University of Cincinnati College of Law

Introduction

The University of Cincinnati College of Law offers an elite program of study on the U.S. legal system to practicing attorneys and law school graduates who received their legal education outside of the United States. Our program offers an intensive introduction to the U.S. legal system while allowing students to participate in experiential learning opportunities and to focus their studies on their own areas of interest. UC Law is a top-45 public U.S. law school and offers small classes with renowned professors, work experience, law clinics, and generous scholarships. 

We offer one of the most affordable LLM programs in the United States. 2022-2023 academic year Tuition.

Scholarships: Applicants in need of a scholarship should check the box on the application to be automatically considered for a partial scholarship to reduce the cost of your tuition. If admitted, you will receive a scholarship offer with your admission letter. Unfortunately, full scholarships are not available.

There is no application fee. Apply now.

The University of Cincinnati 

The College of Law is part of the University of Cincinnati (UC)—one of America’s top 25 public research institutions. U.S. News has described UC as one of 15 "up and coming" universities. The Chronicle of Higher Education calls UC a "research heavyweight." The Washington Center named UC "Public University of the Year." Forbes magazine described it as having one of the world's most beautiful campuses. International Student Barometer ranked UC as "7th best college experience" and "3rd most welcoming university" for international students. 

UC is ranked No. 4 in the nation for co-ops and internships by U.S. News & World Report (No. 1 among public institutions) and is celebrated as one of the most welcoming universities in the world for international students.

With a student population of nearly 48,000 and located in a diverse, safe, vibrant urban community, UC offers a rich collection of co-curricular experiences and support services in partnership with our academic programs. Students can choose to participate in hundreds of organizations, work out in our state-of-the-art recreation center, play or watch intramural and collegiate sports, attend performances put on by our world-renowned music and theater conservatory, and assume leadership roles of all kinds. UC also provides key support services aimed at ensuring international student success through graduation.

The Law School

The University of Cincinnati College of Law, opened in 1833, is among the nation’s most regarded public law schools and is the fourth-oldest continuously operating law school in the country. A founding member of the Association of American Law Schools, the College of Law enjoys a solid reputation as one of the nation’s premier small, public law schools. We are a nationally recognized law school in the heart of the Midwest, located in Clifton Heights, a thriving and dynamic neighborhood situated atop one of the many tree-lined hills that overlooks downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

The College of Law has brought together a community of committed administrators, award-winning faculty, and skilled legal practitioners to create and promote an environment of intellectual exchange and academic excellence. With an enviable 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students at the College of Law benefit from an intimate, collegial environment and personal attention from faculty while having access to groundbreaking centers and institutes. Our faculty come to us from the most prestigious law schools in the country and pride themselves on sophisticated use of the Socratic Method, giving LLM students the full benefit of the American law school experience.

University of Cincinnati College of Law programs and centers have earned international acclaim; these include the Ohio Innocence Project (founder of the international Innocence Network); the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights (editor of the world-renowned Human Rights Quarterly); the Corporate Law Center; the Jones Center for Race, Gender and Social Justice; our Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic; and our Patent and Trademark Clinic.

Our Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Public Interest Law, and Trial Advocacy programs are ranked among the top in the nation. We are also a top law school for Social Justice. Innovation and impact are infused throughout our curriculum. Cincinnati Law LLM students can participate in experiential learning opportunities and often tout the Cincinnati network as central to their heightened experience.

Longstanding partnerships with many of the more than 800+ law firms, Fortune-500 companies, agencies, and state and federal courts that call Cincinnati home provide you our guarantee of experiences beyond the classroom, which are available to LLM students in the second semester. Students at UC enjoy easy access to downtown Cincinnati, home of local and federal courthouses and well-known international companies like Procter & Gamble and Kroger Company as well as numerous law firms doing work of an international nature. UC Law LLM students are taken on regular visits to local law firms, corporations, and courts. For more information about Cincinnati, please visit our website.

The National Jurist and prelaw Magazine have named us among the top 10 public law schools for Public Service, a top 15 law school for delivering exceptional Practical Training, and a seven-time Best Value Law School.

LLM Program: The U.S. Legal System

The College of Law offers a program of study in U.S. law to practicing attorneys and law school graduates who received their legal education outside of the United States. The LLM program provides a substantive introduction to the U.S. legal process while allowing students to focus their studies on their own areas of interest. Two classes are required for all LLM students: Legal Research and Writing for LLM Students and the U.S. Legal System. Students select the remainder of their courses from among the full range of more than 160 courses available at the College of Law. Optional areas of study include:

• Business Law, including corporate law, commercial law, tax law, labor law, and employment law;
• Criminal Law;
• International Law, including human rights, public international law, trade law, and immigration;
• Law, Technology, and the Creative Arts, including environmental law, health law, and intellectual property law;
• Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, including mediation and negotiation; and
• Public Interest Law, including family law, critical race theory, women’s rights, and more.

The following Concentrations can be designated on your transcript: Business Law, International Legal Studies, Social Justice.

Work Experience Opportunities

At Cincinnati Law, LLM students have a number of opportunities to get work experience.  LLM students can apply for internships (which we call “externships”) and legal clinics during their second semester.  UC Law student externs have been placed at General Electric, City of Cincinnati, Squire Patton Boggs, Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati Public Schools, Legal Aid, in our local and federal courts, and many more.  

LLM students may also participate in Cincinnati Law legal clinics, which include: Ohio Innocence Project, Entrepreneurial and Community Development Clinic, and the Domestic Violence Clinic.

Career Services

The College of Law LLM program is specifically designed to be a small program. This will allow students ample opportunity to work one-on-one with the program director and faculty members on issues related to career planning. Students are also encouraged to work with UC Law’s Center for Professional Development. Our career counselors go above and beyond to work one-on-one with LLM students on a full range of professional development topics, including networking, résumé writing, interview skills, and internships.

Faculty

The 8.1 student to faculty ratio at the College of Law is one of the lowest in the U.S. The low ratio means that students develop rewarding mentoring relationships with some of the most inquisitive and energetic legal minds in the nation. The quality and volume of their research has made the law faculty one of the most productive in the country. The faculty's scholarship is complemented by extensive professional experience. Many have clerked for federal judges, been partners in major law firms, written best-selling books, and some have argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Friendly Atmosphere

The College of Law is committed to maintaining a welcoming, collegial atmosphere for all students. Key to this is the school’s small size—approximately 300 JD students and 20 LLM students—which allows for a high level of interaction between students and faculty, small classes, a friendly environment, and selectivity in the admission process. The LLM program is small by design so that faculty and staff can offer LLM students individualized attention and mentoring.

Physical Facilities

The law school moved into a state-of-the-art new building in summer 2022 with flexible classroom spaces, enlarged suites for our centers and journals, private and group study rooms, beautiful gathering spaces, and convenient spots to eat meals with colleagues. We also have an LLM workroom for meeting with friends and faculty, studying, or making a coffee. The Robert S. Marx Law Library manages a robust collection to support faculty and student research and the college curriculum. The library has a seasoned staff that can assist students with research and technical questions. Two computer labs and a wireless network throughout the law building enable students to maximize online research capabilities, and our skilled IT staff members are readily available to assist law students.

Housing

A variety of housing options are available near the University of Cincinnati campus. Students in Cincinnati enjoy a cost of living well below the national average. For example, an apartment in Cincinnati can run from $500–900 per month, and often much less, which is substantially less that the cost of housing in cities like New York or Washington, D.C. The University’s Graduate and Family Housing Office provides affiliated housing options, private listings, and a roommate search service that you may find helpful. Information on UC-owned Graduate Housing is available here: https://www.uc.edu/campus-life/housing/graduate-housing.html. The College of Law will assist, whenever possible, in connecting incoming students who would like to share an apartment with another law student. The Cincinnati Law housing guide is available here: https://www.veryapt.com/guides/housing/140-cincinnati-law/?fbclid=IwAR32LO91GxKR8Orl2D7MXbYnvAdHNi6opZ7vXD3vaVarAZ3fZntY9dfE4tc

Summer Orientation Program

LLM students will arrive on campus two weeks before regular classes begin so that they can participate in an orientation program. This program will introduce students to the community, the university, and the College of Law. It will also preview strategies for success in a US law school classroom, with instruction given on common US and US university etiquette.

During this time students will also be given a chance to network with each other, JD students, faculty, and local judges and lawyers.

Financial Aid

Scholarships are available. No special application is required. If you are interested in a scholarship, please let us know by sending an email requesting consideration to uclawllm@uc.edu.

Fellowships

Specialized fellowships are also available. Please note that there is no monetary value to these fellowships. Applicants with a background and passion for international human rights can be considered for a fellowship with the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights. Urban Morgan fellows can participate in the Institute activities including dinners with activists, academics, and lawyers working in the field. Fellows also work on the internationally distributed Human Rights Quarterly. Watch this video featuring an LLM Human Rights Fellow here: https://youtu.be/K3FbvpjrI7E

Students who are interested in criminal law can be considered for a fellowship with the Ohio Innocence Project. As an OIP fellow, students will have the opportunity to work with faculty, attorneys and other students pursuing freedom for individuals who are wrongfully incarcerated. This video tells the OIP story: https://youtu.be/rghYbxRU5ss

Student Life

More than 4,000 international students currently attend the University of Cincinnati. UC offers students a wide array of activities and organizations, which provide students a chance to meet one another, socialize, and learn outside of the classroom. UC also provides a network of supportive services to make sure that the transition to the Cincinnati community is a smooth one. Help with visa issues, writing skills, and other needs is available on campus. The University of Cincinnati Office of International Services is a tremendous resource for international students at UC.

The College of Law itself hosts more than 40 student-run organizations and clubs based on various affiliations, interests, and activities, including the LLM & International Student Club and the International Law Society, which hosts a Thanksgiving potluck for students each fall. Numerous scholarly institutes, legal clinics, teams and law journals offer students ample opportunities to get involved.

LLM students have the opportunity to participate in social events that allow them to get to know one another, as well as students in the JD program. In addition, LLM students make visits to law firms, courthouses, and government institutions, and participate in special networking events.

Opportunity to Apply to Transfer to the JD Program

LLM students may apply to transfer to the JD program.  Upon admission to the JD program, LLM graduates are able to complete the JD program in approximately 2 years. 

Conditional Letters of Admission (CLA)

CLAs are available from the College of Law. Students may complete their English preparation on UC’s campus at one of the largest ELS centers in the United States.

Location

Cincinnati offers world-class assets in arts and culture, amusements, hospitality, sports, and recreation. It is ranked in Forbes.com's list of “Best Bargain Cities in America,” one of the “Top 10 Safest Cities,” and “Top 15 Best Cities for Young Professionals” as well as “THE best City for Recent Graduates” in the U.S.! Cincinnati features all the amenities of a large, bustling metropolis while maintaining a friendly, small-town atmosphere, “a unique balancing act of extraordinary contrasts,” but one that makes the region a remarkably flexible location filled with a wealth of opportunities and options.

Cincinnati is the seat of both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and is home to more than 685 law firms. The opportunities in business and industry are equally rich. Cincinnati is home to several Fortune 500 companies (including Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, the Kroger Co. and Western & Southern) and a host of new startups in the technology, health care, manufacturing, and financial service sectors. It’s no wonder that Fortune called Greater Cincinnati one of the top ten places to live and work or that Forbes called the region one of the “Best Places for Business and Careers.”

Contact Information

For additional information, please visit the Cincinnati Law LLM website, or contact:

Nora Burke Wagner
Assistant Dean for International Programs
University of Cincinnati College of Law
2925 Campus Green Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0040
USA

Phone: 513.556-0801
Email: uclawllm@uc.edu