Workshops Human Rights Workshop Law, Economics & Organization Workshop Legal History Forum Legal Theory Workshop Quinnipiac-Yale Dispute Resolution Workshop Workshop on Chinese Legal Reform Workplace Theory and Policy Seminar For more information, please visit: yale.edu/intellectuallife/ Course of Study Course of Study and Requirements Graduate students are admitted for one academic year of study in residence, leading to the degree of Master of Laws. To qualify for the LL.M. degree a candidate must successfully complete at least 24 units of credit with a grade average of Pass (on a scale of Honors, Pass, Low Pass, Fail) for all work taken for credit. Up to 6 units (or 8 units if the candidate takes a first-term ungraded course) may, with the consent of the instructor, be taken Credit/Fail. An LL.M. candidate s program of study consists of at least 18 units of regular course offerings (in the Law School or in other schools in the University), and up to 6 units of independent research and writing for credit under the supervision of a Law School faculty member. With approval, up to 6 units of credit toward the LL.M. degree can be earned in Yale University courses offered outside the Law School. The LL.M. program runs from September through May; there are no January admissions. LL.M. candidates must carry a total of no fewer than 12 units of credit per term. Changes in the program may be arranged during the first two weeks of each term.

7 Tuition, Expenses, and Financial Aid Tuition and Expenses Tuition for is $43,750 for the year, including mandatory fees for health coverage, athletic facilities, and other charges. We estimate that a single student needs a total of $61,010 in order to meet education and living expenses for the academic year and that a married couple without children needs $67,010. Tuition and expenses for will be calculated in the spring of While we cannot predict the actual tuition rate, as a guideline, tuition increased by 7 percent in from Financial Aid Yale Law School s financial aid policies and programs are designed to make it possible for students to pursue their legal education at Yale regardless of their financial circumstances. All financial aid awards are based on need. Using a combination of loans and scholarship grants, we make every effort to provide students with the difference between their resources such as family resources, earnings, and savings and the cost of attending the Law School for the academic year. About 90 percent of LL.M. students receive some form of financial aid. Admission decisions are made before, and independently of, financial aid decisions. Yale Law School financial aid awards cover only the individual student s expenses for the nine-month period of residence for the degree. Applying for Financial Aid Applications for financial aid are accepted only from candidates admitted to the program. We will provide necessary forms for financial aid application after admissions decisions have been made. Students from the United States complete the Need Access and the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form (a federally mandated need analysis system for federal loans only) to determine financial need. See and for more information. Although federal loans are not available to non-u.s. citizens, international graduate students may borrow supplemental loans. Also available to graduate students is a form of aid called a Conditional Academic Grant. This money is credited to the student s account and available for use during the academic year. This grant is awarded subject to the condition that the student will return to his or her home country to pursue law teaching for two years. The teaching requirement must be completed within four years following the LL.M. academic year. The Law School s funds for financial aid are limited. Applicants should make timely efforts to obtain financial aid from other sources to supplement aid from Yale Law School. The student is obligated to reveal all actual sources of income (including that of the spouse, if any). The student s award will be based on the student s and his or her spouse s income and assets. If the student is under 29 years old, Yale also expects a parental contribution toward the costs of the academic year. Students receiving financial aid must notify the Yale Law School Graduate Programs Office if they receive grants or scholarships from outside sources. Loan Repayment Assistance To give financial expression to our commitment to a full range of career opportunities for our graduates, including academics, Yale Law School has established coap (Career Options Assistance Program). It provides substantial post-graduation assistance with law school loan repayment for those graduates who choose relatively low-paying jobs in any sector such as government, nonprofit organizations, or academia. For more information, please visit:

8 Housing On-campus housing is available only to a very few students. Most students find comfortable, affordable housing convenient to the Law School. Facilities and Services Library The Lillian Goldman Law Library, worldwide in its coverage, contains more than 800,000 volumes. Through the library, students receive training in the use of the Lexis and Westlaw legal research computer systems and then have access to those systems in the library or through their personal computers. More information is available at yale.edu/ library. technology With Internet access from every classroom seat, a full-service computer lab, available laser printing, as well as wireless networking in common areas, Yale Law School provides a complete information technology environment. Students are assigned and network accounts, which allow them to access the Yale network from on or off campus. See for more information. OISS Over 2,500 international students and scholars representing more than 100 countries call Yale University their home away from home. The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) serves as a resource on immigration matters for the Yale community and is Yale s liaison to those federal agencies concerned with matters related to international students and scholars studying and working here. The OISS staff assists with problems concerning adjustment to life in the United States and other personal matters and concerns. For more information, visit the OISS website at Housing Some on-campus housing is available for single students. Many students, however, prefer to live in nearby off-campus houses or apartments. Yale University maintains a limited number of apartment buildings for student families and has a housing office to assist students in finding off-campus housing. For more information, see the Off-Campus Housing Office at Health Plan Full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Yale Health Plan, a comprehensive group practice located a few blocks from the Law School. Spouses and dependents can be enrolled in the Health Plan for a fee. More information on the Yale Health Plan can be obtained through the Member Services Office at (203) or at Childcare The Yale Law School s Early Learning Center offers a full-day program for children three months to three years old. For further information, contact the Center at (203)

9 The LL.M. candidates at Yale Law School, here with Yale Law School Dean Harold Hongju Koh, came from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Eritrea, Finland, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, P.R. China, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan, and the United States.

10 Application Information Standards for Admission Applicants for the LL.M. program must have completed their law degree at an accredited U.S. law school or a non-u.s. law school with substantially equivalent standards, and must have a strong record of academic accomplishment. Students are encouraged to complete preprofessional requirements for bar admission in their home country before entering the LL.M. program. Some experience following completion of the first professional degree is encouraged. Admission is ordinarily not available to students who have obtained or are pursuing an LL.M. or an equivalent degree from another law school in the United States. Admission is available only to individuals planning careers in law teaching and scholarship. An evaluative interview is not part of the Yale Law School admission process. How and When to Apply 1. The LL.M. application is available in two formats. Electronic: You can apply using the electronic application which can be found at www. law.yale.edu/gradpro. Do not submit duplicate documents to YLS if you apply electronically. PDF: you can download and print the Application from a PDF file and mail to the address below. LL.M. Program or Yale Law School P.O. Box New Haven, CT U.S.A. Express Mail LL.M. Program Yale Law School 127 Wall Street New Haven, CT U.S.A. (203) Please submit the pages of your application loose; binders, folders, etc., hinder our internal processing of your material. All materials must be in printed form. No videos, diskettes, or DVD/CDs will be reviewed. 2. Your application and all supporting documents must be received at Yale Law School by November 15, It is your responsibility to make certain all items arrive at Yale by that date. Notification will be sent to you confirming receipt of your application and/or when your application is complete. Other than these acknowledgements, we cannot respond to individual inquiries regarding application status or document receipt. However, if you have not received such notification by January 15, 2008, please contact us. We suggest that you submit your application as soon as possible after August 1, All documents must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation attached to the front of the document being translated. Admission is ordinarily not available to students who have obtained or are pursuing an LL.M. or an equivalent degree from another law school in the United States. The LL.M. program is designed for individuals planning careers in law teaching and scholarship. 4. You must have received, or expect to receive by the summer of 2008, a Juris Doctor degree or bachelor s degree in law. A final transcript confirming your graduation should be submitted as soon as it is available. All letters of admission are conditional upon graduation. We reserve the right to review or revoke admission if you fail to graduate with your class. 5. Have each college, law school, and/or graduate school you have attended provide you with one official transcript of your academic record (or the nearest equivalent documents listing your courses and corresponding grades), and, if available, a statement of your rank in class and the size of the class, in a sealed envelope, signed across the seal. Do not send copies of certificates or diplomas instead of or in addition to the required transcripts.

11 If original documents are not available, please supply certified copies of the original documents. If the registrar will not give you the official documents, please have them mailed directly to the LL.M. program at Yale Law School. As an alternative, international applicants can register with Law School Admission Council s LL.M. Credential Assembly Service ( this LSAC service will authenticate non-u.s. or Canadian academic credentials that are needed in addition to a completed admissions application form. 6. Have two of your professors who know you and your work well write letters of recommendation. Applicants in teaching or practice may substitute one employer or supervisor. Give one of the Memoranda sheets to each person you ask to write a recommendation. You may also wish to give copies of your application materials to your recommenders. Duplicate the Memorandum if you need more than two. If you do not sign the waiver, you should make it clear to those whom you ask to write letters that the letters will be available to you. Please ask your recommenders (or an authorized person at your credential service) to seal the envelopes, sign and date them, and return them to you. If a recommender would prefer not to give the recommendation to you, please have him or her mail it directly to the LL.M. program at Yale Law School. Additional recommendations are welcome, but only two are expected and required. The requirement will be deemed complete when two letters of recommendation have arrived. 7. If English is not your primary language, you must submit your score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The admissions committee looks for a minimum TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test, and 100 on the Internet-based test. TOEFL is administered throughout the world by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey , U.S.A ( Applicants must take the TOEFL test no later than November 1 and must have the result sent by ETS to this school by December 15, Please be sure to specify Yale Law School s institution code, 3997, and the department code, 03. For applicants who register with LSAC s LL.M. Credential Assembly Service, the LSAC institution code is Submit with the completed application a fee of $75 (U.S.), in the form of a postal money order, travelers check, or a check drawn on a bank with a U.S. branch indicated on the check, made payable to Yale Law School. You may also pay the fee by wire transfer to Bank of America, New York, NY, ABA Number ; for credit to Yale University Account Number (for international bank transfers, please use the SWIFT number, BOFAUS3N); Attention: Caroline Curtis, Yale Law School Graduate Programs. (All bank fees are the responsibility of the applicant.) Be sure your name is referenced for proper credit. We cannot accept cash or Western Union transfers. Note that overpayment of application fees cannot be refunded. If you are applying online, payment can be made by credit card. If requesting a fee waiver, please enclose a note stating the reason(s) why payment of the application fee would represent a hardship for you. The application fee is nonrefundable and will not be credited to tuition in the event of admission. Reapplication The Law School retains files of applicants for three years. To reapply, please send a letter requesting that your file be reactivated and include the year you previously applied and an update of your year s activities. A new application fee of $75 (U.S.) must be submitted. You may submit new or revised application materials if you wish.

12 Frequently Asked Questions About the Yale Law School LL.M. Program What courses are offered at Yale Law School? A current course listing can be viewed at the Law School s website, Does Yale Law School offer specializations within the LL.M. program? No. There is only one LL.M. program at Yale Law School, and it is a generalized program. Courses are elective, and students tailor their studies to their own interests. No specialization is indicated on the degree or transcript. May I take courses in other departments at Yale? Yes. Up to 6 units of credit toward the degree can be earned outside the Law School. Can I take the bar exam to practice law once I complete the LL.M.? The LL.M. degree from Yale Law School makes one eligible to take the bar exam in some states, but it does not prepare you for it. The program is primarily for law graduates who are seriously interested in law teaching. If accepted to the LL.M. program, would I automatically be admitted to the J.S.D. program? Admission to J.S.D. candidacy does not follow automatically from admission to the LL.M. program or from the award of the LL.M. degree. Admission is highly selective and rests entirely on an independent judgment of your J.S.D. proposal and academic record by the Graduate Committee. If I am selected, may I defer for one or more years? Due to the small size of the admitted class, Yale Law School does not offer deferred admission. If you are admitted but cannot accept our offer, you may reactivate your file for a subsequent academic year. Admission is not guaranteed, however, as decisions are made independent of previous years

13 Application process What are the basic requirements for application? Applicants for the LL.M. program must have completed their law degree at an accredited U.S. law school or a non-u.s. law school with substantially equivalent standards and must have a strong record of academic accomplishments. Completion of preprofessional requirements for bar admission and some experience following first-degree completion is encouraged. Admission is ordinarily not available to students who have obtained or are pursuing an LL.M. or an equivalent degree from another U.S. law school. Admission is available only to individuals planning careers in law teaching and scholarship. Exams Must I take any exams such as the LSAT, GRE, or TOEFL? The LSAT and GRE are not required. The TOEFL is required if English is not your primary language. The minimum TOEFL score requirement is 600 on the paper-based exam, 250 on the computer-based exam, and 100 on the Internetbased exam. What code numbers do I indicate so Yale Law School may receive my TOEFL report? Yale Law School s Institution Code is The Law School Department Code is 03. If using the LSAC s LL.M. Credential Assembly Service, the LSAC institution code is What is the application deadline, and when can I begin submitting my application material? Application material for the following academic year is available in August, both online and in hard-copy form. You may submit your application any time after August 1. The application deadline for academic year is November 15, When will the decisions be made? Are the decisions made on a rolling basis? Decisions are typically made in mid-march. All decisions are made at the same time, not on a rolling basis. How do I apply for financial aid? Financial aid is not determined until after admission. At that time, a financial aid form is completed. Financial aid is available to all applicants and is based on need. Further information may be found at: Transcripts and Recommendations My school does not provide transcripts, or only supplies one original. What should I provide? For schools that do not provide official transcripts, you should provide one of the following: Letter from a school faculty member/tutor/official indicating the courses taken and grades received Student Reported Record of Study (from Germany) For schools that provide only one official transcript, you should submit a certified copy of the original transcript. A notary or other official may copy the document and then certify the copy. Alternatively, you can register with LSAC s LL.M. Credential Assembly Service ( which authorizes non-u.s. or Canadian academic credentials that are needed in addition to a completed admissions application form. Calendar When are classes in session? Generally, the first week of September until mid-may. When should I plan to arrive? In order to arrange housing, you should plan to arrive by early August. You should also plan to attend the orientation session in late August, which offers much useful information to newly admitted students. My transcripts and/or recommendations are not in English. Must I have them translated? Yes. All documents must be submitted in English. Translations must be made and certified by an official translator. You should submit both the original and the translated versions. Is the program available part-time? Nights? Summers? And does Yale offer the LL.M. through correspondence or long-distance learning? No. 11 Should the transcripts and recommendations be sent together with the application forms, or may I or my referees send them separately? Either way is acceptable.

14 Important Dates to Consider LL.M. Program August 1 First day that Yale will accept applications for the entering class of 2008 November 1 Last day to take the TOEFL test November 15 Application deadline December 15 Deadline for receipt of TOEFL reports March Decisions will be made by mid- to late March 12

15 The information in this booklet is intended for application to the Master of Laws (ll.m.) program at Yale. If you wish to apply to the j.d. program, please contact the Law School s Admissions Office at (203) for the proper application form, or visit Checklist Before sending your application to Yale Law School, please be sure that you have included the following items: Required Essays Curriculum vitae Transcripts (page 8 9, no. 5) Do not include primary or secondary school (high school) transcripts. Two letters of recommendation (page 9, no.6) Original official toefl report, if required (page 9, no. 7) Application fee or waiver note (page 9, no. 8) Note: Do not submit books, articles, or other publications, and please do not bind materials. Graduate Programs Office Yale Law School P.O. Box New Haven, CT U.S.A. express mail Graduate Programs Yale Law School 127 Wall Street New Haven, CT U.S.A. telephone (203) fax (203) [email protected] website other websites Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library Yale University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and affirmatively seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other covered veterans. Inquiries concerning these policies may be referred to Valarie J. Stanley, Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity Programs, 104 W.L Harkness Hall, (203) In accordance with both federal and state law, the University maintains information concerning current security policies and procedures and prepares an annual crime report concerning crimes committed within the geographical limits of the University. Upon request to the Office of the Secretary of the University, PO Box , New Haven, CT , (203) , the University will provide such information to any applicant for admission. Current course listings photography Robert Lisak Michael Marsland Bill O Brien Harold Shapiro 2007 Yale Law School

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