This LL.M. program is designed for international law graduates who seek an academic program in order to qualify for admission to the New York State or other state bar. An applicant who has studied in a foreign country may qualify to take the New York State bar examination by submitting to the New York State Board of Law Examiners satisfactory proof of the legal education as required by Part 520.6 of the Rules of Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law. For foreign law graduates whose law degree does not meet the durational equivalency requirements, the applicant can satisfy the requirements by successfully completing a full-time or part-time program consisting of a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit in professional law subjects, in an approved law school in the United States.

Applicants for the LL.M. for foreign educated students who intend to take the New York Bar Examination should be aware that success on the examination, regardless  which law school attended, is at best a difficult task. For example, in July 2009, 1,882 foreign trained lawyers took the examination for the first time, but only 46.2 percent passed the examination. An additional 1073 foreign trained lawyers who had previously failed at least once retook the examination, but only 25.1 percent passed. Combining all 2,955 foreign trained lawyers who took the examination in July 2009, only 38.5 percent passed the examination.

To insure compliance with §520.6(b)(1)(ii) of the Rules of the New York Court of Appeals, all programs of study for foreign educated LL.M. candidates who plan to take the New York state bar examination must be approved in advance by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In addition, LL.M. candidates who plan to take the New York state bar examination are strongly encouraged to take certain courses to maximize each candidate's ability to pass the bar examination. Albany Law School recognizes that foreign educated lawyers present very different backgrounds and training (e.g., common law versus civil law and actual prior course work and experience) and we seek to build on those individual differences.  Depending on each candidate's background and the courses that each candidate has already taken, the law school strongly suggests that candidates complete their 27 credits from the following courses:

• Advanced Legal Analysis * (4)                                                       
• Criminal Procedure: Investigation(3)
• Commercial Law Survey (4) or Contracts (3) (fall semester only) or Sales, Leases, & Payment Law (3) (fall semester only)                           
• Evidence (fall semester only) (4)
• Business Organizations (4)
• Property (spring only) or Trusts & Estates (4)
• Civil Procedure (fall only) (4) or New York Practice I (3) (fall only) and New York Practice II (3)(spring only)
• Constitutional Law  (spring only) (4)
• Criminal Law (spring only) (3)
• Legal Profession (3)

While only 27 credits are required to receive the LL.M. degree, candidates are encouraged to enroll in 3 additional credit hours that may be selected from the above courses or the full range of courses offered by the law school.

*Advanced Legal Analysis covers bar examination topics including contracts, criminal law/criminal procedure, torts, constitutional law, property, and evidence. Problems and exercises are in the same format as bar questions. Students will be assigned homework/exam questions before each class and will also answer exam questions during class under timed conditions.Written feedback will be provided on written essays and the MPT.

Please refer to the Guide for the U.S. Law School 20-Credit Program of Study Required by 520.6 for more detailed information. 

All international law graduates seeking an LL.M. in this program must begin the program in August and participate in a brief orientation.

LL.M. for International Graduates - Financial Aid FAQs

Maintaining Legal Immigration Status
International students are required to maintain legal immigration status throughout their stay in the U.S. International students are required to maintain legal immigration status throughout their stay in the U.S. Please refer to the Student Guide to the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). 

The Admissions Office staff is dedicated to assisting you through the application process. We are available to answer your questions and concerns, and encourage you to contact us. Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m EST/EDT. Please e-mail us at admissions@albanylaw.edu or call 518-445-2326.