The Master of Laws (LLM) degree is for people who want to expand their legal knowledge or specialize in a legal field, and already hold a JD or foreign equivalent. The LLM program is flexible, with fall and spring starts, and full-time, part-time, on-campus and online options.
Next start date: August 17, 2026
Total credit hours: 24
Duration: 1+ years
Delivery: full-time or part-time; on-campus or online
The Master of Laws (LLM) degree program is for people who already hold a law degree and who want to expand their legal knowledge or specialize in a legal field. With more than 250 unique courses to choose from each year, the 24-credit LLM program is customized to meet your career goals with an emphasis on popular areas of study.
The LLM program is flexible, with fall and spring starts and full-time and part-time options. The LLM can be completed full-time in one year, or part-time over three or four semesters.
In order to be admitted to the LLM program, you must have completed a JD degree or a law degree at a foreign institution that would qualify you to practice law.
ASU Law is a highly ranked and respected public law school dedicated to educating the next generation of legal professionals. In honor of its namesake, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, public service is at its core, and is committed to advancing justice in the communities it serves. Learning from some of the nation’s foremost scholars and innovative legal instructors, ASU Law graduates are educated to become skilled and compassionate advocates and difference-makers.
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Small class sizes and accessible faculty enhance classroom discussions and encourage the sharing of diverse perspectives.
ASU Law offers different options for the LLM to elevate your career and expand your influence. With the general LLM option, you can choose from any one of our focus areas. ASU Law also has two specialty LLMs with an emphasis on Tribal Policy, Law and Government, and Biotechnology and Genomics.
The fully online option for the LLM is open only to international students. In the fully online LLM, international students will gain enhanced knowledge about the U.S. legal system and different topics of Law. The completion of the LLM online does not qualify international students to sit for a U.S. bar exam.
Choose the path that aligns with your purpose and goals — and see why ASU Law is the next step in shaping your future in the legal profession.
The LLM online is for international students looking to gain knowledge of the U.S. legal system, build academic credentials or specialize in a particular legal field. The program takes from one to three years to complete. Students learn legal analysis and research, substantive and procedural law, and written and oral communication. Completion of the LLM program online does not qualify a student to sit for a U.S. bar exam.
“Professor Don Gibson had an extraordinary impact on my learning experience at ASU. His unique perspective, shaped by eight years of experience with Major League Baseball, brought our classroom discussions to life. As someone who served as both an attorney in the commissioner's office and later as senior vice president/acting president of Major League Baseball properties, he could break down complex legal issues with real-world context that was invaluable. What made his lessons particularly compelling was how he drew from his diverse experience, from managing MLB's licensing and corporate sponsorships to leading the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's $103 million development project."
“ASU Law surprised me with its amazing community of peers and professionals who do not fit into the standard framework portrayed in pop culture. My experiences at ASU proved that the legal community does not have to be individualistic and highly competitive to ensure consistent professional growth. While at ASU, I learned that the American legal profession, while strict and somewhat enclosed, nurtures growth and competence through a range of supportive services and learning opportunities."
Whether through pro bono service or engagement in student organizations, ASU Law offers real-world opportunities that empower students to develop their skills and make a difference across the legal profession.
Driven by institutional expertise, ASU Law’s Areas of Expertise are specialized pathways allowing students from each of our degree programs to explore specialty areas led by world-class faculty, combining academic rigor with practical experience. Each area highlights a unique blend of coursework, hands-on experiential opportunities and career prospects, guiding students to tailor their legal education toward their passions and professional goals.
Career Services at ASU Law can help students identify goals, find employment opportunities and help students pursue their passions. The career services team offers hands-on interview preparation, resume reviews and the guidance job seekers need as they enter the workforce. That resource is available to students the moment they start their ASU Law journey and lasts long after graduation.
The LLM program is a 24 credit hour degree program. The program can be completed as a full-time student in one year or part-time in three to four semesters.
Most of the LLM opportunities are on campus. The LLM online option is only for international students who do not plan to sit for a U.S. bar exam, as completion of the LLM online does not qualify a student to sit for a U.S. bar exam.
Students can begin LLM studies in either the fall or the spring. Explore upcoming application deadlines on the LLM Admission page.
LLM students in the general pathway can choose from 10 different focus areas. Students can also pursue a specialty LLM in tribal law, policy and governance, or biotechnology and genomics.
Applicants to the LLM program must have completed a JD degree or a first degree in law at a foreign institution that qualifies one to practice law.
The cost of this program can be found on the tuition and fees page. For more information about the program and tuition fees, please reach out to Eric Border at [email protected].