Master of Laws (LLM)

Degree Requirements  

All requirements for the degrees are subject to change at any time by the faculty or its designated agent. No increase in the number of semester hours required to obtain an LL.M. degree are made effective for LL.M. candidates enrolled at the time of such change and who remain in continuous attendance thereafter. LL.M. students who are not in continuous attendance or who transfer from another law school are subject to the requirements in effect at the time of their reentrance or admission. 

Academic Credit 

Minimum Credits 

All candidates for the LL.M. degrees must successfully complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) credits and pass all required courses. 

In-Class (Or Direct Faculty Instruction) Requirement 

LL.M. students are encouraged to create a program that meets their academic and professional needs and classroom instruction is a crucial aspect of that learning. Students who hold a first degree in law from outside of the United States can complete no more than 5 credits outside the law school classroom, including, but not limited to: 

  • work in the field component of partnership clinics; 
  • any clinical fieldwork supervised by a person whose primary professional employment is not with the law school; 
  • individual field placements; or 
  • LL.M. research projects. 

International LL.M. students planning to sit for a U.S. bar examination should consult the rules of the jurisdiction’s bar exam regarding non-classroom credits. 

Excess Credits 

LL.M. students must complete the degree requirements for the program in no more than 36 credits. Any student may submit a request to the LL.M. program director for permission to exceed the 36-credit requirement. 

Pace of Study 

To demonstrate satisfactory academic progress, candidates for the LL.M. must maintain a minimum pace of study. This pace will vary for full-time and part-time students. 

Full Time Students 

Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as 18 credits during a period of two consecutive required academic semesters. LL.M students with F-1/J-1 visas must complete a minimum of two (2) semesters in residence unless such student was admitted with advanced standing. LL.M. students with F-1/J-1 visas must complete all coursework for the LL.M. degree in three semesters or request permission to lengthen their studies through International Students & Scholar Services (ISSS) at Storrs. 

Part Time Students 

Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as 6 credits during a period of two consecutive required academic semesters. 

Length of Study 

All LL.M. students should complete all coursework within five years. A student may submit a request for additional time to the director of the LL.M. program. An LL.M. student who fails to register for class is administratively withdrawn. Any LL.M. student who fails to register for courses for a period of four consecutive semesters (excluding summer terms) will be required to complete an abbreviated reapplication process. 

Attempted Credit Requirement 

All students must earn 75% of their cumulative attempted credits.1 Failure to do so may result in academic dismissal. 

1

Completion rate is equal to the number of completed credit hours divided by the number of attempted credits. Completed credit hours will include all credit hours for which a student has earned a final letter grade of (A-D, and P). Credit-hours that are transferred (grade of T) into the University and successfully articulated towards the completion of an educational program or part of a Dual Degree or approved Study Abroad program will be counted as both earned and attempted hours for the purpose of this standard. Courses that are listed as Failure (F), Incomplete (I) or No Grade Received (N) will be counted as attempted but not earned.

Grade Point Average 

All candidates for the LL.M. degree must have a cumulative grade point of 2.30 (C+) for all work undertaken at the Law School and receive a minimum grade of C+ on the writing requirement. In computing the average, no consideration is given to grades received for work completed at other schools, including other law schools, even though transfer credit has been given for such work.